Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This page compares graduated driver license laws by state for teens and parents. It covers when the night limit starts and how many young passengers a new driver may carry in each state’s intermediate (provisional) stage. Every state and DC uses GDL, but the details differ a lot. States not shown in the table are listed under it, with the agency to check.
Key facts
- NHTSA says all 50 states and DC have a three-stage GDL system: learner’s permit, intermediate license, full license.
- The intermediate stage typically limits night driving and teenage passengers.
- Night limits found on official pages start anywhere from 6 p.m. (South Carolina conditional and special restricted licenses, 8 p.m. in daylight saving time, unless a licensed driver 21+ is with you) or 9 p.m. (Kansas at 16, North Carolina Level 2) to 1 a.m. (for example Alaska, New Hampshire, Missouri).
- Most states allow exceptions for work, school activities, religious events and emergencies. Some require a signed note or form.
- Restrictions usually end at 18, or earlier after a set period with a clean record.
The three GDL stages at a glance
| Stage | Common names | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Learner | Learner’s permit, instruction permit, learner license, Level 1 | Drive only with a licensed supervisor, usually 21 or older, in the front seat |
| 2. Intermediate | Provisional, junior, probationary, restricted, Level 2 | Drive alone, with night, passenger and phone limits |
| 3. Full | Unrestricted, Class D or C, Level 3 | GDL limits end |
Permit ages and required practice hours are covered in learning to drive in the USA and supervised driving hours by state. As examples of the range, Iowa asks for 20 hours (2 at night) before the intermediate license. Oregon asks for 100 hours, or 50 hours plus approved driver education.
Teen curfews and passenger limits by state
These rules apply to the intermediate stage unless noted. “Family” means immediate family or household members as each state defines them. Exceptions are not listed in full, so read your state guide before relying on one.
| State | Night limit (no unsupervised driving) | Passenger limit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Midnight to 6 a.m. | 1 non-family passenger (age 16, or 17 and licensed under 6 months) |
| Alaska | 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. | Only parent/guardian, siblings or people 21+, unless accompanied |
| Arizona | Midnight to 5 a.m. (first 6 months) | First 6 months: no more than 1 passenger under 18 (siblings exempt, or with a licensed parent or guardian in the front seat) |
| Arkansas | 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. | 1 unrelated minor unless a licensed driver 21+ is in front |
| California | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (first 12 months) | No passengers under 20 (first 12 months) unless a parent/guardian or licensed driver 25+ is present |
| Colorado | Midnight to 5 a.m. | No passengers under 21 for 6 months (siblings excepted, or with a parent or licensed adult driver aboard), then 1 under 21 for the next 6 months |
| Connecticut | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (until 18) | First 6 months: only an instructor, parent/guardian or qualifying adult; next 6 months: immediate family too |
| Delaware | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (months 7 to 12) | Supervisor plus 1 passenger for all 12 months (family exempt with the supervisor); 1 passenger when driving alone, months 7 to 12 |
| Florida | Age 16: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.; age 17: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. | No passenger limit is set in s. 322.16, which sets night limits only |
| Georgia | Midnight to 5 a.m. | Family only for 6 months, then 1 non-family under 21, then 3 after 12 months |
| Hawaii | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. | 1 passenger under 18 who is not a household member |
| Idaho | Under 16: daylight hours only, unless a licensed driver 21+ is beside you | Under 17, first 6 months: 1 passenger under 17 unless related |
| Illinois | Sun to Thu 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; Fri and Sat 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. | 1 passenger under 20 for the first 12 months or until 18 (siblings, stepsiblings, children and stepchildren exempt); permit stage: 1 front-seat passenger, back seat limited to seat belts |
| Indiana | First 180 days: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.; then until 18: after 11 p.m. Sun to Thu, 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sat and Sun, before 5 a.m. Mon to Fri | First 180 days: no passengers unless a licensed driver 25+, spouse 21+ or instructor is in front; own child, stepchild, sibling (incl. step and half) and spouse exempt |
| Iowa | 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. (waiver possible) | Limit in the first 6 months; parent can waive |
| Kansas | At 16: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (work, school and worship trips allowed) | 1 non-sibling passenger under 18 |
| Kentucky | Midnight to 6 a.m. | 1 unrelated passenger under 20 |
| Louisiana | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (lifts with a licensed adult 21+ or a licensed sibling 18+) | 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.: 1 non-family passenger under 21 |
| Maine | Midnight to 5 a.m. | Family only unless with a qualifying licensed driver (270 days) |
| Maryland | Midnight to 5 a.m. (under 18) | Under 18: no passengers under 18 for the first 151 days unless immediate family or a supervising driver (21+, licensed 3 years) is present |
