Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

Studies show that novice drivers have higher crash rates. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. Most programs include three stages:

  • Learner Stage: supervised driving, cumulating with a driving test;
  • Intermediate Stage: limiting unsupervised driving in high risk situations; and
  • Full Privilege Stage: a standard driver's license.

During the 1990s, many states began enacting GDL laws. Currently, all but 3 states (AR, KS, ND) have all three stages, although the programs vary from state to state. Below are some highlights:

  • Cell Phones: 17 states and the District of Columbia have special cell phone driving laws for novice drivers. (See GHSA's Cell Phone laws page for more information.)
  • Nighttime Driving Restriction: 45 states and the District of Columbia restrict nighttime driving during the intermediate stage.
  • Passenger Restriction: 40 states and the District of Columbia restrict the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.

State

Learner Stage

Intermediate Stage

Full Privilege
Min. Age
(Yrs./Mos.)

Required
Supervised
Driving (Hrs.)
(Nighttime hours in parenthesis)

Special Cell
Phone Provisions

Min.
Age
(Yrs./
Mos.)

Dura-
tion
(Mos.)

Min.
Age
(Yrs./
Mos.)

Night-
time Driving Restric-
tion

Passenger
Restriction*
(* family members exempt)

Alabama

15

6

16

Midnight - 6 a.m.

No more than 3 teens plus parent/guardian

17

30
(0 w/ driver's ed.)

 

Alaska

14

6

16

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

No passengers <21*

16 / 6

40 (10)

 

Arizona

15 / 6
(eff. 6/30/08)

6
(eff. 6/30/08)

16
(eff. 6/30/08)

Midnight - 5 a.m.
(eff. 6/30/08)

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <18*
(eff. 6/30/08)

16 / 6
(eff. 6/30/08)

30 (10)
(0 w/ driver's ed.)
(eff. 6/30/08)

 

Arkansas

14

6

No intermediate license stage

16

None

 

California

15 / 6

6

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

First 12 mos.–no pass. <20 unless supervised by 25-yr. old driver*

17

50 (10)

<18 (eff. 7/2008)

Colorado

15 (w/ driver's ed., classroom & behind-the-wheel course)

15 / 6 (w/ defensive driving course)

16 (w/out driver's ed.)

12

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. <21; second 6 mos.–no more than one pass. <21*
(secondarily enforced)

17

50 (10)

Drivers, regardless of age, may not operate a cell phone while holding a learner permit.

Connecticut

16

4 (w/ driver's ed.)

6 (w/out driver's ed.)

16 / 4

11 p.m. -
5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. except parents or driving instructor; second 6 mos––no pass. except driving instructor or immediate family

Night: 18

40

Persons holding a learner permit and drivers under 18 may not use any hand-held mobile telephone (including hands-free devices) while operating a motor vehicle (emergency situations excepted).

Passenger: 17 / 4

Delaware 1

16

6

16 / 6

10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

No more than 1 pass.*

17

50 (10)

Persons driving with a graduated licensing permit may not use a cell phone while driving unless pulled to the side of the road.

D.C.

16

6

16 / 6

Sept. to June
11 p.m. - 6 a.m. (Su-Th);
midnight - 6 a.m. (Fr-Sa)

July-Aug
midnight - 6 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver*; thereafter–no more than 2 pass. <21*

18

50 (40 in learner stage; 10 at night in intermediate stage)

Persons holding a learner permit may not operate a motor vehicle while using a cell phone.

Florida

15

12

16

Age 16
11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Age 17
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

None

18

50 (10)

 

Georgia

15

12

16

Midnight - 6 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass.; second 6 mos.–no more than 3 pass. <21*

18

40 (6)

 

Guam

16

No data

Hawaii

15 / 6

6

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <18*

17

None

 

Idaho

14 / 6

6

15

Sunrise - sunset

Fist 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <17*

Night: 16

50 (10)

 

Passenger: 15 / 6

Illinois

15

9

16

Su-Th
10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Fr-Sa
11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

First 12 mos. –no more than 1 pass. <20*

Night: 18

50 (10)

Drivers <19 who hold an instruction permit or graduated license may not use cell phones except for emergencies.

Passenger:
17

Indiana

15

2

16 / 1

Su-Th
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

Fr-Sa
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 90 days–no pass. unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver*

Night: 18

None

 

Passenger:
16 / 4

Iowa

14

6

16

12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m.

None

17

30 (4)
(10, incl. 2 @ night, must occur in Intermediate stage)

 

Kansas

14

6

No intermediate license stage

14 / 6

50 (10)

 

Kentucky

16

6

16 / 6

Midnight - 6 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <20

17

60 (10)

 

Louisiana

15

6

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

None

17

None

 

Maine

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 180 days–no pass. unless supervised by >20-yr. old driver*
(secondarily enforced)

16 / 6

35 (5)

<18

Maryland

15 / 9

6

16 / 3

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 5 mos.–no pass. <18*

Night: 17 / 9

60 (10)

Drivers under 18 holding a learner or provisional license may not use a wireless communication device, except to contact a 911 system.

Passenger:
16 / 8

Massa-
chusetts

16

6

16 / 6

12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. under 18 unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver*

Night: 18

40 (30 w/ advanced driver training)

 

Passenger: 17

Michigan 2

14 / 9

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

None

17

50 (10)

See footnote

Minnesota

15

6

16

First 6 mos.–
Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 passenger <20; second 6 mos.—no more than 3 passengers <20

Night: 16 / 6

30 (10)

Driver may not operate a vehicle while using a cell phone in the learner stage and in the provisional stage, which lasts for 12 mos. or until the age of 18.

