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Before an Oregon teen can get a provisional driver license, they need 100 hours of supervised driving. The figure drops to 50 hours if they take and pass an ODOT-approved driver education (traffic safety education) course. This checklist is for Oregon permit holders and the adults who ride with them. It covers who can supervise, how to log the hours and how to choose a route.
Key facts
- Without driver ed: at least 100 hours of supervised driving.
- With ODOT-approved driver ed: at least 50 hours.
- Supervisor: at least 21, with a valid license held for at least 3 years.
- Minimum time on the permit: 6 months, and you must be at least 16 to get the license.
- Who it applies to: applicants under 18.
50 or 100 hours: which route?
| 100-hour route | 50-hour route | |
|---|---|---|
| Supervised hours | 100 | 50 |
| Driver education | Not required | ODOT-approved traffic safety education course, passed |
| Drive test | Required (DMV or Class C testing business) | Can be waived if you passed the course within the past 2 years |
| Proof | DMV pages do not name a set form; keep a log | Course completion. Since October 14, 2024 the provider notifies DMV electronically. For earlier courses, bring the original completion card. |
The drive test waiver is explained in the Oregon drive test and driver ed waiver guide.
Who can supervise an Oregon permit driver?
On a provisional instruction permit you may drive only with a person who:
- has a valid driver license
- is at least 21 years old
- is sitting beside you
For the time to count toward your 50 or 100 hours, the supervisor must also have held their license for at least 3 years. Any adult who meets these rules can supervise; it does not have to be a parent. Practice with a 21-year-old who has been licensed for only 2 years is legal, but those hours do not count.
The permit holder may not use a mobile device at all while driving, even hands-free.
Logging your hours
ODOT DMV publishes a free Practice Driving Log (on the DMV Teen Drivers page). Keep it in the car and fill in a line every session:
- date
- topic or focus
- time, in hours and minutes
- running total
- teen’s initials and adult’s initials
DMV pages do not set a separate night-driving hour requirement. Check with DMV if you are unsure what record to bring when you apply.
A practice plan that builds up
ODOT’s parent guide recommends this order:
- Start easy: in daylight and good weather, in empty parking lots or on remote roads. Practice turning, parking and backing up.
- Quiet streets: neighborhood roads, stop signs, right turns on red after a full stop, and scanning left, front, then right before moving off.
- Busier roads: changing lanes and merging. Check your mirrors every 6 to 8 seconds and keep a 2 to 4 second following distance.
- Highways and freeways: entering, exiting and keeping out of trucks’ blind spots. See freeway driving for new drivers.
- Harder conditions: night, rain and other weather, once the basics are solid. See driving in snow, fog and rain.
The guide also advises practicing with only the teen and the supervisor in the car, and wearing safety belts and using headlights day and night.
Checklist before you apply for the license
- You are 16 or 17.
- You have held the permit for 6 months or more. An out-of-state permit counts toward this.
- You have 100 logged hours, or 50 plus a passed ODOT-approved course.
- Every counted hour was with a supervisor aged 21 or older, licensed 3 years or more.
- Your permit is still valid. It lasts 2 years, and DMV does not send a reminder.
- You have booked a drive test, or confirmed your waiver.
Once licensed, see Oregon provisional license rules for the first-year limits.
Common questions
Do I need 50 or 100 hours in Oregon?
You need 100 without driver education and 50 if you take and pass an ODOT-approved course.
Can my older sibling supervise me?
Yes, legally, if they are 21 or older, have a valid license and sit beside you. The hours count only if they have been licensed for at least 3 years.
Do driver ed behind-the-wheel lessons count?
DMV’s pages do not say. Ask your course provider or DMV before you rely on lesson time for your total.
Do I need the hours if I am 18 or older?
The 50 or 100 hour rule applies to applicants under 18. Adults follow a separate permit process on DMV’s “Over 18” page.
How do Oregon’s hours compare with other states?
See supervised driving hours by state. The full Oregon process is in learning to drive in Oregon.
Sources
- Oregon DMV, “Get an Instruction Permit: Under 18” (oregon.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Get a Driver License: Under 18” (oregon.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Oregon Driver Manual: Other Important Information” (oregon.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Practice Driving Log” (oregon.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Parent Guide to Teen Driving: Supervise Your Teen Driver” (oregon.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Parent Guide to Teen Driving: The Rules for Provisional Driver Licensing” (oregon.gov)