Connecticut graduated driver licence stages

By the end of this topic you can

• You can name the stages from learner's permit to unrestricted driving in Connecticut.
• You can explain why the waiting period is 120 days for some teens and 180 days for others.
• You can describe the limits that apply in the first 6 and the second 6 months of a teen license.
• You can say what is different for new drivers who are 18 or older.

What you need to know and understand

• The minimum age for both a learner's permit and a license in Connecticut is 16.
• Teens trained by a driving school or high school program must hold the permit for 120 days before the road test.
• Teens trained at home by a qualified trainer must hold the permit for 180 days.
• New drivers aged 18 or older must hold an adult learner's permit for at least 90 days.
• Teen licensees have passenger limits for the first year and an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until 18.
• Drivers under 18 may not use any phone or mobile device while driving, even hands-free.

The three stages at a glance

1. Learner's permit (from 16): pass a vision test and a 25-question knowledge test at the Connecticut DMV. You may only drive with a qualified trainer or licensed instructor beside you.
2. Teen license (16 and 17): after the waiting period, training and a road test, you get a license with passenger, curfew and phone limits.
3. Full privileges (18): the curfew and phone ban for teens end on your 18th birthday, and the passenger limits end after your first year with a license.

Why some teens wait longer

Connecticut rewards professional training with a shorter wait. If you complete a commercial driving school or secondary school driver education program, you can take the road test after holding your permit for 120 days. If you are trained at home by a parent or other qualified trainer, the wait is 180 days.

Either way, every 16 or 17 year old needs 40 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, an 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course and a 2-hour class for a parent or guardian. Our separate guides on the 8-hour course and the parent class go into more detail.

Limits on a new teen license

• Months 1 to 6: passengers only from a licensed driving instructor, your parents or guardians (at least one licensed), or one person aged 20 or older who has held a license for 4 years with no suspension.
• Months 7 to 12: the same people, plus members of your immediate family.
• Until 18: no driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for work, school, religious activities, medical need or a Safe Ride program.
• Until 18: no cell phone or mobile device use at all, including hands-free.
• No more passengers than there are seat belts, and no public service, commercial or vanpool vehicles.

Starting at 18 or older

Turning 18 does not let you skip the permit. Adults still need a learner's permit, must hold it for at least 90 days, and must complete the 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course unless they were licensed in Connecticut before or hold a valid out-of-state license. The teen curfew and passenger rules do not apply to adult new drivers.

Common mistakes

• Assuming 16 means you can test right away. Count 120 or 180 days from the date your permit was issued.
• Forgetting that the passenger rule changes at 6 months, not at a birthday. Check your license issue date.
• Thinking hands-free calls are fine for teens. Under 18, every kind of phone use is banned.
• Planning late-night drives home from a party. The curfew exceptions are narrow, and social events are not one of them.

Test yourself: Connecticut graduated driver licence stages

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

Go deeper

• CT Permit Test
• Connecticut Permit Practice Test
• Connecticut Teen Driving Restrictions for 16 and 17 Year Olds