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.
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Privilege Minimum Age
17 years with driver's ed. and 12 months free of crash or conviction 18 without driver's ed. |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
17 years, 6 months |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
16 years, 6 months |
Full Privilege Minimum Age
16 years |
| Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
15 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
14 |
| Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
6 |
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)
275* days (or 180 days after passing driver's ed.) |
| Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
65 (10) + 5 in inclement weather |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
50 (10) |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
40 (10) |
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)
50 (10 at night and 10 in inclement weather)* |
| Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 / 6 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
16 / 6 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
15 / 6 |
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)
14 + minimum of 6 months |
| Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
1 a.m. - 5 a.m. |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
EST: 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. EDT: 8 p.m. - 6 a.m. |
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction
10 p.m. - 6 a.m. (exemption for going directly to or from school event, work or church event and driving agricultural machinery)* |
| Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 18 |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21 |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
No more than 2 under 21 unless to/from school |
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)
No passengers outside of household for first 6 months; 1 passenger outside of household after 6 months.* |
17 years with driver's ed. and 12 months free of crash or conviction 18 without driver's ed.
16
6
65 (10) + 5 in inclement weather
16 / 6
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 18
17 years, 6 months
16
6
50 (10)
16 / 6
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21
16 years, 6 months
15
6
40 (10)
15 / 6
EST: 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. EDT: 8 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 2 under 21 unless to/from school
16 years
14
275* days (or 180 days after passing driver's ed.)
*effective July 1, 2021
50 (10 at night and 10 in inclement weather)*
*effective July 1, 2021
14 + minimum of 6 months
10 p.m. - 6 a.m. (exemption for going directly to or from school event, work or church event and driving agricultural machinery)*
*effective July 1, 2021
No passengers outside of household for first 6 months; 1 passenger outside of household after 6 months.*
*effective July 1, 2021
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.