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 York

    Minimum permit age

    16

    Holding period: 6 months

    Required supervised driving hours

    50 hours, 15 of them at night

    Minimum age for unsupervised driving

    16 years 6 months

    Nighttime operation

    9 p.m. to 5 a.m. statewide. In New York City junior licence holders may not drive unsupervised at any time; on Long Island daytime driving is limited to work, school and driver education trips

    Conditions for removal: Age 17 with driver education, age 18 without (minimum age 17)

    Passenger limitations

    No more than one passenger under 21

    Conditions for removal: Age 17 with driver education, age 18 without (minimum age 17)

    Additional provisions

    • In the five boroughs of New York City, Class DJ and MJ junior license holders may not drive under any circumstances, wherever the license was issued, so no passenger restriction applies in the city. Unsupervised driving in the city may begin at 17, provided a Class D license has been obtained and an approved State Education Department driver and traffic safety education course has been completed. A 17-year-old may therefore move from fully supervised city driving straight to an unrestricted license.
    • On Long Island, Class DJ and MJ junior license holders may drive only between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., and only when traveling to work, school or driver education. Proof of the purpose of the trip is required.
    • The passenger restriction applies to permit holders as well as license holders under 18, or under 17 where driver education has been completed.

    New York requires 50 hours of supervised driving.

    Drivvy records each drive automatically, with day and night hours tracked separately against New York'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 York?
    The minimum age for a learner's permit in New York is 16. The permit must be held for 6 months.
    How many supervised driving hours does New York require?
    New York requires 50 hours, 15 of them at night.
    What restrictions apply to intermediate license holders in New York?
    Nighttime operation: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. statewide. In New York City junior licence holders may not drive unsupervised at any time; on Long Island daytime driving is limited to work, school and driver education trips. Conditions for removal: Age 17 with driver education, age 18 without (minimum age 17). Passenger limitations: No more than one passenger under 21. Conditions for removal: Age 17 with driver education, age 18 without (minimum age 17).

    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