Young driver licensing systems in the U.S.

Overview
Learner stage
Intermediate & unrestricted stages
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Intermediate & unrestricted stages

April 2013

In many states, the law doesn't set a specific age at which restrictions are lifted. In those cases, the table below reflects the lowest possible age at which someone could hold an unrestricted license, given the minimum time periods required for the learner's permit and intermediate stages.

Table
Map: minimum age for unsupervised driving
Map: night restriction start times
Map: restrictions on passengers

State licensing ages: minimum age for unsupervised driving

In most states, the initial license issued at this age is probationary with restrictions limiting unsupervised driving in high risk situations (e.g., at night or with teen passengers). In some cases the minimum age is statutory; in others it is derived from minimum learner’s permit age and associated minimum requirements.