State Learner's Permit Restricted License Full License Alabama 15 16 17 Alaska 14 16 16, 6 mos. Arizona 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 6 mos. Arkansas 14 16 18 California 15, 6 mos. 16 17 Colorado 15 16 17 Connecticut 16 16, 4 mos. 18 Delaware 16 16, 6 mos. 17 District of Columbia 16 16, 6 mos. 18 Florida 15 16 18 Georgia 15 16 18 Hawaii 15, 6 mos. 16 17 Idaho 14, 6 mos. 15 16 Illinois 15 16 18 Indiana 15. 16, 6 mos. 18 Iowa 14 16 17 Kansas 14 16 16, 6 mos. Kentucky 16 16, 6 mos. 17 Louisiana 15 16 17 Maine 15 16 16, 9 mos. Maryland 15, 9 mos. 16, 6 mos. 18 Massachusetts 16 16, 6 mos. 18 Michigan 14, 9 mos. 16 17 Minnesota 15 16 17 Mississippi 15 16 16, 6 mos. Missouri 15 16 18 Montana 14, 6 mos. 15 16 Nebraska 15 16 17 Nevada 15, 6 mos. 16 18 New Hampshire 15, 6 mos. 16 18 New Jersey 16 17 18 New Mexico 15 15, 6 mos. 16, 6 mos. New York 16 16, 6 mos. 17 w/classes or 18 North Carolina 15 16 16, 6 mos. North Dakota 14 15 16 Ohio 15, 6 mos. 16 18 Oklahoma 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 6 mos. Oregon 15 16 17 Pennsylvania 16 16, 6 mos. 17 with classes or 18 Rhode Island 16 16, 6 mos. 17, 6 mos. South Carolina 15 15, 6 mos. 16, 6 mos. South Dakota 14 14, 6 mos. 16 Tennessee 15 16 17 Texas 15 16 18 Utah 15 16 17 Vermont 15 16 16, 6 mos. Virginia 15, 6 mos. 16, 3 mos. 18 Washington 15 16 17 West Virginia 15 16 17 Wisconsin 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 9 mos. Wyoming 15 16 16, 6 mos.

Learner's Permits

Research shows many parents aren't good at teaching kids to become safe drivers.﻿﻿ Instead, they depend too much on driver's education programs.

Once your teen has a learner's permit, don't think of yourself as a passenger when your teen is behind the wheel. Think of yourself as a teacher.

Help your teen learn to recognize potential safety issues while driving.

Give instructions to help your teen improve and provide plenty of constructive feedback.

Each state has different laws about learner's permits and how many hours a teen needs to be behind the wheel.﻿﻿ Take those laws seriously and make sure you're helping your teen gain the experience they need to become a safe driver.

Restrictions

While a lack of sleep impairs everyone's performance, studies show sleep deprivation takes the most serious toll on teens.﻿﻿ Teens are more likely to make errors when driving later into the evening.

Nighttime

Approximately two out of five teen car crashes occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.﻿﻿ So, many states have enacted curfews to prevent teens from driving during the overnight hours. For example, Alabama doesn't allow newly licensed teens to drive between midnight and 6 a.m., North Carolina doesn't allow teens to drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Passengers

Researchers have found that for each passenger a teen has in the car, the risk of a car crash increases.﻿﻿ Friends can serve as a serious distraction and they may encourage your teen to take unnecessary risks. Consequently, many states have decided to restrict passengers in cars driven by teens.

While some states don't allow newly licensed teens to have passengers for several months, others restrict the number of minor passengers that can be in a car. Exceptions are usually made for siblings.

Cellphone

Talking on the phone while driving serves as a major distraction that increases the likelihood a teen will make driving mistakes.﻿﻿ So many states have adopted specific cellphone restrictions for young drivers.

Unfortunately, some studies show cellphone restrictions may actually increase the chances that a teen will attempt to send text messages while behind the wheel.﻿﻿ In an attempt to conceal cellphone use, teens may become even more distracted by trying to type messages on the sly.

It's vital for parents to talk to teens about the risks of distracted driving.

If a teen is caught sending messages or using a cellphone while driving, there should be clear consequences.

Safety

When it comes to letting your teen drive, don't depend on your state laws to keep your child safe. Create your own rules and restrictions for your teen's specific needs.

Keep in mind that just because your teen is old enough to drive legally, it doesn't mean they're mature enough to handle the responsibility.

If your 16-year-old is aggressive, impulsive, or irresponsible, don't let them behind the wheel just yet.

In order to be safe drivers, teens need to be able to think clearly, make good decisions, and resist temptations.

Once your teen has a driver's license, increase their freedom slowly. Remember, you don't have to grant new privileges just because the graduated licensing laws allow him to drive at night or use a cellphone in the car. You can continue to impose restrictions of your own.

A Word From Verywell

If your teen violates the law or breaks your rules, give them consequences. Take away their keys for a while or restrict the hours or places your teen drives.

And consider enrolling your teen in programs that teach driver safety beyond driver's education. You might get a discount on car insurance, but more importantly, additional driver training could save your teen's life.