Learner's permit and teen license rules by state
How old you must be for a learner's permit, how long you hold it, and how many supervised hours you need. Every number below comes from the state's own driver handbook.
Updated October 20, 2026
How the steps work
Most states license new drivers in stages: first a learner's permit, which lets you drive only with a qualified licensed adult, then a license with limits for young drivers, then a full license. The details differ a lot from state to state, so always check your state's page and handbook.
Rules by state
| State | Permit age | Hold the permit | Supervised hours | Of them at night | Night limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 years old | 6 months | — | — | — |
| Alaska | 14 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | — | 1 a.m. |
| Arizona | 15½ years old | 6 months | 30 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Arkansas | 14 years old | — | — | — | 11 p.m. |
| California | 15½ years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 11 p.m. |
| Colorado | — | 12 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Connecticut | 16 years old | — | 40 hours | — | 11 p.m. |
| Delaware | 16 years old | 12 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 10 p.m. |
| District of Columbia | 16 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | 50 hours | 10 hours | 11 p.m. |
| Georgia | 15 years old | 12 months | 40 hours | 6 hours | Midnight |
| Hawaii | 15½ years old | 6 months | — | — | 11 p.m. |
| Idaho | — | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Illinois | 15 years old | 9 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Indiana | 15 years old | — | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kansas | 14 years old | 12 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 9 p.m. |
| Kentucky | 15 years old | 6 months | 60 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Louisiana | — | 6 months | 50 hours | 15 hours | 11 p.m. |
| Maine | 15 years old | 6 months | 70 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Maryland | — | 9 months | 60 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Massachusetts | 16 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | — | — |
| Michigan | — | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 10 p.m. |
| Minnesota | 15 years old | 6 months | — | 15 hours | Midnight |
| Mississippi | 15 years old | 12 months | — | — | — |
| Missouri | 15 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | 10 hours | 1 a.m. |
| Montana | — | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Nebraska | 15 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Nevada | 15½ years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 10 p.m. |
| New Hampshire | — | — | 40 hours | 10 hours | — |
| New Jersey | 16 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York | — | 6 months | — | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | — | — | — | 9 p.m. |
| North Dakota | 14 years old | — | 50 hours | — | — |
| Ohio | 15½ years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Oklahoma | — | 6 months | — | — | 10 p.m. |
| Oregon | 15 years old | 6 months | 100 hours | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 16 years old | 6 months | 65 hours | 10 hours | 11 p.m. |
| Rhode Island | 16 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 1 a.m. |
| South Carolina | 15 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | 10 hours | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | 15 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Texas | 15 years old | 6 months | — | — | Midnight |
| Utah | 15 years old | 6 months | 40 hours | 10 hours | Midnight |
| Vermont | 15 years old | 12 months | 40 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Virginia | — | — | — | — | — |
| Washington | 15 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | 1 a.m. |
| West Virginia | 15 years old | — | 50 hours | 10 hours | 10 p.m. |
| Wisconsin | 15 years old | 6 months | 50 hours | 10 hours | — |
| Wyoming | 15 years old | — | 50 hours | 10 hours | 11 p.m. |
A dash means we have not yet confirmed that rule in the handbook. Rules change: before you go to the DMV, open the official handbook linked on your state's page.
Before the knowledge test
The written (knowledge) test is taken before you get a permit. It covers road signs and the rules in your state's handbook. Practise with tests in your state's real format and pass mark.
Questions
No. The minimum age, how long you must hold the permit and the supervised-hour requirement are set by each state. Use the table above and your state's handbook.
From each state's official driver handbook. Each value is backed by a verbatim quote that we keep with the question it was written for.