Teen and Novice Drivers
The chart below describes the statewide driver licensing law provisions related to teen or novice drivers across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to toggle through the states in alphabetical order. To advance slowly, click the single right arrow (>). To jump to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the filter by state feature to jump to a specific state.
Scroll down for a summary overall totals of the number of states that have specific provisions.
Last updated in May 2024. Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2024.
| California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Privilege Minimum Age
17 years |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
17 years |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
Nighttime Driving: 18 Driving with Passengers: 17 years, 4 months |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
17 years |
| Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
15 / 6 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
15 with driver's ed 15 / 6 with driver awareness program 16 without driver's ed. or program |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
| Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
12 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
4 with driver's ed 6 without driver's ed |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6 |
| Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
50 (10) |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
50 (10) |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
40 |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
50 (10) |
| Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 / 4 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 / 6 |
| Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
10 p.m. - 6 a.m. |
| Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 12 months: No passengers under 20 (secondary enforcement) unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25 years or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement) |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 6 months: no passengers except parents or instructor Second 6 months: no passengers except parents, instructor or immediate family |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
No more than 1 (law also includes a seat belt provision: if a teen driver w/ permit or their passenger <18 is found unbelted, the permit holder's license suspended for 2 months) |
17 years
15 / 6
6
50 (10)
16
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 12 months: No passengers under 20 (secondary enforcement) unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25 years or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor.
17 years
15 with driver's ed 15 / 6 with driver awareness program 16 without driver's ed. or program
12
50 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement)
Nighttime Driving: 18 Driving with Passengers: 17 years, 4 months
16
4 with driver's ed 6 without driver's ed
40
16 / 4
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers except parents or instructor Second 6 months: no passengers except parents, instructor or immediate family
17 years
16
6
50 (10)
16 / 6
10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 1 (law also includes a seat belt provision: if a teen driver w/ permit or their passenger <18 is found unbelted, the permit holder's license suspended for 2 months)
Teen and Novice Drivers
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. Most programs include three stages:
- Learner Stage: supervised driving, cumulating with a driving test;
- Intermediate Stage: limiting unsupervised driving in high risk situations; and
- Full Privilege Stage: a standard driver's license.
During the 1990s, many states began enacting GDL laws. The programs and types of restrictions vary from state to state. Below are some highlights:
- Cell Phones/Texting: 37 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers. (See GHSA's Cell Phone laws page for more information.)
- Nighttime Driving Restriction: All states except Vermont restrict nighttime driving during the intermediate stage.
- Passenger Restriction: 47 states and D.C. restrict the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.
- Novice Driver Decal: New Jersey is the only state with a measure requiring those younger than 21 without full-privilege licenses to display a decal on their vehicle identifying them as new drivers.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on GDL laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and SHSOs.
Last updated in May 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.