Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program applies to anyone under 17 who has not held an Idaho license. You must hold a Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) for at least 6 violation-free months and log 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, before testing. Once licensed, drivers under 16 may drive only from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. without a 21+ supervisor, and drivers under 17 may carry only one passenger under 17 for the first 6 months. This explainer is for Idaho teens and parents.
Key facts
- Who: anyone under 17 applying for a first Idaho license.
- SIP: at least 6 calendar months, violation-free.
- Hours: 50 supervised, including 10 at night.
- Supervisor: licensed driver 21 or older, in the front seat beside you.
- Earliest license: 15.
- Permit fee (as of November 2026): $21.50, or $16.50 for parent-led training.
How the Idaho GDL stages fit together
| Stage | From | What you can do | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Training Permit | 14 1/2 | Driver training, including the 6 behind-the-wheel hours | Until you pass driver training |
| Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) | After driver training | Drive with a licensed driver 21+ beside you | At least 6 months; 50 hours |
| Class D license with GDL limits | 15 | Drive alone, with the under-16 and under-17 limits below | Limits end at 16 and 17 |
In public and private driver training, the instructor keeps your Driver Training Permit and hands it back when you pass. It then becomes your SIP.
SIP rules while you practice
- The supervising driver must be 21 or older, hold a valid license and sit beside you.
- No other passengers in the front seat.
- Carry the SIP whenever you drive.
- Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt or child restraint.
- Obey all alcohol and intoxicating substance laws.
- You can keep driving on an unexpired SIP after the minimum 6 months.
When the SIP expires
- Issued between 14 1/2 and 17 1/2: 5 days after your 18th birthday.
- Issued at 17 1/2 or older: 180 days.
- Driver Training Permits are not renewable.
The 50-hour certification
Before your license is issued, a parent or legal guardian signs and dates the GDL Requirements Verification. It does two things:
- Certifies you completed 50 hours of driving, 10 at night.
- Grants permission to issue the license.
ITD offers a Drive Log Template on its Young Drivers page. Night is not defined in the GDL fact sheet; log the 10 night hours clearly. For a planning guide, see supervised driving hours by state.
A simple 6-month plan
| Months | Target hours | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | 15 | Parking lots, quiet residential streets, turns, stops |
| 3 to 4 | 18 (some at night) | Busier roads, lane changes, roundabouts, railroad crossings |
| 5 to 6 | 17 (finish the 10 night hours) | Interstate, curves, curb and stall parking, a mock skills test route |
The split is a suggestion only. The legal minimum is 50 hours with 10 at night over at least 6 months.
What gets your SIP canceled?
A canceled SIP means buying a new permit and starting a fresh 6-month period. No reinstatement fee is needed to reapply. Causes:
- Conviction for any traffic violation (speeding, running a red light) or an intoxicating substance violation
- Breaking the permit’s rules, such as unbelted occupants, not carrying the permit, or no qualified adult beside you. This also brings a mandatory suspension of driving privileges
- Any suspension ordered by a court or ITD, such as for an unpaid ticket or failing to attend school
Scenario
Five months into your SIP, you are convicted of speeding. The permit is canceled. You buy a new SIP, and your 6-month clock starts again from the new permit. ITD does not say whether hours already logged carry over to the new permit, so ask your county driver’s license office before relying on them.
Restriction when under 16
A licensed driver under 16 may drive only in daylight, which the Idaho handbook defines as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, unless a licensed driver 21 or older sits in the front seat beside you. The GDL fact sheet adds that no other passengers are allowed in the front seat.
Restriction when under 17
For the first 6 months after your license is issued, you may carry no more than 1 passenger under 17, unless the passengers are related to you by blood, adoption or marriage.
Examples
- Licensed at 16 years 2 months, driving two 15-year-old friends: not allowed in the first 6 months.
- Same driver, taking two younger siblings to school: allowed (related by blood).
- Same driver, one friend aged 16 and one aged 18: allowed (only one is under 17).
GDL penalties for drivers under 17
| Conviction (moving traffic or intoxicating substance) | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First | Warning letter |
| Second | 30-day suspension (minimum) |
| Third or later | 60-day suspension (minimum) |
These come on top of any SIP cancellation or court suspension. The handbook says GDL suspensions are absolute, with no driving privileges of any kind. Breaking a daylight-only restriction is also listed as a reason for suspension.
What else applies under 18 and under 21
- Your license shows “Under 18 until” a date and expires 5 days after your 18th birthday.
- A parent or guardian signs as your liability signer and can withdraw consent at any time, which cancels your license.
- Under 21, the DUI threshold is a BAC of .02. See zero tolerance laws.
Common questions
What time can a 15-year-old drive in Idaho?
From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. alone. Outside those hours only with a licensed driver 21 or older beside them.
How many passengers can a 16-year-old have in Idaho?
In the first 6 months of the license, no more than 1 passenger under 17, unless they are family by blood, adoption or marriage.
Who can supervise an Idaho SIP driver?
Any licensed driver 21 or older sitting beside the permit holder. The parent or guardian certifies the 50 hours.
Do I need a GDL if I move to Idaho at 16 with a license?
No supervised period or proof of driver education is required if you have a license from another state. If you completed driver training elsewhere but were not licensed, you need proof of it and a supervised period. See moving to Idaho.
Can I drive past 6 months on my SIP without testing?
Yes. You can keep driving on an unexpired SIP past the minimum period.
Does the GDL apply if I start at 17?
The GDL and driver training requirement applies under 17. At 17 or older you can use a Class D Instruction Permit instead.
Related: Idaho parent-led driver training, Idaho knowledge test, Idaho skills test, US GDL rules compared. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide.
Sources
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) Program” fact sheet ITD 3506 (Rev. 4/24) (itd.idaho.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training Program” checklist (Rev. 9/26) (itd.idaho.gov)