Requirements to get an instruction permit for an applicant under age 18
- Be at least 15 years old
- Have completed or be enrolled in an approved behind-the-wheel driver education course which begins within 60 days of the date your driver education instructor certifies your driver license application
- Have your adult sponsor sign the driver license application
- Present proof of:
- Pass the knowledge test, highway signs test and vision screening
Restrictions of the instruction permit
A driver with an instruction permit may only drive when accompanied by a person with two years driving experience who holds a valid, regular license (not a probationary or occupational license) and who sits in the front passenger seat and is one of the following:
- A qualified instructor 19 years old or older. Up to three other people may ride in the vehicle if it is equipped with dual controls.
- A parent, legal guardian or spouse 19 years old or older. Immediate family members may ride in the back seat.
- A person 21 or older. This person must be designated in writing by a parent or legal guardian prior to accompanying a driver under age 18.
Helpful note: See the
Parents Supervised Driving Program guide for step-by-step lessons to use during the supervised driving period.
Requirements to get a probationary license for an applicant under age 18
- Hold the instruction permit for a minimum of six months before applying for a probationary license
- Be violation free in the six months prior to applying for the probationary license
- Accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, 10 of which must be driving experience at night. For convenience, use the
Road Ready Mobile App or print off a
driving log sheet to track your hours of supervised driving.
- Present proof of completion of an approved driver-education training course
- Have your parent or adult sponsor certify on the driver application the completion of 50 hours of driving experience (10 at night)
- Pass a road test unless eligible for the
road test waiver (Note: this pilot program ends December 31, 2023)
- Pay required fees
Restrictions of the probationary license
A Graduated Driver License (GDL) is designed to help keep novice drivers (ages 15 to age 18) out of high-risk driving situations, such as driving at night or with multiple peer passengers, while giving them the opportunity to develop their driving skills in lower-risk situations.
Drivers under 18 have the following GDL restrictions during the first nine months after obtaining a probationary license.
From 5 a.m. to midnight, you can drive alone and go anywhere. Any number of immediate family members can ride along as well as the following people:
- One person who holds a valid, regular license with at least two years of licensed driving experience and who is:
- a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older, or
- a person 21 or older
-
One other person
From midnight to 5 a.m., you can drive alone only IF driving between home, school and/or work. The same people listed immediately above can ride along, too.
If driving anywhere else, one of the following people must be seated in the front passenger seat:
- A parent or legal guardian
-
One person with a valid, regular license with two years of licensed driving experience and who is:
- a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older,
or
- a person 21 or older.
- In addition, any number of the driver’s immediate family members and one other person may ride along.
Restrictions will be extended six months if:
- You are convicted of a moving traffic violation,
or
- You violate any of the restrictions,
or
- Your license is suspended or revoked for any reason
Additional information