Permit Driving Rules: Teaching Safe Driving Habits (2025)

Graduated Driver’s Licensing

Graduated driver’s licensing is not a new idea. Some states have issued learner’s permits since the 1970s. States began a more uniform approach in 1996 when Florida implemented the first three-tier graduated driver’s license (GDL) system. By 2006, every state plus Washington D.C. had passed laws adopting a comparable GDL system with either two or three tiers.

The system includes an introductory tier for new drivers. These drivers receive instruction or learner’s permits so they can acquire experience while driving with supervising adults. Once they have the required number of hours, they can exchange their permits for licenses.

These driver’s licensing systems typically include the following three steps:

Instruction or Learner’s Permit

An instruction or learner’s permit allows the teen to practice driving outside of a driver’s education course. Teens usually must meet certain qualifications to obtain their permit, including:

• Attending or passing driver’s ed
• Passing the written driver’s license exam
• Passing a vision test
• Having insurance

Once issued, the learner can drive while supervised by an adult to acquire driving experience and practice for the state’s road test.

Provisional Driver’s License

After the teen completes the experience requirements and passes the road test, states usually issue a provisional license. These licenses give teens the ability to drive unsupervised. However, they typically come with limitations on driving at night or with passengers.

Driver’s License

The provisional license usually lasts until the driver reaches a certain age. For example, in some states, the provisional license automatically becomes a driver’s license when the driver turns 18 and has a clean driving record.

Permit Driving Rules

States impose restrictions on drivers with instruction or learner’s permits because they lack experience, which is the same reason their car insurance is higher. By allowing teens to gain experience in a supervised environment, they reduce their risk of a car accident, as well as the injuries and property damage accidents cause.

What are the rules of having a permit? States vary in the permit driving time rules they impose, although many have restrictions in the following areas:

Minimum Age

Iowa, for example, allows teens to apply for an instruction permit when they turn 14 years old. In Massachusetts, teens must be at least 16 years old to submit a learner’s permit application.

Can someone with a permit drive with an 18-year-old? In most states, the answer is no. The supervisor must also meet age requirements in many states.

How old do you have to be to drive with a permit driver? The minimum age for a licensed driver to accompany a driver with a learner's permit is set by the individual states. The age ranges anywhere from 20 to 25 years old for the supervisor depending on the state that issued the permit.

Minimum Holding Period

Mississippi has one of the longest holding periods at 12 months. New Hampshire does not issue learner’s permits but allows teens to accumulate the experience required for a provisional license by riding with an adult at least 25 years old. Once the learner accumulates those hours and meets the age requirement, they can apply for the provisional license.

Supervised Driving Hours

The number of supervised driving hours the learner must accumulate varies by state. Texas has one of the lowest minimums at 30 hours, while Pennsylvania requires 65 hours.

Nighttime Driving Restrictions

What hours are you not allowed to drive with a permit? Many states require at least some supervised driving to happen at night. For example, both Texas and Pennsylvania require at least 10 hours of night driving.

Passenger Restrictions

If you have your permit, who can you drive with? The answer to this question depends on your state. Some states allow you to carry passengers of any age or relationship. Other states only allow learners to drive with family members.

For example, California has no restrictions on passengers riding with a permitted driver as long as a supervisor is present. Moreover, once the driver receives their driver’s license, they cannot transport passengers without a parent, driving instructor, or other adult present for the first 12 months.

Phone Restrictions

Most states prohibit teens from using their phones while driving. For example, Maine prohibits teens with learner’s permits from texting or talking on their cell phones, even in hands-free mode or while using headphones.

Zero Tolerance

Most states have a zero-tolerance law. These laws impose a mandatory license suspension for any minor stopped with any amount of alcohol in their system. New York only imposes driver’s license suspension and a fine, while Ohio can sentence a teen to up to 30 days in jail for underage OUI.

Get Help From ConsumerShield

Violating permit rules can result in harsh sanctions like a delay in when the teen can obtain a full driver’s license. Worse yet, a teen who violates the rules can cause serious injuries or even deaths in a collision. ConsumerShield can help people who need information about permit rules. Contact us for a free case evaluation and a lawyer referral.