| Massachusetts | 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless a parent or guardian is with you (secondary enforcement 12:30 to 1 a.m. and 4 to 5 a.m.) | First 6 months: no passengers under 18 except family, unless a qualifying adult is in front |
| Michigan | 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. | 1 passenger under 21 (exceptions for family, work and authorized activities) |
| Missouri | 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. | First 6 months: max 1 non-family passenger under 19; then max 3 |
| Montana | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for 1 year or until 18 (exceptions: work, school and church travel, emergencies, farm work, parent-authorized purposes) | First 6 months: 1 unrelated passenger under 18; months 7 to 12: 3; unless a licensed adult supervises |
| Nebraska | Midnight to 6 a.m. (work and school trips allowed) | 1 passenger under 19 who is not immediate family, first 6 months of the POP |
| Nevada | 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (until 18) | First 6 months: no passengers under 18 except immediate family |
| New Hampshire | 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. | First 6 months: 1 non-family passenger under 25 unless a licensed adult 25+ is present |
| New Jersey | 11:01 p.m. to 5 a.m. | Under 21: dependents plus 1 other passenger, unless a parent or guardian is in the car |
| New Mexico | Midnight to 5 a.m. (exceptions with signed statements for work, school, religious activity, family or medical necessity) | 1 non-family passenger under 21 unless a licensed driver 21+ is present |
| New York | Varies by region; junior license holders may not drive in New York City | 1 passenger under 21 unless immediate family |
| North Carolina | 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Level 2) | 1 passenger under 21 who is not a household member |
| Ohio | Midnight to 6 a.m. (first 12 months); then 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. until 18 | 1 non-family passenger (first 12 months) |
| Oklahoma | 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (work, school and church trips allowed) | 1 passenger unless household members or a licensed driver 21+ |
| Oregon | Midnight to 5 a.m. | No non-family under 20 for 6 months, then up to 3 under 20 |
| Pennsylvania | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. | 1 non-family passenger under 18 for 6 months, then up to 3 |
| Rhode Island | 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless supervised (exceptions: work; volunteer fire, rescue or EMS; 4 to 5 a.m. to school athletics) | First 12 months: 1 passenger under 21; immediate family and household exempt |
| South Carolina | Conditional (15 1/2) and special restricted (16): alone 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time); with a licensed driver 21+ to midnight; after midnight only with a parent-type supervisor under SC Code 56-1-100(A) | No more than 2 passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult 21+ is present (family and school trips exempt) |
| South Dakota | 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (restricted minor’s permit) | Family only for 6 months, then 1 non-family passenger |
| Tennessee | Learner permit: no driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; Intermediate Restricted: no driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (exceptions with written parent permission for work, school activities, and hunting or fishing 4 to 6 a.m.) | 1 passenger, unless one passenger is 21+ with an unrestricted license, or siblings going to and from school with a parent letter |
| Texas | Midnight to 5 a.m. | 1 passenger under 21 who is not family |
| Utah | Midnight to 5 a.m. until age 17 (exceptions: licensed driver 21+ in front, work, school activity, farm work, emergency) | Immediate family only for the first 6 months or until 18 (same exceptions except work and school) |
| Vermont | No night limit stated by the DMV | First 3 months: passengers only if a parent/guardian, instructor or licensed person 25+ is in front |
| Virginia | Midnight to 4 a.m. (work, supervised school, civic or religious activity, parent beside you, or emergency excepted) | 1 under 21 in the first year; then up to 3 under 21 only for school activities, with a licensed 21+ driver beside you, or in an emergency; family and household excepted; ends at 18 |
| Washington State | 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (licensed driver 25+ present, or school, religious, work or farm activity excepted) | None under 20 for the first 6 months, then no more than 3 under 20; immediate family excepted; limits lift after a clean 12 months |
| Washington DC | Sept to June: Sun to Thu after 10:59 p.m., Fri and Sat after 11:59 p.m.; July and Aug after 11:59 p.m.; until 6 a.m. | Provisional: one licensed driver 21+ in the front seat, plus siblings or parents (the manual adds children). Full license with conditions, under 18: no more than 2 passengers under 21, siblings exempt |
| West Virginia | 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. | No non-family under 20 for 6 months, then 1 |
| Wisconsin | Midnight to 5 a.m. (first 9 months; home, school and work trips allowed) | 1 passenger besides family or a qualified adult (first 9 months) |
| Wyoming | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. | 1 non-family passenger under 18 unless a licensed driver 18+ is present |
Not in the table: Minnesota and Mississippi. Check their current intermediate curfew and passenger rules with the state DMV. Mississippi’s 2024 manual no longer describes an intermediate license, so ask the Driver Service Bureau how the rules apply now.
