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- Graduated licensing laws restrict the driving privileges of young drivers in phases, with the first phase being the most restrictive.
- Once they have passed the various stages required by their state’s laws, teen drivers can receive an unrestricted license.
- GDL laws usually detail the number of passengers allowed, the amount of supervised driving time required and when a young driver cannot be on the road.
All U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., have some form of graduated driver licensing. These laws form a three-step system that eases young drivers into the responsibilities of a fully unrestricted license.
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems can reduce a teen driver’s crash risk by up to 50%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, making them a major factor in reducing accident fatalities. Learn how the stages of the graduated driver licensing system work and what’s required in your state.
What are Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws?’
“Graduated driving laws” are systems that give teens driving privileges in phases to reduce the risk of accidents. They usually have three stages: a learner’s permit stage, an intermediate stage and a full license stage.
GDL laws restrict teen drivers based on their age and the phase of the licensing system they’re in. These restrictions vary by state but usually include age requirements, supervision during the learning stage, limits on driving hours and passengers and a time frame for moving to the next phase.
GDL laws by state: A quick overview
All states and Washington, D.C., use a three-stage licensing system, but the rules vary. In Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota, you can get a learner’s permit at 14, while in eight other states, you have to wait until 16. Some states, like Arkansas and Mississippi, do not require any supervised driving, but in Maine, you need 70 hours of supervised driving.
Some states have also applied additional restrictions on young drivers, including bans on texting and driving or harsher penalties for violations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Below are the GDL laws for each state, alongside the car insurance requirements in your state.
| State | Learner license | Intermediate license | Unrestricted license |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours or driver’s ed | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 17 and licensed for 6 months (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 17 and licensed for 6 months (min. age: 17) |
| Alaska | Min. age: 14. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night or in inclement weather | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 1 a.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no passengers younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Arizona | Minimum age: 15, 6 months. Mandatory holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 18, secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Arkansas | Min. age: 14. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: none | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-4 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: until age 18 (min. age: 18) |
| California | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: no passengers younger than 20 (limited exception for immediate family), secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months after initial license (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months after initial license (min. age: 17) |
| Colorado | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months—no passengers; second 6 months—no more than one passenger secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Connecticut | Min. age: 16 Holding period: 6 months (4 months with driver education). Supervised driving: 40 hours | Min. age: 16, 4 months. Night restrictions: 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months—no passengers other than parents or a driving instructor; second 6 months — no passengers other than parents, driving instructor or members of the immediate family | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 4 months) |
| Delaware | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 6 months.Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or the issuance of a class D license (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or the issuance of a class D license (min. age: 17) |
| District of Columbia | Min. age:16Supervised driving: 40 hours in the learner’s stage | Minimum age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: September-June, 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.-Thur., 12:01 a.m.-6 a.m. Sat.-Sun.; July-August: 12:01 a.m.-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: No passengers allowed. | Night restrictions lifted: licensed for 6 months or age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18) Passenger restrictions lifted: licensed 6 months or age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18) |
| Florida | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-6 a.m. for 16-year-olds; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. for 17-year-olds. Passenger restrictions: none | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: none |
| Georgia | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 6 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months, no passengers; second 6 months, no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18) |
| Hawaii | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 (household members excepted) | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months and age 17 (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months and age 17 (min. age: 17) |
| Idaho | Min. age: 14, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 15. Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: licensees 16 and younger can have no more than 1 passenger younger than 17 | Night restrictions lifted: until age 16 (min. age: 16). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 17 (min. age: 15, 6 months) |
| Illinois | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 9 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: starts 10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., ends 6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18 (min. age: 17) |
| Indiana | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 monthsSupervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16 (with driver’s ed) Night restrictions: For the first 6 months, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.; thereafter, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Sun.-Fri.; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. Sat.-Sun. Passenger restrictions: no passengers | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months and age 18 or age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 months or 17, 3 months without driver education) |
| Iowa | Min. age: 14. Holding period: 12 months Supervised driving: 20 hours, 2 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: parental discretion | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months and age 17 or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: none |
| Kansas | Min. age: 14. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: 25 hours, in learner phase; 25 hours before age 16; 10 of the 50 hours must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 18 | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Kentucky | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: midnight-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor, secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Louisiana | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 21 between the hours of 6 p.m.-5 a.m.; no passenger restriction from 5 a.m.-6 p.m. | Night restrictions lifted: age 17 (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: age 17 (min. age: 17) |
| Maine | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 70 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no passengers | Night restrictions lifted: 9 months (min. age: 16, 9 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 9 months (min. age: 16, 9 months) |
| Maryland | Min. age: 15, 9 months. Holding period: 9 months. Supervised driving: 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no passengers younger than 18; secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 5 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 11 months) |
| Massachusetts | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 monthsSupervised driving: 40 hours | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: 12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. (12:30-1 a.m. and 4-5 a.m.). Night driving and passenger restrictions are subject to secondary enforcement; enforcement is primary at all other times. Passenger restrictions: no passengers younger than 18 (between 12:30-1 a.m. and 4-5 a.m. the night driving and passenger restrictions are secondarily enforced; enforcement is primary at all other times) | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Michigan | Min. age: 14, 9 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months and age 17 or until age 18 (min. age 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months and age 17 or until age 18 (min. age 17) |
