After you pass in Louisiana: restrictions and your licence
Passing the road test at 16 gives you a Louisiana intermediate license, not a full one. You can drive alone, but with limits at night and on passengers designed to keep new drivers out of the riskiest situations.
The word 'Intermediate' appears on the license, and breaking a restriction is a violation of the law.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can state the intermediate license curfew and who may supervise during it.
- You can apply the evening passenger limit correctly.
- You can state the phone rules for drivers 17 and under.
- You can explain your seat belt duty as the driver.
- You can describe what is needed for a full Class E license.
What you need to know and understand
- You may not drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older, or a licensed sibling 18 or older, is with you.
- From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. you may carry no more than one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member, unless a licensed adult 21 or older is with you.
- Drivers 17 and under may not use a phone to talk or text (read, write or send) except in an emergency.
- As the driver you must make sure every passenger is buckled before the car moves.
- The intermediate license lasts until your 17th birthday.
- A full Class E license needs 12 consecutive months with no at-fault crashes, no moving violations and no seat belt, curfew, drug or alcohol violations.
- Driving against a license restriction can lead to suspension.
Is this allowed? Quick checks
- Driving two friends aged 16 home at 4 p.m.: yes, the evening passenger limit has not started.
- Driving two friends aged 16 home at 7 p.m. with no adult: no.
- Driving your younger brothers and sisters at 8 p.m.: yes, immediate family do not count toward the limit.
- Driving home alone from work at 11:30 p.m.: no.
- Driving at midnight with your licensed 19-year-old sister: yes.
Moving to a full Class E license
- Turn 17.
- Keep a clean record for 12 consecutive months: no at-fault crashes, moving violations, or seat belt, curfew, drug or alcohol violations.
- Visit OMV to have the intermediate restriction removed and the new license issued.
- Keep following the phone rule for drivers 17 and under, and the hands-free law for everyone after that.
New drivers and alcohol
Until you are 21, a blood alcohol level of 0.02% or more brings a 180-day suspension, and any alcohol violation also blocks your move to a full license. Our deeper guide on this site, Louisiana intermediate license rules under the R.Y.A.N. Act, has more examples.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the curfew has exceptions for work or school. OMV lists none.
- Counting a friend's older sibling as immediate family. Only your own family members are exempt from the passenger limit.
- Taking a quick call through the car speakers at 16. Drivers 17 and under may not talk on the phone except in an emergency.
- Picking up a ticket at 16 and a half and expecting a full license on your 17th birthday.
Test yourself: After you pass in Louisiana: restrictions and your licence
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Go deeper
Sources: Class D and E Driver's Guide, DPSMV2052 (R08/25) (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles); Louisiana Graduated Driver's License Laws (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles); Student/Parent Information page (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles); Suspensions page (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Louisiana licensing agency.