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A New Jersey probationary license lets you drive alone, with limits, for at least one year. If you are under 21 you may not drive from 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., may carry only one passenger beyond your dependents unless a parent or guardian is with you, may not use any phone or wireless device, and must show red GDL decals on both plates. This explainer covers each rule, the exemptions and how to upgrade to a basic license.
New Jersey probationary license restrictions (under 21)
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Curfew | No driving 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., unless you carry a work or religious exemption letter |
| Passengers | Your dependents plus one other person, unless a parent or guardian is in the car |
| Phones and devices | No cell phones, hand-held games or other interactive wireless devices, hand-held or hands-free |
| Seat belts | You and every passenger, in every seat |
| Decals | Two red reflective GDL decals on the license plates of any vehicle you drive |
| Length | At least 1 year, then upgrade once you are 18 |
If you are 21 or older when you hold a probationary license, the hour, passenger and decal rules do not apply. The manual still lists the phone ban and seat belt rule for all probationary drivers.
Who counts as a passenger?
The limit is your dependents and one additional person. The MVC defines a dependent as the driver’s own child, not a brother or sister. If a parent or guardian rides with you, the one-extra-passenger limit does not apply.
Scenario: driving friends home
You are 17 with a probationary license. Two friends want a ride home from practice. Without a parent or guardian in the car, you can take only one of them. Your younger sister counts as a passenger too, because a sibling is not a dependent.
The 11:01 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and exemptions
The MVC allows only two exemptions: employment and religion. To use one, carry a legible letter:
- on the official letterhead of your employer or religious institution,
- signed by the certifying official,
- showing their name, title, address and phone number.
School events, sports and social plans are not listed as exemptions. The rule comes from N.J.A.C. 13:21-8.18.
GDL decals: rules and cost
- Who: every driver under 21 with a special learner permit, examination permit or probationary license.
- Where: one decal on the top left corner of the front plate and one on the top left corner of the rear plate.
- Which car: any vehicle you drive, so move the removable decals when you switch cars.
- Cost: $4 a pair, issued with your permit. Extra pairs are $4 at any MVC Licensing Center (as of November 2026).
- Law: N.J.S.A. 39:3-13, 39:3-13.2a and 39:3-13.4(f).
A road test can be refused if the car has no decals and you are under 21.
What happens if you break a GDL rule?
The manual says breaking GDL restrictions can bring a $100 fine or suspension of your driving privilege. Separately, every new driver is in a two-year probationary period that starts with the permit. Two or more moving violations totaling 4 or more points in that period mean you must complete the Probationary Driver Program. See New Jersey MVC points and surcharges.
How to upgrade to a basic license
- Finish at least 1 year of probationary driving.
- Be at least 18.
- Upgrade. The MVC first-license pages say you should upgrade online. The 2026 manual says to visit an MVC Licensing Center. Check the MVC website for the current method.
- Pay the prorated fee, usually $19.50 for a Standard license or $29.00 for REAL ID according to the manual (as of November 2026).
If you do not upgrade, you stay under probationary restrictions and can be cited for breaking them. After 3.5 years without upgrading, you must book a Licensing Center appointment to renew the probationary license.
Common questions
Can a probationary driver in NJ drive after 11 p.m.?
Until 11:01 p.m., yes. From 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., only with a valid work or religious exemption letter, if you are under 21.
Does the passenger limit apply if my parent is in the car?
No. With a parent or guardian present, the one-extra-passenger limit does not apply.
Can I use GPS or hands-free calling?
The MVC bans cell phones and any interactive wireless device, hand-held or hands-free. If you rely on navigation, set the route before you set off and do not touch the device while driving.
Do decals go on my parents’ car if I borrow it?
Yes. The decals go on any vehicle you drive. They are removable, so you can move them between cars.
Does my license upgrade automatically at 18?
No. You must apply for the upgrade after your probationary year and pay the fee.
How do NJ teen rules compare with other states?
See GDL laws by state.
Related: New Jersey road test explained, hands-free and texting laws, car insurance for new drivers. Back to the complete New Jersey learner guide.
Sources
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “First Driver License/ID: Age 16” (nj.gov)
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “First Driver License/ID” (nj.gov)
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “New Jersey Driver Manual 2026” (nj.gov)
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “Basic Road Test” (nj.gov)
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “Driver Programs” (nj.gov)