Learner's permit by state — age, fees, supervised hours

A learner's permit is the legal first step to a driver's license in every US state. The minimum age ranges from 14 in South Dakota and Iowa (the youngest in the country) to 16 in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The permit fee is $0 (Mississippi) to $50 (New Jersey), and almost every state requires 30-70 hours of supervised driving before the road test.

Minimum Permit Age + Permit Fee — Every State

All 50 states Ages and supervised-hour minimums come from each state's GDL statute; fees from published DMV schedules. Rows marked "Confirm with state DMV" point back to the state agency — do not assume a default.

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL): The 3-Stage Framework

All All 50 states operate graduated driver licensing. The model was adopted nationwide through the late 1990s and early 2000s and spreads full driving privileges across three stages, on the principle that crash risk drops sharply with each month of supervised experience.

Stage 1: Learner's permit

Supervised driving only. A licensed adult must be in the front passenger seat at all times. Permit holders complete a minimum number of supervised hours and hold the permit for a minimum period — typically 6 months for under-18 applicants — before advancing.

Stage 2: Restricted / provisional / intermediate license

Solo driving allowed, but with restrictions: night-driving curfews, passenger limits, and zero-tolerance blood-alcohol standards. The restricted phase typically lasts 6-12 months and ends automatically at 17 or 18 in most states.

Stage 3: Full / unrestricted license

All restrictions lifted. Same renewal cycle, same standard fee as any adult license. Most states convert automatically at 18.

NHTSA credits GDL with a meaningful reduction in fatal teen-driver crashes since nationwide adoption. The IIHS publishes a state-by-state GDL strength rating; stronger programs (longer holding periods, stricter passenger limits, harder night curfews) correlate with fewer crashes.

Supervised-Driving-Hour Requirements

The typical range is 30 to 50 hours, with outliers at each end:

• Highest: Maine and Pennsylvania (65-70 hours), Pennsylvania calling out 5 in poor weather.
• 50-hour cluster: California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, NJ, NY, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington.
• 30-40 hour low end: Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin.
• No state-mandated hours: Arkansas, Mississippi, South Dakota.

Most states require a subset at night — typically 10 night hours. NY and Louisiana require 15. NJ is structurally different: it requires a fixed 6-month supervised period before the road test. Hours are logged on paper or in an app, signed by the supervising adult under penalty of perjury.

Night-Driving + Passenger Restrictions

During the permit phase itself, a licensed adult must always be in the front seat, so curfews and passenger limits matter more once the driver moves to the restricted-license stage.

Night curfews

Most states prohibit solo driving between 11pm or midnight and 5am or 6am. Exceptions usually cover work, school, religious obligations, or driving with a parent.

Passenger limits

• No non-family passengers under 21 for the first 6-12 months of the restricted license (California, New York, others).
• Maximum one non-family passenger under 18 after that (most other states).
• Family members exempt in virtually every state.

The passenger-limit rule reflects research showing teen-driver crash risk roughly doubles with each additional teen passenger; the curfew rule reflects the disproportionate share of fatal crashes between 9pm and 6am.

The Written Test — Online vs In-Person, Fees, Retakes

Every state's written test pulls from the state driver handbook. Topics:

• Road signs — typically 30-40% of questions
• Right-of-way and intersection rules — 20%
• Speed limits and stopping distances — 10-15%
• Drugs, alcohol, and DUI law — 10-15%
• License-suspension triggers, insurance — 10%
• Sharing the road (motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, school buses) — 10%

Most tests are 25-50 questions, multiple choice, with a 75-80% passing score. The national first-attempt pass rate is roughly 60%. The official handbook plus free third-party practice tests are the highest-yield prep — paid courses are largely unnecessary.

Online vs in-person testing

A growing number of states allow the knowledge test online from home under remote proctoring; the applicant still appears in person for documents, fee, and photo. States offering online knowledge testing include Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio, among others. Elsewhere, the test is taken at the DMV on a kiosk or paper form.

Retake rules

Most states allow 3 attempts before a 7-30 day wait; a handful cap total attempts at 5 per year. Retake fees are typically $5-$10, sometimes bundled into the initial fee.

Driver's-Ed Pairing: Where Formal Training Shortens the Path

Several states discount supervised-hour or holding-period requirements for completing an approved driver's-ed course.

• Oregon — 50 hours with driver-ed; 100 hours without. Largest discount in the country.
• Texas — driver-ed is effectively required for under-18; the 30-hour log is built around the course.
• Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania — driver-ed required for under-18 applicants.
• California — driver-ed required for a permit at 15.5; without it, the minimum age rises.
• Optional elsewhere — many southern and mountain-west states leave it to the family.

Tuition runs from about $50 online-only to $400+ for a traditional combo, depending on whether behind-the-wheel hours are bundled.

