In the State of New Jersey if you are under 21 years old or have never had a driver license, NJ requires that you complete a period of supervised driving before getting a basic driver license. The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission's (MVC) Graduated Driver License (GDL) program introduces driving privileges in phases.

For drivers between the ages of 17 and 21 the NJ MVC calls this the "young adult road" (compare to the early bird road for 16 year olds and the adult road for those over 21) and offers a three-phase process:

• Examination permit
• Provisional license (minimum one year of restricted but unsupervised driving)
• Basic driver license (must be 18 years old)

For a 19 year old in New Jersey to obtain a provisional license he or she should have completed their supervised driving period with their permit, which must be of at least 6 months. They also must pass the MVC's road test.

You must practice unsupervised driving for at least one year with the restrictions and conditions placed upon the provisional license before moving on and applying for a full basic New Jersey driver's license.

If you want to know more about the New Jersey graduated licensing process and why a 19 year old would be issued a provisional license you can contact the NJ MVC.