Find Out The Driver's License Laws For Teens

Getting your driver's license is a huge deal and it means gaining freedom! While it might be a chance to hit the road and not have to rely on your parents so much to get places, all states impose some kind of driving restrictions on new drivers. Most states take part in a graduated license system, which means you will receive a teen driver's license until you hit a certain age for the adult driver's license. We go over some of those driver's license laws for teens below!

Unsupervised Driving

For teen drivers, once they get their driver license they are allowed to drive alone. However, there are still some restrictions that come into play. Every state except Vermont have laws barring teens from driving alone at night. The hours vary by state, but the most common cutoff times are 11 p.m. or midnight. Idaho and North Dakota ban teens from driving once the sun goes down, so that would be very early during the winter months!

Passenger Limits

According to studies, teen driving deaths increase when additional passengers are in the vehicle. Because of this, most states will restrict the number of passengers teen drivers can have when they are driving. These restrictions may limit passengers under a certain age, total number of passengers or both, depending on the state. There may be exceptions for family members, but that is based on the state also.

Using Your Cell Phone

Distracted driving is very dangerous and one of the main issues is drivers using their cell phones when behind the wheel. Most states have distracted driving laws for all drivers, but 37 states also ban any cell phone use for drivers under 18. There are some states that make an exception for using a cell phone to make an emergency call, but using your phone to text or get on other apps is strictly forbidden.

How Long Are The Teen Driving Restrictions In Place?

Like everything else, each state has its own set of rules for teen drivers. In most states, the restrictions are lifted when the driver turns 18 and they become an adult driver. However, some states, like New Jersey and Washington, DC, don't grant adult licenses until the driver turns 21. Some states will lift certain restrictions after the teen has held a license for a certain amount of time.

For a breakdown of all the restrictions by state, check out this awesome graphic from DriversEd.com!

If you are ready to get behind the wheel and earn your driver's license, then the first step would be to take our online driver's ed course. You can learn the rules of the road for your state, as well as all these license restrictions. From there, sign up for driving lessons with one of our professional driving instructors!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.