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Iowa requires 30 hours of supervised driving across the teen licensing process. You need 20 hours, 2 of them at night, before the intermediate license, then 10 more hours, again with 2 at night, before the full license. A parent signs an affidavit at each step. This checklist covers who can supervise, what counts as night driving, how to log it and how to spread the practice.
Key facts (Iowa Code section 321.180B, Iowa Code 2026)
- Permit to intermediate: 20 hours of street or highway driving, at least 2 after sunset and before sunrise.
- Intermediate to full: 10 hours, at least 2 after sunset and before sunrise.
- Proof: an affidavit signed by a parent, guardian or custodian on an Iowa DOT form.
- Parent-taught driver education: 30 hours including 3 at night. 20 of them can count toward the intermediate requirement.
Iowa supervised driving hours by stage
| Stage | Total hours | Night hours | Minimum time in stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruction permit, before intermediate license | 20 | 2 | 12 months on permit |
| Intermediate license, before full license | 10 | 2 | 12 months on intermediate |
| Parent-taught driver education course | 30 | 3 | During the permit stage |
For other states, see supervised driving hours by state.
Who can supervise practice hours in Iowa?
For the affidavit hours, Iowa law accepts driving with any of these:
- the teen’s parent, guardian or custodian
- a driver education instructor
- a person certified by Iowa DOT
- a person 25 or older with written permission from a parent, guardian or custodian
The supervisor’s driving privileges must not have been suspended, revoked or barred during the period. On a permit, a licensed immediate family member 21 or older can also ride along as a supervisor, but that person is not on the statute’s list for affidavit hours. Ask Iowa DOT before counting their hours.
Iowa parent log: what to record
For the standard route, the law asks for a signed affidavit, not a submitted log. A log makes the affidavit honest and easy to complete. Parent-taught driver education is different: the law requires a log with dates, notes and duration.
| Date | Start and end time | Minutes | Day or night | Roads and conditions | Skills practiced | To improve | Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iowa DOT also links to a Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide, published by the Safe Roads Alliance in association with Iowa DOT. It covers supervised practice and the GDL restrictions for the permit and newly licensed stages.
Night hours: what counts
Only driving after sunset and before sunrise counts. Sunset times in Iowa change a lot through the year, so winter evenings are the easiest time to get night hours.
Checklist: covering the skills, not just the hours
Early hours (permit)
- Mirror, seat and seat belt set-up; starting, steering and braking in an empty parking lot
- Residential streets: stop signs, right of way and four-way stops
- Turns at signals, including a flashing yellow arrow
- Parking: US parking rules
Middle hours
- Multi-lane roads, lane changes and blind-spot checks
- Roundabouts and railroad crossings
- Rural two-lane roads, sharing the road with farm equipment, trucks and cyclists: sharing the road
Later hours
- Interstate merging: freeway driving
- At least 2 night hours, including unlit rural roads
- Rain and, in season, snow: driving in snow, fog and rain
Intermediate stage (the extra 10 hours)
- Trips the teen will soon drive alone: school, work and highway routes
- 2 more night hours
Common questions
How many hours do you need to drive with a parent in Iowa?
20 hours, 2 at night, before the intermediate license, and 10 more, 2 at night, before the full license.
Does Iowa DOT collect my log?
For the standard route, a parent signs an affidavit. For parent-taught driver education, the log is part of the required evidence.
Do driver’s ed hours count toward the 20?
Driving with a driver education instructor is on the list of accepted supervisors. Under parent-taught driver education, 20 of the 30 hours count.
Can a friend’s parent supervise?
Yes, if they are 25 or older and have written permission from your parent, guardian or custodian.
Do I need the 10 extra hours if I am about to turn 18?
The 10-hour rule is part of the full license requirements for 17 year olds under section 321.180B. Check with Iowa DOT if you will be 18 before you qualify.
Related: Iowa intermediate license rules, parent-taught driver education, the Iowa driving test. Full guide: learning to drive in Iowa.
Sources
- Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.180B: Graduated driver’s licenses” (legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Legislature, “Iowa Code 2026, Section 321.178A: Driver education, teaching parent” (legis.iowa.gov)
- Safe Roads Alliance with Iowa Department of Transportation, “The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program” (iowadot.gov)
- Iowa Department of Transportation, “For the parents of teen drivers: a resource for teen licensing” (iowadot.gov)