| Minnesota | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 15 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 20; second 6 months, no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Mississippi | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: None | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.-Thur., 11:30 p.m.-6 a.m. Fri.-Sat. Passenger restrictions: None | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: None |
| Missouri | Min. age: 15.Holding period: 6 monthsSupervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16Night restrictions: 1 a.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months, no more than 1 passenger younger than 19; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 19 | Night restrictions lifted: Age 18 Passenger restrictions lifted: Age 18 |
| Montana | Min. age: 14, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 15. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months, no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; second 6 months — no more than 3 passengers younger than 18 | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16) |
| Nebraska | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-6 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 19 secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Nevada | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with defensive driving course) | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: no passengers younger than 18 secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| New Hampshire | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: none. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 1-4 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 25 | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| New Jersey | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 17. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger (exception is limited to drivers’ dependents) | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18) |
| New Mexico | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| New York | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: 9 p.m.-5 a.m. except for NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised driving). Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: age 17 with driver education; age 18 without (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: age 17 with driver education; age 18 without (min. age: 17) |
| North Carolina | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 9 months. Supervised driving: 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger younger than 21. Additional supervised driving: 12 hours, 6 of which must be at night | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| North Dakota | Min. age: 14 Holding period: Under 16: 12 months; 16: 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first Supervised driving: Under 16: 50 hours; 16 or older: none | Min. age: 16 (15 for a parent-requested restricted license) Night restrictions: The holder of a restricted license may only drive a car belonging to a parent or guardian and may not drive between the later of 9 p.m. and sunset and 5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: none | Night restrictions lifted: age 16 (min. age: 16). Passenger restrictions lifted: None |
| Ohio | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-6 a.m. (first 12 months), 1-5 a.m. (second 12 months) secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: first 12 months: no more than 1 passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 24 months (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months (min. age: 17) |
| Oklahoma | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than 1 passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months with driver education, 12 months without or age 18 (min age: 16, 6 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months with driver education, 12 months without or age 18 (min age: 16, 6 months) |
| Oregon | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours (100 hours without driver education) | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months: no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months: no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Pennsylvania | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 65 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 5 of which must be in inclement weather | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months: no more than one passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months and age 17 if completed driver education or age 18 (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months and age 17 if completed driver education or age 18 (min. age: 17) |
| Rhode Island | Min. age: 16. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 6 months. Night restrictions: 1-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 21 | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 6 months) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 6 months) |
| South Carolina | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 15, 6 months.Night restrictions: 6 p.m.-6 a.m. EST; 8 p.m.-6 a.m. EDT. Passenger restrictions: no more than 2 passengers younger than 21 unless transporting students to and from school | Night restrictions lifted: licensed for 12 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.) Passenger restrictions lifted: licensed for 12 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.) |
| South Dakota | Min. age: 14. Holding period: 9 months (6 months with driver education). Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 10 of which must be during inclement weather | Min. age: 14, 9 months (14, 6 months with driver education). Night restrictions: 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months: no passengers; thereafter, no more than one passenger younger than 18 | Night restrictions lifted: age 16 (min. age: 16) Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or at age 16, whichever occurs first (min. age: 15, 6 months) |
| Tennessee | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Texas | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 21 secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: until age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: until age 18 (min. age: 18) |
| Utah | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight to 5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no passengers; secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: until age 17 (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Vermont | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 12 months. Supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: none. Passenger restrictions: first 3 months: no passengers without exception; second 3 months: no passengers, secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: None Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
| Virginia | Min. age: 15, 6 months. Holding period: 9 months. Supervised driving: 45 hours, 15 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16, 3 months. Night restrictions: midnight-4 a.m.; secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: first 12 months: no more than one passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 21; secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18). Passenger restrictions lifted: age 18 (min. age: 18) |
| Washington | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 1 a.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months: no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months: no more than 3 passengers younger than 20; secondary enforcement | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| West Virginia | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: first 6 months: no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months: no more than one passenger younger than 20 | Night restrictions lifted: 12 months and age 17 or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17). Passenger restrictions lifted: 12 months and age 17 or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17) |
| Wisconsin | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 6 months. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: midnight-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger | Night restrictions lifted: 9 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 9 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 months) |
| Wyoming | Min. age: 15. Holding period: 10 days. Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | Min. age: 16. Night restrictions: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Passenger restrictions: no more than one passenger younger than 18 | Night restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months). Passenger restrictions lifted: 6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 months) |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
What is the purpose of graduated driver licensing?
The primary purpose of graduated driver licensing is to save lives. Graduated driver licensing laws place restrictions on teen drivers to limit their time on the road, reduce distractions and provide a way to gain driving experience over time. These limits reduce the risk of fatal crashes.
In 2012, the IIHS estimated that if every state adopted the five strongest GDL rules, more than 500 lives could be saved and over 9,500 crashes could be prevented each year.
At what age can teens get a full driver’s license?