How the rules usually work in practice
Night limits
A curfew means no driving without a qualifying adult during those hours. It is not a ban on being out. Typical exceptions cover work, school or school activities, religious events and emergencies. Some states ask you to carry proof, such as a signed letter from your employer.
Passenger limits
The limit usually counts passengers under a set age (often 18, 20 or 21) who are not family. Many states make it strictest in the first 6 months and loosen it after that. Having a qualifying adult in the car usually lifts the limit.
Phones
Many states ban all phone use by permit and intermediate drivers, hands-free included. See hands-free and texting laws.
Breaking the rules
Violations often extend the restriction period, delay the next stage or lead to a suspension. For example, Alabama adds 6 months for a violation. Pennsylvania suspends a junior driver for 90 days for 6 points or for driving 26 mph or more over the limit.
Common questions
Which state has the strictest GDL laws?
No single state is strictest on every measure. Some states have early curfews (North Carolina Level 2 drivers need a supervisor from 9 p.m., and South Carolina’s conditional license allows solo driving only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or 8 p.m. in daylight saving time). Others ban all young non-family passengers for the first 6 months (for example Georgia, Oregon and Nevada).
Do siblings count toward the passenger limit?
In most states, no: immediate family or household members are exempt. Kansas, for example, limits non-sibling passengers. Check your state’s definition.
Can I drive to work after curfew?
Usually yes, if your state lists work as an exception. Some states want a signed form or letter in the car.
Do GDL rules apply if I get my first license at 18?
Generally no. The intermediate restrictions apply to drivers under 18, though a few states (such as New Hampshire’s youth operator license up to 21) extend some rules.
If I move states, which rules apply?
The rules of the state where you are licensed, and the traffic laws of the state you are driving in. See moving to a new state.
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Teen Safe Driving: How Teens Can Be Safer Drivers” (nhtsa.gov)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Countermeasures That Work: Graduated Driver Licensing” (nhtsa.gov)
- California DMV, “California Driver Handbook” (dmv.ca.gov)
- New York DMV, “New York State Driver’s Manual, Chapter 1” (dmv.ny.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Drivers Manual, Section 2” (dds.georgia.gov)
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual (PUB 95)” (dot.state.pa.us)
- Texas Department of Public Safety, “Graduated Driver License (GDL) and Hardship License” (dps.texas.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Graduated Driver Licensing” (ilsos.gov)
- Ohio Revised Code, “Section 4507.071” (codes.ohio.gov)
- Michigan Secretary of State, “Teen drivers” (michigan.gov)
- NCDMV, “Level 2 Limited Provisional License” (ncdot.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Getting a Provisional Driver License” (oregon.gov)
- Connecticut DMV, “Driver Restrictions for Teens” (portal.ct.gov)
- Wisconsin DMV, “Teen Graduated Driver Licensing” (wisconsindot.gov)
- Colorado Department of Transportation, “Colorado Graduated Driver Licensing Guide” (codot.gov)
- State driver manuals and DMV GDL pages for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington DC, West Virginia and Wyoming (official state domains)
- Florida Statutes, “Section 322.16” (leg.state.fl.us)
- Code of Virginia, “Section 46.2-334.01” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Revised Code of Washington, “RCW 46.20.075” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- DC Code, “Section 50-1401.01” (code.dccouncil.gov)