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If you are under 18 in Pennsylvania, you must complete at least 65 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice, including at least 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather, before your road test. A parent or guardian certifies the hours on the Parent or Guardian Certification Form (DL-180C), which you hand to the examiner on test day. This checklist covers who can supervise, what the form says, and how to plan the hours across the six-month permit period.
Key facts
- 65 hours total, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather.
- Applies to learners under 18.
- Certified on form DL-180C; bring the original to the road test.
- The current DL-180C (6-25) also asks the parent to certify the learner has printed or viewed PennDOT’s distracted driving materials.
- Minimum permit period before the road test: six months.
The 65-hour requirement at a glance
| Type of driving | Minimum hours |
|---|---|
| Nighttime | 10 |
| Bad (inclement) weather | 5 |
| Other supervised driving | 50 |
| Total | 65 |
Who can supervise a Pennsylvania learner?
PUB 95 says the person in the front seat must be either:
- a licensed driver aged 21 or older, or
- a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse aged 18 or older who holds a driver’s license.
PUB 178 adds that the supervisor must be licensed for the same or a higher class of vehicle than your permit, and must sit in the seat beside you.
Watch the form wording. The current DL-180C (6-25) certifies that the 65 hours were “given by a licensed driver(s) 21 years of age or older.” If a supervisor is under 21 (for example an 18-year-old spouse), check with PennDOT before counting those hours.
What the DL-180C certifies
- The minor has completed at least 65 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night and 5 in inclement weather.
- The minor has printed or viewed PennDOT’s educational materials on distracted driving.
- The signature is from a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse at least 18.
Signing: the form can be signed in front of a notary or a driver license examiner, among others listed on it, such as an end-of-course skill test teacher, a certified third-party examiner or a motorcycle safety instructor. A notarized signature is needed only if the parent or guardian is not coming to the road test.
PennDOT does not require you to hand in a trip-by-trip log. Keeping one makes it easy for the parent to certify honestly. PUB 178 says new permit holders also receive the Parent’s Supervised Driving Program guidebook.
Planning 65 hours over six months
Six months is roughly 26 weeks, so 65 hours works out to about 2.5 hours a week. A simple plan:
- Weeks 1 to 4: empty lots and quiet streets. Starting, stopping, steering, turns, the vehicle controls the examiner will check.
- Weeks 5 to 12: residential and town roads, intersections, four-way stops, right on red, lane changes, parking.
- Weeks 13 to 20: busier roads, highways and merging, work zones. Start the 10 night hours.
- Weeks 21 to 26: mock road tests, parallel parking in a 24 by 8 foot box, and the 5 bad-weather hours whenever rain or snow arrives.
Bad weather is unpredictable, so take the chance whenever it rains or snows rather than leaving those 5 hours to the final weeks.
Sample log columns
| Date | Start/end time | Minutes | Night? | Bad weather? | Skills practiced | Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (date) | (times) | (minutes) | Y/N | Y/N | e.g. highway merge | (initials) |
Rules while you log hours
- Supervisor in the front seat at all times.
- No more passengers than seat belts.
- Planning to drive in another state? Check with your insurer and that state first. See driving with a permit in another state.
Road test day checklist
- Original signed DL-180C
- Valid learner’s permit, at least six months old
- Vehicle registration card and proof of insurance (originals)
- Valid license of the adult who comes with you
Details: the Pennsylvania road test guide.
Common questions
Does driver’s ed count toward the 65 hours in PA?
Partly. PennDOT’s test scheduling FAQ says the 6 hours of driving with an instructor that many driver education courses include can be credited toward the 65. The other 59 hours still need a qualified supervisor.
What counts as bad weather driving?
The form says “inclement weather”. PennDOT does not list conditions, but rain, snow and fog are the obvious cases.
Do I need the DL-180C if I am 18 or older?
No. The 65 hours apply to applicants under 18.
Can a grandparent or older sibling supervise?
Yes, if they are a licensed driver aged 21 or older.
Does PennDOT check my log?
PennDOT asks for the signed certification, not the log itself. The parent is certifying the hours under their signature.
How does PA compare with other states?
See supervised driving hours by state. For every step, see learning to drive in Pennsylvania, and the DL-180 permit guide.
Sources
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Chapter 1: Applying for a Learner’s Permit”, Online Driver’s Manual (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Parent or Guardian Certification Form, DL-180C (6-25)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “A Guide to Obtaining a Pennsylvania Junior Learner’s Permit and Junior Driver’s License, PUB 178 (7-23)” (pa.gov)