Most teenagers obtain a full, unrestricted driving license at age 18; however, a few states allow them to do so earlier. For example, in Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota, they can get it at 16, and in some other states at 16 years and 6 months, on the condition that all the previous stages have been completed and that their record is clean.
That may mean they have to remain in an intermediate license stage for six months to a year before they can move to a full license without restrictions.
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Which states have the strictest GDL laws?
New Jersey and Maine have the strictest graduated licensing laws in the United States. In New Jersey, teens must wait until they are 17 to get an intermediate license. Maine requires new drivers to complete 70 hours of supervised practice, which is more than any other state. It does not allow passengers at all during the intermediate stage.
“California stands out,” as one of the strictest, said John Beck, an attorney, auto accident law expert and founding partner at Beck & Beck, a law firm in Missouri. “They make teens wait a full six months after getting a learner’s permit before testing for the next level, and they require 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night,” he said. “New Jersey is another one. They don’t let drivers under 21 get a full license until they’re at least 18, and they require a red decal on the license plate so law enforcement can identify new drivers,” he said.
New Jersey applies its graduated licensing rules to every new driver under 21, and the unrestricted license comes at 18 or after 12 months in the intermediate stage, whichever comes first.
While it may seem unfair to a teen driver yearning for freedom and the open road, strict GDL laws do work.
GDL programs that are the most restrictive, namely, those which include a holding period of at least six months while the driver is learning, a curfew that starts no later than 10 p.m., and rules permitting no more than one teenage passenger are linked with a 38% decrease in fatal crashes and a 40% decrease in injury crashes among 16-year-old drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
How do GDL rules affect your car insurance?
Your teen’s GDL stage does not directly affect your insurance rate, but their age does. Rates drop sharply as restrictions are lifted. For example, full coverage costs $10,387 per year at age 16 and $5,718 per year at age 19. That is a 45% drop across the same three years in which most states lifted their night and passenger restrictions.
A national survey shows that the majority of parents (61 to 98%, depending on the policy) support GDL policies that are as strict as, or in some cases even stricter than, those currently in force in the United States, according to an NHTSA report.
And while they may not be fans of how much it costs to insure a teen driver, car insurance is what protects your family financially after a crash. A GDL violation does not automatically void your policy, but it can complicate a claim and will show up at renewal.
“The real trouble starts when a teen breaks GDL rules and is also involved in an accident,” said Benson Varghese, a board-certified criminal lawyer in Texas and founder of Varghese Summersett PLLC. The insurance companies may deny the claim, he said, and the teen could face civil liability for any injuries.
“From a legal standpoint, GDL violations are taken more seriously than many parents realize. They’re not just traffic infractions — they signal a lack of supervision or judgment and can stay on a young driver’s record,” he said. “The best advice is to treat GDL restrictions like hard rules. They’re designed to protect, but courts don’t treat them lightly if broken.”
As a parent, it is helpful to explain to your teen what could happen if they violate GDL laws. A serious violation can result in a surcharge at renewal and, in rare cases, an insurer may decline to renew the policy with the teen driver.
Following all of the rules of the road — including restrictions on teen driving — is a sign of maturity and can help avoid more serious consequences down the road.
What GDL rules mean for your teen and your policy
Over these three years, two things happened at the same time: restrictions were lifted, and your insurance premiums went down. If you follow your state’s rules, you help protect both. Breaking the rules can lead to a suspended license, slow down your teen’s progress and affect premiums when it’s time to renew.
Graduated driver licensing is designed to protect young and inexperienced drivers by limiting their exposure to specific risk factors, such as driving with multiple passengers or late at night.
If you’re a teen driver or the parent of one, familiarize yourself with your state’s GDL laws. Violating these laws can lead to a license suspension and higher insurance premiums, not to mention an increased risk of a serious crash.
Follow your state’s GDL laws to ensure your young driver and others stay safe on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions: Graduated driver licensing laws
Can a teen drive out of state with a learner’s permit?
Not all states recognize out-of-state learner’s permits; some do so, but only with restrictions. You’ll need to check the laws in the destination state to ensure a teen driver with an out-of-state learner’s permit is legally permitted to drive there.
How old do you have to be to have passengers in your car?
Most states allow young drivers to have one passenger in the car, but there are restrictions on the passenger’s age and the total number of passengers. In some states, the number of passengers a young driver can have depends on the driver’s age and accumulated time behind the wheel.
What happens if my teen violates GDL restrictions?
The consequences of violating GDL restrictions vary, and can depend on which restriction was violated and your state. Restrictions in certain states are secondary enforcement, meaning the police can’t pull you over for breaking that restriction, but can cite you for it after pulling you over for a primary offense.
Your teen could face misdemeanor charges, suspension of their license, an extension of the period before moving on to the next licensure phase, and a possible increase in insurance rates.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Graduated Driver Licensing.” Accessed August 2026.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Graduated Licensing Laws.” Accessed August 2026.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Study of teen fatal crash rates adds to evidence of GDL benefits.” Accessed August 2026.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Graduated Driver Licensing.” Accessed August 2026.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Teen Driving.” Accessed August 2026.
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