Learner's Permit Age by State: When Can My Teen Drive?
Enter a state and your teen's birth date: the earliest learner's permit date, the earliest provisional licence, and the night and passenger limits that follow.
As of October 2026, 26 states let a teen get a learner's permit at 15 and 35 a provisional licence at 16. Permits start at 14 in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and the Dakotas, and at 16 in eight places including New York and New Jersey, where the licence comes at 17.
Learner's Permit Age by State: When Can My Teen Drive?
Frequently asked
What is the youngest age to get a learner's permit?
14, in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota. Montana and Idaho start at 14 years 6 months and Michigan at 14 years 9 months, as of October 2026.
How long does a teen have to hold a learner's permit?
Six months in most states. Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Vermont require 12 months; Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia 9 months. Connecticut needs 120 days with professional training, and New Hampshire issues no permit at all.
Can a 16 year old drive late at night?
Usually not alone. Most states bar provisional drivers from roughly 11 p.m. or midnight to 5 a.m., with exceptions for work, school or an adult in the car. The limit starts at 9 p.m. in Kansas for the first 6 months and upstate New York, while Vermont has no night limit.
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