After you pass in Arizona: restrictions and your licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the three Class G limits and how long they last.
• You can explain the exceptions for night driving and passengers.
• You can describe what happens if you are cited.
• You can explain how you move to a full Class D license.

What you need to know and understand

• The limits apply for the first six months of a Class G license.
• No driving from midnight to 5 a.m., unless a licensed parent or guardian sits beside you or you are going directly to or from school activities, work, religious activities or a family emergency.
• No more than one passenger under 18, unless they are siblings or a licensed parent or guardian sits beside you.
• No wireless device use while driving, except in an emergency or for audible navigation set up before driving.
• A citation for the night or passenger limit can be dismissed with a notarized letter confirming an allowed trip or that passengers were siblings.
• All Class G limits end on your 18th birthday, but any penalties still have to be completed.
• At 18 you can switch to a Class D license by ordering a replacement online.

Using the exceptions properly

The night exceptions are for driving directly to or from the allowed activity, not for stopping off with friends. If you work late, keep proof from your employer. If police cite you for an allowed trip, a notarized letter from a parent, school, employer or religious leader confirming it can get the citation dismissed. For siblings, a notarized letter from a parent does the same.

If you break a limit

Police cannot pull you over only for a Class G limit; they need another reason. But if you are stopped for something else and cited, the penalties grow each time.

• First: up to $75, and 30 more days of restrictions.
• Second: up to $100, and 60 more days.
• Third or later: up to $100, and a 30-day suspension.

Building your skills safely

1. Keep driving with a parent sometimes, especially at night and on freeways.
2. Add new routes and conditions gradually.
3. Keep passengers to a minimum even after six months while you gain experience.
4. Keep your phone out of reach every trip.
5. Remember that any moving violation before 18 starts the teen penalty ladder.

Turning 18

Your Class G limits end at 18. ADOT says you do not need to visit an office to become Class D; ordering a replacement license on AZ MVD Now updates the class. Our guide to Arizona Class G rules has more detail on curfews and passengers.

Common mistakes

• Driving friends home after a midnight shift. The work exception covers your direct trip, not extra passengers.
• Assuming the six months start on your birthday. They start when the Class G license is issued.
• Using a phone hands-free in the first six months.
• Thinking tickets do not count because the limits will end soon.

Test yourself: After you pass in Arizona: restrictions and your licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Arizona Class G License Restrictions
• Arizona 30-Hour Supervised Driving Log and Driver Ed Options
• Arizona DUI and Extreme DUI Rules for New Drivers