Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

June 2009

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, except for North Dakota, all states have all three stages, although the programs vary from state to state. Below are some highlights:

  • Cell Phones/Texting: 21 states and the District of Columbia restrict cell phone use by novice drivers. 10 ban texting. (See GHSA's Cell Phone laws page for more information.)
  • Nighttime Driving Restriction: 47 states and the District of Columbia restrict nighttime driving during the intermediate stage.
  • Passenger Restriction: 44 states and the District of Columbia restrict the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.
  • Novice Driver Decal: New Jersey is the only state with a measure requiring those younger than 21 without full-privilege licenses to display a decal on their vehicle identifying them as new drivers.

State

Learner Stage

Intermediate Stage

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

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

 

Min.
Age
(Yrs./
Mos.)

Min.

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.

First 6 mos.–no passengers <21*

16 / 6

40 (10)

Arizona

15 / 6

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass. <18*

16 / 6

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

Arkansas

14

6

16

11 p.m. - 4 a.m.
(eff. 7/30/09)

No more than 1
(eff. 7/30/09)

18
(eff. 7/30/09)

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)

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)

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

Passenger: 17 / 4

Delaware 1

16

6

16 / 6

10 p.m. - 6 a.m.

No more than 1 pass.*

17

50 (10)

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)

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 1 pass. <21*; thereafter–no more than 3 pass.

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

Drivers <16: First 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)

Passenger:
17

Indiana

15 / 6
(w/ driver's ed)

16
(w/out driver's ed)

(eff. 6/30/10)

6
(eff. 6/30/10)

16 / 6
(w/ driver's ed)

16/ 9 (w/out driver's ed)

(eff. 6/30/10)

First 180 days–Su-Th
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

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

(eff. 6/30/10)

First 180 days–no pass. unless supervised by >25-yr. old driver*
(eff. 6/30/10)

17

50 (10)
(eff. 6/30/10)

Iowa

14

6

16

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

Limited to the number of safety belts in vehicle

17

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

Kansas 2

14

12
(eff. 1/10)

16

Fist 6 mos.–9 p.m. -
5 a.m.
(eff. 1/10)

First 6 mos.–no more than 1 pass.*
(eff. 1/10)

16 / 6
(eff. 1/10)

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

35

Maine

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

First 180 days–no pass. unless supervised by licensed driver with 2+ consecutive years of full licensure*
(secondarily enforced)

16 / 6

35 (5)

Maryland

15 / 9

9
(eff. 10/09)

16 / 6
(eff. 10/09)

Midnight - 5 a.m.

Drivers <18: First 5 mos.–no pass. <18*

Night: 17 / 9

60 (10)

Passenger:
16 / 11

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

14 / 9

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

None

17

50 (10)

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)

Passenger:
17

Mississippi

15

12

16

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

Fr-Sa
11:30 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Must have at least 1 adult >21

16 / 6

None

Missouri

15

6

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.)

Passenger:
16 / 6

Nevada

15 / 6

6

16

None

First 6 mos.–no pass. <18*

Pass: 16 / 6

50 (10)

New Hampshire

15 / 6

None

16

1 a.m. - 5 a.m.

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

Night: 17 /1

40 (10)
(eff. 6/16/09)

Pass: 16 / 6

New Jersey

16

6

17

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
(eff. 5/10)

No more than 1 pass.
(eff. 5/10)

18

None

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

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.)

10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
(eff. 11/09)

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

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

17 (w/out driver's ed.)

50 (10)
(eff. 11/09)

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.)

Pennsylvania

16

6

16 / 6

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

None

17 (if crash and conviction free and completed driver’s ed.)

18 (automatically becomes a regular license when the junior driver turns 18)

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)

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* (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)

Texas

15

6

16

Midnight - 5 a.m.

No more than 1 pass. <21*

16 / 6

None

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)

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)

West Virginia

15

6

16

11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

No more than 3 pass. <19

17

30
(0 w/ driver's ed.)

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 (21)
15 / 6 (8 + Northern Mariana Islands)
15 / 9 (1)
16 (8 + D.C., Guam)
Varies (3)

Varies

1 state (ND) has no intermediate license stage

Age (# of States)
14 / 6 (1)
16 (2)
16 / 6 (11)
16 / 9 (1)
17 (13)
17 / 6 (1)
17 / 11 (1)
18 (6 + D.C.)
Varies (14)

42 + D.C. require at least some supervised driving

8 do not require any

4 waive the requirement for driver's ed.

Age (# of States)
15 (2)
15 / 6 (2)
16 (32)
16 / 3 (1)
16 / 4 (1)
16 / 6 (8 + D.C.)
17 (1)
Varies (3)

47 + D.C.

44 + 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 At age 15, novice drivers can drive without supervision to and from work or school.

Sources:Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), American Automobile Association (AAA) and State Highway Safety Offices.