How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive in Each State?

Driving can be an exciting milestone for new drivers — one that people can reach at different times depending on where they live. U.S. states set their own laws for how old you must be to get a learner’s permit, but the minimum age is 14 to 16 years old. To get a license, minimum age requirements vary from 14 and a half to 17 years old.

As a parent or teen driver, you should know your state’s age limits for different licensing levels. Here’s the legal driving age for each state, restrictions to know, and tips for insuring a teen driver.

Driving age by state

In the U.S., each state sets and enforces different regulations regarding how old you must be to get a learner’s permit and a full driver’s license. A teenager can typically obtain a driver’s license at 16 years of age and drive unrestricted at age 18, but some states have less stringent driving restrictions for teens.

If your teen has a learner’s permit or provisional license, you should be aware of potential driving restrictions like a nighttime curfew and passenger limits. These restraints will no longer apply once your teen has obtained their license.

Here’s a look at the minimum age to get a learner’s permit in every state:

Besides age limits for learner’s permits, states also have minimum age requirements for provisional driver’s licenses and restrictions on when teens can drive and with whom. The following table breaks down licensing rules in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Learner’s permit vs. driver’s license

Learner’s permits and driver’s licenses allow Americans to drive on public roads. But they differ in some important ways. A learner’s permit usually has restrictions, while a driver’s license doesn’t, except for traffic rules.

A learner’s permit — or instruction permit — allows new drivers to practice under the guidance of a legal guardian. As the previous table shows, most states have driving curfews and passenger limits for new drivers.

You may need to pass a driver’s test that includes a written exam and vision exam to get your learner’s permit. Most states require drivers to be at least 15 and a half years old to get a permit.

After getting your learner’s permit, you may have to take state-approved driver’s education courses and drive a certain amount of time under supervision before you can take a driving test to get your driver’s license. Even with a learner’s permit, you generally can’t drive a car on public roads without another fully licensed driver with you.

Once you have a driver’s license, you can drive a car on public roads by yourself, with some restrictions that vary among states. You can upgrade to an unrestricted driver’s license by holding your intermediate license for a specific time, reaching a specific age, or both.

Your state determines how old you must be to get your provisional license, and the range of minimum licensing ages is broad — from 14 and a half in South Dakota to 17 years old in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Delaware. Most states lift restrictions when drivers reach age 18.

What is a graduated driver’s licensing program?

A graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program is a three-stage driving education system for young drivers.1

Studies show that graduated licensing systems significantly reduce teen crashes and their insurance losses.2

Graduated driver’s license stages

Florida took the lead in improving teen driver safety, rolling out the nation’s first GDL program in 1996. Now, all states have GDL systems that move young drivers toward full licensing in three stages:

1. Learner’s permit: New drivers practice behind the wheel under the supervision of a licensed driver. States typically specify how long you must drive on a permit and the number of hours you must log before you can move to the next stage of the GDL system.

2. Provisional license: Also called an intermediate license in some states, a provisional license allows you to drive without supervision. At this stage, you’ll likely have limitations on the hours you can drive and the number and age of passengers you can have in your vehicle. Like a learner’s permit, you’ll have to drive on a provisional license for a set amount of time before moving to the next stage.

3. Unrestricted driver’s license: Most states allow drivers to obtain an unrestricted license when they reach age 18. Some states allow you to get a full license earlier if you meet certain requirements, like driving for a specified number of months on a provisional license. An unrestricted license means you can drive at any time of the day or night, with as many passengers as your vehicle has seat belts for.

State driving restrictions

Most states have some restrictions on when you can drive on a permit or provisional license, including:

• Hours when you can’t drive unsupervised

• The number of passengers you can carry

• Who you can drive with unsupervised (for example, family members or people older than 18)

Even when you get your full, unrestricted license, you’ll still have to follow your state’s safe driving laws. For example, your state may prohibit drivers from using their cell phones while driving. And your state will likely have various speed limit rules to follow.

Legal consequences of driving without a license

Driving without a valid license is a serious offense, no matter your age. Adult motorists who get behind the wheel without a license can face fines, license suspension, and even jail time.

While teens who violate their state’s GDL rules probably won’t face jail, most states will revoke their learner’s permit or provisional license.

Adding a teen driver to a car insurance policy

You’ll likely see a spike in rates when you add a teen to your insurance policy. Insurance companies generally consider younger drivers riskier to insure because they have less experience operating a vehicle.3 Still, adding a teen driver to a parent’s policy is almost always cheaper than getting them their own car insurance.

Average car insurance premiums for teenagers with their own policies are $350 per month for full coverage and $198 for minimum coverage. Averages vary based on the state and other factors, like the vehicle a teen drives and how far they drive.

Fortunately, you can take steps to lower your rates if you add a teenager to your car insurance policy:

• Look for student-centric discounts, like for good grades, taking defensive driving courses, or college students who are away at school.

• Encourage safe driving habits so your teen avoids accidents when possible — this can also decrease premiums if they remain claims-free.

• Insure your teen’s car with your current policy to potentially get a multi-car discount.

• Raise your deductible, which can lower your premiums. But this will increase the amount you pay out of pocket when filing a claim.4

Driving age FAQs