Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas sets its phone rules by age. Under 18 you may not use a cell phone at all while driving, hands-free included, except in an emergency. From 18 to 20 you may use a hands-free device only. Texting is banned at every age. This page sets out each tier, the extra school zone and work zone rules, and how a phone ticket affects a teen’s license.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Under 18: no phone use while driving, including hands-free, except in an emergency.
- Ages 18 to 20: hands-free only. Hand-held use is for emergencies only.
- 21 and older: the study guide allows phone use, but texting is still banned.
- All ages: no texting. Arkansas State Police say no hand-held phone use in school zones or highway work zones.
- Texting is a primary offense, so an officer can stop you for it alone.
Arkansas phone rules by age
| Driver | Hand-held calls | Hands-free calls | Texting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 (permit, learner’s, intermediate) | No (emergency only) | No (emergency only) | No |
| 18 to 20 (Class D) | Emergency only | Yes | No |
| 21 and older | Allowed by the study guide, except in school and work zones | Yes | No |
Sources for the table: the distracted driving section and license descriptions in the October 2026 study guide, and an ASP Highway Safety Office release. The guide cites Arkansas Code § 27-51-1501 (the no-texting law) and § 27-51-1601 (the Fewer Distractions Means Safer Driving Act).
What counts as texting in Arkansas?
ASP describes the all-ages ban as covering a hand-held phone used for texting, typing, email or accessing the internet while driving. The study guide’s work zone section adds that holding your phone to take a call, send a text, look up directions or scroll social media counts as a moving violation there. ASP’s advice: if you cannot use a hands-free connection, do not use your phone.
School zones and work zones
- ASP says using a hand-held cell phone in a school zone or highway work zone is prohibited for all drivers.
- When workers are present in a work zone, fines double for any moving violation, distracted driving included. The study guide says doubled fines can reach $5,000, depending on the violation.
- Speed enforcement cameras are used in Interstate work zones.
What a phone ticket means for a teen driver
- DFA’s violations list classes texting while driving as a serious violation.
- A serious traffic conviction can delay your next license stage. ASP cites a 6-month clean record for a learner’s license and 12 months for an intermediate license. See the intermediate license rules.
- DFA’s list also includes a record code for a “cell phone violation, warning for minor”.
- Parents who signed for financial responsibility carry the legal risk of a teen’s negligent driving (Arkansas Code § 27-16-702).
Practical setup for Arkansas teens
- Under 18: turn on your phone’s driving focus or do-not-disturb mode before you start the car. Hands-free is not a legal option for you.
- Set navigation before you move off. Typing a destination while driving is typing on a hand-held phone.
- If you must call, pull off the road and park first.
- Passengers can handle the phone for you.
- Emergencies are the only exception. Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
Common questions
Can a 17-year-old use Bluetooth or CarPlay calls in Arkansas?
No. Under 18, hands-free devices are not allowed either, except in an emergency.
Can an 18-year-old talk on the phone while driving in Arkansas?
Only hands-free. Hand-held use is for emergencies, and texting is banned.
Can I use GPS on my phone?
The study guide treats looking up directions on a hand-held phone as a violation in work zones. Mount the phone and set your route before you drive. If you are under 18, the official sources do not spell out how mounted navigation is treated, so ask DFA or ASP.
Is texting at a red light allowed?
The official Arkansas pages describe the ban as applying while driving or operating a vehicle. They do not carve out stops in traffic, so do not text at a light.
Is there a phone question on the Arkansas permit test?
The distracted driving section is marked “required” in the study guide, so expect questions on the age tiers.
Does the under-18 ban apply on a learner’s license with a parent in the car?
Yes. The study guide says cell phone use on a learner’s or intermediate license is prohibited except in an emergency.
Back to the Arkansas learner driver guide. Compare states: hands-free and texting laws for US drivers. Related: the Arkansas permit test.
Sources
- Arkansas State Police, “Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, Edition 10”, Distracted Driving and Work Zone sections (October 2026) (media.ark.org/dps)
- Arkansas Department of Public Safety, “April Is Distracted Driving Prevention Month” (dps.arkansas.gov)
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, “Violations and Points” (dfa.arkansas.gov)
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, “Graduated Licenses” (dfa.arkansas.gov)
- Arkansas Department of Public Safety, “Driver Examination” (dps.arkansas.gov)