How old do you have to be to drive?
How old you have to be to drive varies by state. Most states use a graduated driver’s license process that requires new drivers to obtain a learner’s permit and a restricted license before being fully licensed. Each stage requires specific steps to be completed, including reaching a certain age. You have to be between 14 and 16 years old to apply for a learner’s permit, at least 15 for a restricted license, and between 16 and 18 for a full driver’s license.
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Travis Thompson
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Travis Thompson has been a licensed insurance agent for nearly five years. After obtaining his life and health insurance licenses, he began working for Symmetry Financial Group as a State Licensed Field Underwriter. In this position, he learned the coverage options and limits surrounding mortgage protection. He advised clients on the coverage needed to protect them in the event of a death, critica...
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UPDATED: Nov 4, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
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We know auto insurance can be confusing when you’re shopping for yourself, but when your teen is ready to drive, it can be even more complicated. How old do you have to be to drive? At what age can you get your permit, and at what age can you get your license? What are the insurance requirements for teen drivers?
Read this article to answer these and other questions related to age requirements for driving.
Before we jump into this overview of how old you need to be to obtain a driver’s license, take a moment to enter your ZIP code in the tool on this page to get free auto insurance quotes from top companies and save on your rates today.
- In most states, new drivers will follow a graduated licensing process that includes getting a learner’s permit and a restricted license before achieving a full driver’s license
- The minimum age for a learner’s permit is as young as 14, and to get a full license, you have to be at least 16, but exact ages vary by state
- Drivers with a learner’s permit are usually covered by their parents’ insurance policy with no changes necessary, but they need to be fully added to the coverage once they have a restricted license
How old do you have to be to drive?
Can you get your permit at 14? Can you get your license at 16? The short answer is that it all depends on where you live. State laws determine the minimum age for drivers to get a learner’s permit, restricted license, and full driver’s license.
In some states, you can get a learner’s permit to start driving at 14, while in other states, you need to be at least 16. To be fully licensed, you need to be between 16 and 18, depending on where you live (and if you’ve completed the requirements in your state to earn a full driver’s license).
Read more: How To Get Insurance On Your Driver’s License
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How old do you have to be to get a driver’s license vs. a learner’s permit?
Now that you know that the laws governing driving age vary by state, let’s learn about the minimum age to get a license where you live. Take a look at this table for the age requirements for a learner’s permit, restricted license, and full driver’s license in each state based on information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Minimum Driving Age by State for Learner's Permit, Restricted License, and Full License
| State | Minimum Age for a Learner's Permit | Minimum Age for a Restricted License | Minimum Age for a Full License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Alaska | 14 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Arizona | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Arkansas | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| California | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 17 |
| Colorado | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 16 and 4 months | 18 |
| Delaware | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 17 |
| District of Columbia | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 18 |
| Florida | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Georgia | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Hawaii | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 17 |
| Idaho | 14 and 6 months | 15 | 16 |
| Illinois | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Indiana | 15 | 16 and 3 months | 18 |
| Iowa | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| Kansas | 14 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Kentucky | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 17 |
| Louisiana | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Maine | 15 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Maryland | 15 and 9 months | 16 and 6 months | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 18 |
| Michigan | 14 and 9 months | 16 | 17 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Missouri | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Montana | 14 and 6 months | 15 | 16 |
| Nebraska | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Nevada | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 18 |
| New Hampshire | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 17 and 1 month |
| New Jersey | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| New Mexico | 15 | 15 and 6 months | 16 and 6 months |
| New York | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 18 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| North Dakota | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Ohio | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 17 |
| Oregon | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 16 | 16 and 6 months | 17 and 6 months |
| South Carolina | 15 | 15 and 6 months | 16 and 6 months |
| South Dakota | 14 | 14 and 6 months | 16 |
| Tennessee | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Texas | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Utah | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Vermont | 15 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Virginia | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 18 |
| Washington | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| West Virginia | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Wisconsin | 15 and 6 months | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
| Wyoming | 15 | 16 | 16 and 6 months |
Keep reading for more information on each of these licensing categories.
What are the differences between a learner’s permit, a restricted license, and a driver’s license?
A learner’s permit and restricted license are required steps in a graduated driver’s license approach (developed in most states to increase driver experience and reduce the risk of accidents for new drivers).
A learner’s permit is what it sounds like: a permit that gives an individual permission to be on the road while learning to drive.
