STATE YOUNG DRIVER LAWS (1)



Graduated Licensing (2)

 

 

 
State
Learner's permit required for a minimum period
Inter-
mediate or provisional license required
Restrictions on night driving (3)
Passenger restric-
tions (4)
Zero or near-zero BAC laws (5)
Alabama
6 months
0.02
Alaska
6 months
0.00
Arizona
5 months
0.00
Arkansas
6 months
0.02
California
6 months
X
X
X
0.01
Colorado
6 months
X
X
0.02
Connecticut
6 months
0.02
Delaware
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
D.C.
6 months
X
X
X
0.00
Florida
12 months
X
X
0.02
Georgia
12 months
X
X
X
0.02
Hawaii
3 months
0.02
Idaho
4 months
X
X
0.02
Illinois
3 months (6)
X
X
0.00
Indiana
60 days
X
X
X
0.02
Iowa
6 months
X
X
0.02
Kansas
0.02
Kentucky
6 months
0.02
Louisiana
90 days
X
X
0.02
Maine
90 days
X
X
0.00
Maryland
4 months
X
X
0.02
Massachusetts
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
Michigan
6 months
X
X
0.00
Minnesota
6 months
0.00
Mississippi
6 months
0.02
Missouri
6 months
X
X
0.02
Montana
0.02
Nebraska
X
X
0.02
Nevada
90 days (7) 
0.02
New Hampshire
3 months (8)
X
X
X
0.02
New Jersey
6 months
X
X
X
0.01
New Mexico
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
New York
6 months (9)
X
X
0.02
North Carolina
12 months
X
X (10)
0.00
North Dakota
6 months
0.02
Ohio
6 months
X
X
0.02
Oklahoma
0.00
Oregon
6 months
X
X
X
0.00
Pennsylvania
6 months
X
X
0.02
Rhode Island
6 months
X
X
0.02
South Carolina
6 months
X
X
0.02
South Dakota
6 months
X
X
0.02
Tennessee 
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
Texas
6 months 
0.00
Utah
X
X
0.00
Vermont
12 months
X
X
0.02 (6)
Virginia
9 months
X
0.02
Washington
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
West Virginia
6 months
X
X
X
0.02
Wisconsin
6 months
X
X
X
0.00 (11)
Wyoming
10 days
0.02

(1) Designed to aid young novice drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 gain driving experience.  To date they apply only to drivers under the age of 18 except for lower BAC laws.

(2) Graduated licensing as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Stage 1: Learner's permit required.  Other recommended components are that the driver pass vision and knowledge tests; must drive with a licensed adult age 21 or older; all occupants must wear seat belts; blood alcohol content (BAC) set at zero or near zero (see footnote 5); driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free to move up to the next stage; permit's appearance is distinctive from other licenses.  Stage 2 (Intermediate or Provisional): Driver must complete stage 1; must pass a road test; all occupants must wear seat belts; BAC set at zero or near zero; licensed adult required in the vehicle during late night hours; driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free for 12 months to obtain a regular license.  Stage 3: Full license.

(3) Vary by state with regard to age of driver, night hours that driving is restricted, and who must accompany driver during night hours.  Exceptions may be made for work, school activities or emergencies.

(4) Limits the number of passengers a young driver may have in the vehicle to eliminate distractions for an inexperienced driver. 

(5) Specifies that a driver under age 21 can be convicted of drunk driving if found driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the level shown.  Conventional BACs for older drivers are generally between 0.08 and 0.10.

(6) Applies to drivers age 18 and under.

(7) If license applicant is 16 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 60 days. If license applicant is 17 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 30 days. License applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education if it is available in the public school or, if unavailable, must complete 50 hours of supervised driving in addition to that required in the learner stage.

(8) New Hampshire does not issue learner's permits.  The minimum holding period refers to the intermediate license for 16-and 17-year-olds for the first 3 months only.

(9) Effective September 2003. 

(10) For the first six months after a learner's permit is issued.  Thereafter there are no restrictions.

(11) Applies to drivers age 19 and under.

Sources:  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; National Conference of State Legislatures; Insurance Information Institute.