Older Learner-Permit Applicants — Adults Getting a First Permit

Adults applying for a first permit at 18, 30, 50, or 70 face a different rulebook than the teen path GDL was designed around:

• Reduced or eliminated holding period. Most states drop the 6-month minimum to 14-30 days for 18+ applicants, several waive it entirely.
• No supervised-hour log required. The log typically applies only to under-18 applicants.
• No night curfew or passenger limit in most states for 18+ transitions, though a few impose a brief restricted phase regardless of age.
• Driver-ed often optional, though some states impose it on all first-time applicants.
• Vision and medical screening tighten with age. Most states require a vision retest at every renewal in the 70s; some add a road test for first applications above 75.

Immigrants and returning expats with a foreign license get a transitional recognition window (30-90 days) before the standard US permit + knowledge + road test process applies.

Parental Responsibility Laws During the Permit Phase

In roughly 17 states, the parent or guardian who signs the under-18 permit application accepts joint legal liability for the minor's infractions during the permit phase, and in some states through the restricted phase.

• Civil liability for damages. If the minor causes an at-fault crash, the parent's auto insurance is primary and personal assets are reachable to the extent damages exceed policy limits.
• Right to revoke. The signing parent can withdraw consent at any time, which cancels the permit.
• Liability ends at 18 in most states, or when consent is withdrawn — whichever comes first.
• Insurance impact. Adding a permit holder to a parent's policy typically raises the premium 50-100%. Most insurers don't formally add the holder until the restricted license issues, but require notification.

How Long Is a Permit Valid?

Permit validity ranges from 6 months (Florida, NY) to 5 years (Texas). The more important number is the minimum holding period before testing, set by GDL law and independent of expiration.

• Holding period before road test: 6 months in most states for under-18 drivers
• 18+ adults: often reduced to 14-30 days, or eliminated entirely
• If permit expires before road test: renewal $5-$15, sometimes requires retaking the written test

Vision and Physical Requirements

Every state requires 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without lenses. If you wear glasses for the test, the permit is marked "corrective lenses required." Color blindness is not disqualifying; only red/green/yellow recognition matters and is rarely tested separately.

Restrictions While Driving With a Permit

• Licensed adult required in front passenger seat. Usually 21+, sometimes 25+. Must hold a valid license, sometimes for a minimum number of years.
• No cell phone use — including hands-free in most states for permit holders.
• Nighttime driving limits — often no driving 11pm-5am unless the supervising adult is in the car.
• No passengers under 21 beyond the supervising adult, in some states.
• Seat belts mandatory for everyone. Failure can void the permit.

What to Bring to Your Permit Appointment

• Proof of identity (passport or birth certificate)
• Proof of Social Security number
• Proof of state residency (utility bill or school enrollment letter)
• Proof of school enrollment or completion (under-18, in states with a GDL "school requirement")
• Parent/guardian signature on the application (under-18)
• Permit fee (accepted payment methods vary by state)

FAQ

Can I get a permit at 14 in any state? Yes — South Dakota (no school requirement), Iowa (with school requirement), Arkansas, Kansas. Alaska is 14 but with restrictions.

How many times can I take the written test? Most states allow 3 attempts before requiring a 7-30 day wait. Some states cap at 5 attempts per year.

Does my permit work in other states? Yes — your home-state permit is valid for driving in any US state, with the same supervisor and restriction rules. It's NOT valid for federal ID purposes (TSA, federal buildings).

What happens if my permit expires before the road test? Renewal is usually $5-$15. A few states require retaking the written test if the permit lapsed more than 30-60 days. Logged supervised hours generally carry forward — bring the log.

Do I have to take driver's-ed? Required for under-18 applicants in many states (California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas). Optional in most southern and mountain-west states, and always optional for 18+ first-time applicants.

Can a parent supervise instead of a licensed instructor? Yes, in every state. The supervising adult must hold a valid license (often for a minimum number of years) and be in the front passenger seat.

Is a permit valid as ID for alcohol or a flight? No for alcohol — most retailers refuse permits because they're issued to minors. The permit is not REAL ID-compliant and not accepted at TSA checkpoints; bring a passport.

What if I move states while holding a permit? Your existing permit is valid for driving until it expires, but you must apply for a new permit in the new state within its establish-residency window (typically 30-90 days). Logged hours generally do not transfer.

Do I need car insurance to drive with a permit? The vehicle must be insured, so the supervising adult's policy must cover the permit holder. Most insurers don't formally add the permit holder until the restricted license issues, but require notification.

Sources

• NHTSA Teen Driving — GDL crash-rate statistics and federal framework.
• IIHS Teenagers research center — state-by-state GDL strength rankings.
• AAA Foundation — Teen Driver Safety — supervised-hour and passenger-restriction research.
• CDC Teen Drivers — crash risk by age and time of day.
• Governors Highway Safety Association — teen and novice driver laws.
• Each state DMV — linked on the state pages above.