How Old Do You Have To Be To Drive?
The minimum age to start driving depends on where you live and the type of license you apply for. In most states, teens can begin supervised driving with a learner’s permit between the ages of 14 and 16. State laws dictate how long a teen must practice with an adult, when they can drive at night and which passengers they can carry.
After gaining experience, drivers generally progress to a restricted or provisional license that allows them to drive independently under certain conditions. Finally, drivers who meet their state’s requirements receive full driving privileges.
- The minimum driving age varies by state, but teens can generally begin supervised driving with a learner’s permit between ages 14 and 16.
- New drivers typically progress from a learner’s permit to a restricted or provisional license before receiving full driving privileges.
- States may require supervised practice hours, driver education and a minimum amount of time with a learner’s permit.
- Nighttime and passenger restrictions often continue after a teen begins driving independently.
Driving ages by state
Driving ages and requirements vary depending on where you live. The table below shows the earliest age you can receive a learner’s permit, qualify for a restricted license and when you can receive a full license with no restrictions.
Keep in mind that age isn’t the only requirement. States may also require driver education, supervised practice hours or a minimum permit-holding period. Check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other licensing agency to understand the requirements.
| State | Min. age for learner’s permit | Min. age for restricted license | Min. age for full license |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Alaska | 14 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Arizona | 15 and a half | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Arkansas | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| California | 15 and a half | 16 | 17 |
| Colorado | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 16 and 4 months | 18 |
| Delaware | 16 | 16 and a half | 17 |
| Florida | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Georgia | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Hawaii | 15 and a half | 16 | 17 |
| Idaho | 14 and a half | 15 | 16 |
| Illinois | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Indiana | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Iowa | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| Kansas | 14 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Kentucky | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Louisiana | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Maine | 15 | 16 | 16 and nine months |
| Maryland | 15 and 9 months | 16 and a half | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 16 and a half | 18 |
| Michigan | 14 and 9 months | 16 | 17 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Missouri | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Montana | 14 and a half | 15 | 16 |
| Nebraska | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Nevada | 15 and a half | 16 | 18 |
| New Hampshire | 15 and a half* | 16 | 18 |
| New Jersey | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| New Mexico | 15 | 15 and a half | 16 and a half |
| New York | 16 | 16 and a half | 17 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| North Dakota | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Ohio | 15 and a half | 16 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 15 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Oregon | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 16 and a half | 17 |
| Rhode Island | 16 | 16 and a half | 17 and a half |
| South Carolina | 15 | 15 and a half | 16 and a half |
| South Dakota | 14 | 14 and a half | 16 |
| Tennessee | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Texas | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Utah | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Vermont | 15 | 16 | 16 and a half |
| Virginia | 15 and a half | 16 and 3 months | 18 |
| Washington | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Washington, D.C. | 16 | 16 and a half | 18 |
| West Virginia | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Wisconsin | 15 | 16 | 16 and 9 months |
| Wyoming | 15 | 16 | 16 and a half |
What is graduated driver licensing?
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) is the system states use to help new drivers gain experience in stages before receiving full driving privileges. Every state and Washington, D.C., has a GDL system, though the ages, names of license types and exact rules vary.
GDL programs usually have three stages: supervised learning, an intermediate license with restrictions and full driving privileges. Depending on the state, you may need to complete the following:
- Supervised driving practice
- Minimum holding period for a learner’s permit
- Driver education
- Nighttime driving restrictions
- Limits on teen passengers
GDL programs are designed to give inexperienced drivers practice under lower-risk conditions. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overview of teen driving safety suggests that GDL systems may reduce teen fatalities due to crashes by 21%.
According to a LendingTree survey, more than half of Americans believe that drivers aged 70+ are at least as dangerous on the road as drivers ages 16 to 25. But fatal crash data tells a different story.
An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analysis of federal crash data found that drivers ages 16 to 19 were involved in 17 fatal crashes per 100,000 people, compared with 12 per 100,000 for drivers 70 and older.
Learner’s permit
A learner’s permit lets a new driver practice while accompanied by a qualified licensed adult.
Depending on the state, a permit may require passing a written knowledge test and vision test, obtaining parental consent if you’re a minor and completing driver’s education. Permit holders usually can’t drive alone, and there may be restrictions on when they can drive, even with an adult in the vehicle.
Restricted or provisional license
A restricted or provisional license generally allows teens to drive independently after meeting their state’s permit, practice and testing requirements. Depending on the state, this license could be called intermediate, probationary or junior.
Common restrictions include limits on nighttime driving and teen passengers. Violations can impact driving privileges. Some states make exceptions to restrictions for work, school, emergencies or family responsibilities.
Full driver’s license
A full license generally removes the special restrictions imposed by the state’s GDL program. Eligibility may depend on your age, how long you’ve held an intermediate license, your driving record or a combination of requirements.
Having full driving privileges doesn’t eliminate other restrictions, though. All drivers must obey traffic laws and follow any specific conditions listed on their driver’s license.
What age do you need car insurance to drive?
There isn’t a specific age when you need car insurance. If you are driving — whether with a permit or a full license — you generally need to be covered by car insurance that meets your state’s requirements.
Parents commonly add a teen who lives at home and drives household vehicles to their existing auto insurance policy. Depending on the insurer, a teen may need to be listed when they receive a permit or once they become licensed, regardless if the parent intends to allow them to drive.
A young driver may need a separate policy in some cases, like if they own and title a vehicle separately and don’t live at home. Requirements vary by insurer and circumstance, so check with your insurance company before your teen starts driving.
New drivers have higher crash rates, so adequate coverage is important. Review your coverage limits and deductibles before your teen gets a learner’s permit. Also, ask your insurer about potential car insurance discounts, including savings for good students and for completing driver’s training.
Frequently asked questions
Some states allow teens to obtain a learner’s permit as early as age 14, but the minimum age varies by state.
Generally, no. Learner’s permits typically require a qualified licensed adult to supervise new drivers. Exact supervision requirements vary by state.
In some states, you can get a driver’s license at 16, but it may be an intermediate or restricted license. You could have nighttime rules or passenger limits.
State law and license state determine when you can drive with friends. Many states restrict teen passengers during the intermediate licensing stage.
Insurance requirements vary. Parents should contact their insurer when a teen receives a learner’s permit to determine when the new driver must be added to a policy.