Learner’s permits typically come with specific requirements for driver education, such as a minimum number of practice hours on the road and a fully licensed adult in the vehicle at all times. In many cases, drivers also need to take a written test or driving test (or both) to graduate to a restricted license.
A restricted license allows drivers to get behind the wheel on their own but usually comes with limitations on the number of passengers and the hours of the day in which they can legally drive.
Once drivers have met all learner’s permit and restricted license requirements, they can obtain a full license that allows them to drive with no limitations on passengers, time of day, etc.
Look at this table (populated with IIHS data) to see the learner’s permit and restricted license requirements teens must meet in your state.
Learner's Permit and Restricted License Requirements by State
| State | Learner's Permit Minimum Duration | Learner's Permit Minimum Driving Practice Requirements | Restricted License Nighttime Limits | Restricted License Passenger Requirements (excludes family members, unless noted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6 months | 50 hours (none with driver education) | midnight-6 a.m. | no more than one passenger |
| Alaska | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night or in inclement weather | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. | no passengers younger than 21 |
| Arizona | 6 months | 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | midnight-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 (secondary enforcement) |
| Arkansas | 6 months | none | 11 p.m.-4 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| California | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | no passengers younger than 20 (limited exception for immediate family) (secondary enforcement) |
| Colorado | 12 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | first 6 months—no passengers; second 6 months—no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement) |
| Connecticut | 6 months | 40 hours | 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. | 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 |
| Delaware | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 10 p.m.-6 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger |
| District of Columbia | 6 months | 40 hours in learner's stage; 10 hours at night in intermediate stage | 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. | no passengers |
| Florida | 12 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-6 a.m. for 16 year-olds; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. for 17 year-olds | none |
| Georgia | 12 months | 40 hours, 6 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | first 6 months—no passengers; second 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers (secondary enforcement) |
| Hawaii | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 (household members excepted) |
| Idaho | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | sunset to sunrise | licensees 16 and younger can have no more than 1 passenger younger than 17 |
| Illinois | 9 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | starts 10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., ends 6 a.m. | first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 |
| Indiana | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 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. | no passengers |
| Iowa | 12 months | 20 hours, 2 of which must be at night | 12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. | parental discretion |
| Kansas | 12 months | 25 hours, in learner phase; 25 hours before age 16; 10 of the 50 hours must be at night | 9 p.m. - 5 a.m. | no more than one passenger younger than 18 |
| Kentucky | 6 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-6 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor (secondary enforcement) |
| Louisiana | 6 months | 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night | 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. | 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. |
| Maine | 6 months | 70 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no passengers |
| Maryland | 9 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no passengers younger than 30 (secondary enforcement) |
| Massachusettes | 6 months | 40 hours | 12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. (between 12:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and 4 a.m.-5 a.m. the night driving and passenger restrictions are subject to secondary enforcement; enforcement is primary at all other times) | no passengers younger than 18 (between 12:30 a.m.–1 a.m. and 4 a.m.–5 a.m. the night driving and passenger restrictions are secondarily enforced; enforcement is primary at all other times) |
| Michigan | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| Minnesota | 6 months | 40 hours, 15 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 20; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 |
| Mississippi | 12 months | none | 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.-Thur., 1 1:30 p.m.-6 a.m. Fri.-Sat. | none |
| Missouri | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. | first 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 19; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 19 |
| Montana | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | first 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 18 |
| Nebraska | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | midnight-6 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | no more than 1 passenger younger than 19 (secondary enforcement) |
| Nevada | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with defensive driving course) | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | no passengers younger than 18 (secondary enforcement) |
| New Hampshire | none | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 1 a.m.-4 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 25 |
| New Jersey | 6 months | none | 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger (exception is limited to drivers' dependents) |
| New Mexico | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| New York | 6 months | 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night | 9 p.m.-5 a.m. except for NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised driving) | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| North Carolina | 6 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night (learner's permit); 12 hours, 6 of which must be at night, (restricted license) | 9 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; if a family member younger than 21 is already a passenger then no other passengers younger than 21 who are not family members |
| North Dakota | If younger than 16, 12 months; If 16 or older, 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first | If younger than 16, 50 hours; If 16 or older, none | 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 sunset or 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. | none |
| Ohio | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | First 12 months: midnight-6 a.m.; Second 12 months: 1 a.m.-5 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger |
| Oklahoma | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger |
| Oregon | 6 months | 50 hours (100 hours without driver education) | midnight-5 a.m. | first 6 months–no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months–no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 months | 65 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 5 of which must be in inclement weather | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | first 6 months— no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers |
| Rhode Island | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| South Carolina | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 6 p.m.-6 a.m. EST; 8 p.m.-6 a.m. EDT | no more than 2 passengers younger than 21 unless transporting students to and from school |
| South Dakota | 9 months (6 months with driver education) | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 10 of which must be during inclement weather | 10 p.m.-6 a.m. | first 6 months—no passengers; thereafter—no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 |
| Tennessee | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-6 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger |
| Texas | 6 months | 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 (secondary enforcement) |
| Utah | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no passengers (secondary enforcement) |
| Vermont | 12 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night | none | first 3 months—no passengers without exception; second 3 months—no passengers (secondary enforcement) |
| Virginia | 9 months | 45 hours, 15 of which must be at night | midnight-4 a.m. (secondary enforcement) | first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 21 (secondary enforcement) |
| Washington | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | first 6 months—no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 (secondary enforcement) |
| West Virginia | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education) | 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. | first 6 months—no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months–no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 |
| Wisconsin | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | midnight-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger |
| Wyoming | 10 days | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 |
What about insurance? Read on to find out when to add teens to an insurance policy and some of the ways you can save money.