Passenger:
17

Mississippi

15

6

15 / 6

10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

None

16 / 6

None

 

Missouri

15

12

16

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <19*; thereafter–no more than 3 pass. <19

17 / 11

40 (10)

 

Montana

14 / 6

6

15

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass <18; second 6 mos.–no more than 3 passengers <18

16

50 (10)

 

Nebraska

15

6

16

Midnight - 6 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <19*

Night: 17

50 (10)
(0 w/ driver's ed.)

Teens with provisional, learner's and school permits are prohibited from talking on cell phones, sending text messages or using other interactive electronic devices while driving.

Passenger:
16 / 6

Nevada

15 / 6

6

16

10 p.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. <18*

Night: 18

50 (10)

 

Pass: 16 / 3

New Hampshire

15 / 6

None

16

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <25*

Night: 17 /1

20

 

Pass: 16 / 6

New Jersey

16

6

17

Midnight - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass.*

18

None

Use is prohibited for drivers under 21 while operating a moving vehicle (except in an emergency situation) on a Graduated License permit or provisional license.

New Mexico

15

6

15 / 6

Midnight - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <21*

16 / 6

50 (10)

 

New York

16

up to 6

16 / 6

9 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 2 pass. <21 unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver*

17 (w/ driver's ed.)

18 (w/out driver's ed.)

20

 

North Carolina

15

12

16

9 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <21*; if family member <21 is passenger, no other non-family memb. pass. <21

16 / 6

None

Cell phone use prohibited for drivers under 18, except 911 calls and calls to parents

North Dakota

14

6

No intermediate license stage

14 / 6

None

 

Northern Mariana Islands

15 / 6

No data

Ohio

15 / 6

6

16

Age 16
12 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Age 17
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. for 16 yr. old drivers*

Night: 18

50 (10)

 

Passenger: 17

Oklahoma

15 / 6 (w/ driver's ed.)

16 (w/out driver's ed.)

6

16 (w/ driver's ed.)

16 / 6 (w/out driver's ed.)

11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (work, school, church exempt)

No more than 1 pass.* (licensed drivers >21 exempt)

16 / 6 (w/ driver's ed.)

17 (w/out driver's ed.)

40 (10)

 

Oregon

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m. (w/ licensed pass. >25 exempt)

First 6 mos.–no pass.<20; second 6 mos.–no more than 3 pass. <20*

17

50
(100 w/out driver's ed.)

Provisional and permitee teen drivers (under 18) prohibited from using mobile communication devices (both text and voice) while driving.

Pennsylvania

16

6

16 / 6

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

None

17 (w/ driver's ed.)

18 (w/out driver's ed.)

50

 

Rhode Island

16

6

16 / 6

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 12 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <21*

17 / 6

50 (10)

Drivers younger than 18 may not operate a cell phone.

South Carolina

15

6

15 / 6

EST
6 p.m. - 6 a.m.

EDT
8 p.m. - 6 a.m.

No more than 2 pass. unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver* (students to/from school exempt)

16 / 6

40 (10)

 

South Dakota

14

6 (3 w/ driver's ed.)

14 / 6
(14 / 3 w/ driver's ed.)

10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

None

16

None

 

Tennessee

15

6

16

11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. unless supervised by 21-yr. old driver*

17

50 (10)

No driver possessing a learner permit or intermediate driver license shall operate a motor vehicle in motion on any highway while using a hand held cellular telephone, cellular car telephone, or other mobile telephone.

Texas

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <21*

16 / 6

None

Drivers under 18 may not use a wireless handheld communication device in learner or intermediate stage.

Utah

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. <21*

Night: 17

40 (10)

 

Pass: 16 / 6

Vermont

15

12

16

None

First 3 mos.–no pass.; second 3 mos.–no pass. except family

16 / 6

40 (10)

 

Virgin Islands

No GDL law

Virginia

15 / 6

9

16 / 3

Midnight - 4 a.m.

First 12 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <18; until 18, no more than 3 pass. <18*

18

45 (15)
(eff. 7/2008)

Drivers holding an intermediate license may not use cell phones, including hands-free devices (except for emergencies).

Washington

15

6

16

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no pass. <20*; second 6 mos.–no more than 3 pass. <20

18

50 (10)

No

West Virginia

15

6

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 3 pass. <19

17

30
(0 w/ driver's ed.)

Drivers may not operate a cell phone in the learner and intermediate stages.

Wisconsin

15 / 6

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass.*

16 / 9
(Probationary license - requires a sponsor until age 18)

30 (10)

 

Wyoming

15

10 days

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <18*

16 / 6 (w/ driver's ed.)

17 (w/out driver's ed.)

50 (10)

 

Totals

Age (# of States)
14 (6)
14 / 6 (2)
14 / 9 (1)
15 (22)
15 / 6 (8 + Northern Mariana Islands)
15 / 9 (1)
16 (8 + D.C., Guam)
Varies (2)

Varies

3 States have no intermediate license stage (AR, KS, ND)

Age (# of States)
14 / 6 (2)
16 (3)
16 / 6 (9)
16 / 9 (1)
17 (12)
17 / 6 (1)
17 / 11 (1)
18 (4 + D.C.)
Varies (16)

40 States + D.C. require at least some supervised driving

10 States do not require any

4 States waive the requirement for driver's ed.

17 States + D.C.

Age (# of States)
15 (2)
15 / 6 (3)
16 (29)
16 / 1 (1)
16 / 3 (2)
16 / 4 (1)
16 / 6 (6 + D.C.)
17 (1)
Varies (2)

46 States + D.C.

40 States + D.C.

1 Delaware's GDL law also includes a seat belt provision. If a teen driver with a permit or their passenger under age 18 is found not to be wearing a seat belt, the permit holder will have their license suspended for 2 months.
2 In Michigan, teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), American Automobile Association (AAA) and State Highway Safety Offices. Most recently reviewed July, 2008.