Teen Driving Laws

    Permit age, required supervised hours, and intermediate license restrictions for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

    How Graduated Driver Licensing Works

    Stage 1

    Learner's Permit

    The first stage permits a new driver to operate a vehicle only while accompanied by a licensed adult supervisor. Most states require the permit to be held for a minimum period and require a stated number of supervised practice hours, part of which may need to be completed at night, before the applicant may advance to the next stage.

    Stage 2

    Intermediate License

    The second stage permits unsupervised driving under defined conditions. Holders are ordinarily prohibited from driving during specified nighttime hours and are limited in the number or age of passengers they may carry. These restrictions remain in effect until the driver reaches a stated age or has held the license for a stated period.

    Stage 3

    Full License

    The final stage removes the nighttime and passenger restrictions imposed during the intermediate stage. A driver who satisfies the conditions for removal holds full driving privileges, subject to the same traffic laws that govern all licensed drivers. Certain states continue to apply specific provisions, such as mobile device prohibitions, to drivers under a stated age.

    Select Your State

    Choose a jurisdiction to view its permit, supervised driving, and intermediate license requirements.

    New Mexico

    Minimum permit age

    15

    Holding period: 6 months

    Required supervised driving hours

    50 hours, 10 of them at night

    Minimum age for unsupervised driving

    15 years 6 months

    Nighttime operation

    Midnight to 5 a.m.

    Conditions for removal: Licensed 12 months or age 18, whichever comes first (minimum age 16 years 6 months)

    Passenger limitations

    No more than one passenger under 21

    Conditions for removal: Licensed 12 months or age 18, whichever comes first (minimum age 16 years 6 months)

    Additional provisions

    • Permit applicants under 18 must be enrolled in driver education, and license applicants under 18 must have completed it.

    New Mexico requires 50 hours of supervised driving.

    Drivvy records each drive automatically, with day and night hours tracked separately against New Mexico's requirement, and exports a log your licensing agency will accept.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What is the minimum age for a learner's permit in New Mexico?
    The minimum age for a learner's permit in New Mexico is 15. The permit must be held for 6 months.
    How many supervised driving hours does New Mexico require?
    New Mexico requires 50 hours, 10 of them at night.
    What restrictions apply to intermediate license holders in New Mexico?
    Nighttime operation: Midnight to 5 a.m.. Conditions for removal: Licensed 12 months or age 18, whichever comes first (minimum age 16 years 6 months). Passenger limitations: No more than one passenger under 21. Conditions for removal: Licensed 12 months or age 18, whichever comes first (minimum age 16 years 6 months).

    Complete index of jurisdictions

    About this information

    Requirements are compiled from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's graduated licensing laws table, current as of October 2026, and restructured by Drivvy.

    Last reviewed October 19, 2026.

    This material is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements are subject to amendment, and certain provisions vary according to the applicant's age, driver education status, or locality. Readers are advised to verify the requirements then in force with the relevant state licensing agency before relying upon any statement made here.

    Source: https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table