When do you need to get auto insurance?
Auto insurance for teenagers is expensive. However, in most cases, the insurance policy you hold will cover your teen drivers while they have a learner’s permit, as long as they are listed as named drivers on the policy. Work with your insurance company to determine the specific requirements for drivers with a learner’s permit who will be operating vehicles listed on your policy.
Once your teen is driving independently, you need to add them to your policy as more than a named driver. This may mean an increase in insurance rates, as teen drivers are considered extremely high risk.
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Why is auto insurance so expensive for teen drivers?
Teen drivers, regardless of gender, are high-risk drivers. Even under a parent or legal guardian’s car insurance policy, teen drivers increase monthly rates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fatal car crashes are the second leading cause of death for teens in the United States.
Auto insurance companies offset the risk of teen drivers by raising insurance rates. If you want to find the best deal for you and your teen driver(s), compare auto insurance at the best companies.
Here are estimates from the top car insurance companies in America.
Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Company and Driver's Age
| Companies | Auto Insurance Rates Based on a Clean Driving Record | Auto Insurance Rates with a Young Adult Driver (20 to 24) | Auto Insurance Rates with a Teen Driver (16-19) |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $318 | $382 | $414 |
 | $224 | $269 | $292 |
 | $288 | $346 | $375 |
 | $179 | $215 | $232 |
 | $398 | $477 | $517 |
 | $229 | $275 | $298 |
 | $283 | $339 | $368 |
 | $235 | $282 | $306 |
 | $287 | $345 | $373 |
 | $161 | $193 | $209 |
| **National Average** | $260 | $312 | $338 |
Are these insurance rates too expensive? Don’t worry — your rates will vary. You can also save money when you qualify for car insurance discounts.
Is auto insurance for new drivers more expensive than average?
Yes, it is. New drivers may be adults, but they don’t have the experience of other drivers. Also, a driver without an insurance history may encounter more expensive car insurance rates.
Therefore, monthly auto insurance rates for new drivers are about $300 or more. But car insurance discounts can bring those rates down by hundreds of dollars.
Shopping around for coverage and comparing quotes from at least three companies is one of the best ways to save on your rates. You can also ask your insurance company about any available discounts for teen drivers. One example is the good student discount.
The Bottom Line: How old do you have to be to drive?
If your teen is asking, “When can I get my license?” the answer depends on the laws in your state. Depending on where you live, the age varies between 14 and 16 for obtaining a learner’s permit and between 16 and 18 for a full driver’s license.
You probably won’t need to add your teen to your insurance policy while they have a learner’s permit, though you should check with your insurance company to confirm. However, they need to be added to your coverage once they’re driving independently.
Now that you know how old you need to be to get a driver’s license, the next step is to get insurance. Teen drivers face some of the highest insurance rates in the country, so you’re probably looking for ways to save. Comparison shopping is one of the best ways to get affordable coverage. Get started by using your ZIP code in our rate comparison tool to get free quotes from top companies.
Enter your ZIP code below to compare auto insurance rates.
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Travis Thompson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Travis Thompson has been a licensed insurance agent for nearly five years. After obtaining his life and health insurance licenses, he began working for Symmetry Financial Group as a State Licensed Field Underwriter. In this position, he learned the coverage options and limits surrounding mortgage protection. He advised clients on the coverage needed to protect them in the event of a death, critica...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.