Permit rules and dates
Teen driving restrictions: night, passengers, phone and alcohol
Choose a state: the tool shows when the provisional limits end, the phone rule and the alcohol limit for drivers under 21. The tables below quote each state night and passenger rule.
Provisional license restrictions
Restrictions until
17
| Phone | Banned |
| Under 21: alcohol | 0.01 |
Provisional: no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the first 12 months · Provisional (first 12 months): no passengers under 20 unless a parent/guardian or licensed driver 25+ rides along
A provisional, or intermediate, license lets a teen drive alone, but with limits that target the situations where young drivers crash most: driving late at night, driving with other teens in the car, and using a phone. In our data, 43 states publish a night restriction and 41 a passenger limit, usually for the first six to twelve months of the license or until a set age. 25 states confirm a ban on any phone use, hands-free included, for young or novice drivers. The limits end with the full license, from 16 years in Idaho to 18 years in Arkansas. Alcohol follows a separate rule that lasts until 21: every state in our data with a published figure sets a limit of 0.02 or lower for drivers under 21, and 11 set it at zero, against 0.08 for adults.
Alcohol limit for drivers under 21
Under 21 in California
0.01
| Adults | 0.08 |
| Commercial vehicle drivers | 0.04 |
Questions and state rules by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the questions are written
Night, passenger, phone and alcohol rules by state
The night and passenger columns quote the rule as the agency publishes it, shortened only where it was very long. "Phone" reads "banned" when the state forbids any phone use, hands-free included, for teen or novice drivers, and "general rules" when only the all-driver rules apply. The last column is the age at which the provisional limits end at the earliest.
| State | Night | Passengers | Phone | BAC under 21 | Limits end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Stage II: no driving midnight to 6 a.m. (exceptions: parent/guardian or 21+ licensed driver with consent, school/religious events, work, emergencies) | Stage II: no more than one passenger other than parents, legal guardians or family members | banned | 0.02 | 17 |
| Alaska | Provisional: no driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless with parent/guardian or licensed person 21+ (employment exception) | Provisional: no passengers unless one is a parent, guardian or person 21+; siblings allowed | not stated | 0.00 | 16½ |
| Arizona | First 6 months of Class G: no driving 12 a.m.-5 a.m. unless with licensed parent/guardian or going to/from school activity, work, religious activity or family emergency | First 6 months of Class G: no more than one passenger under 18 (siblings excepted, or with licensed parent/guardian) | banned | 0.00 | 16½ |
| Arkansas | Intermediate: no driving 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. unless with licensed driver 21+ or to/from school, church, job or emergency | Intermediate: no more than one unrelated minor passenger unless a licensed driver 21+ is in the front seat | banned | 0.02 | 18 |
| California | Provisional: no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the first 12 months | Provisional (first 12 months): no passengers under 20 unless a parent/guardian or licensed driver 25+ rides along | banned | 0.01 | 17 |
| Connecticut | Under 18: no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (exceptions: employment, school, religious activities, medical necessity) | First 6 months: only instructor, parents/guardians or qualified trainer 20+; months 7-12: may add immediate family. Permit: only parent/guardian/qualified trainer | banned | 0.02 | 18 |
| Delaware | Level One permit months 7-12: no unsupervised driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (exceptions: church, work, school activities) | Level One permit (12 months): adult supervisor plus at most one other passenger (family excepted with supervisor); unsupervised: only one passenger | banned | 0.02 | 17 |
| District of Columbia | Learner: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. only. Provisional and 17-18 full: Sep-Jun Sun-Thu 6 a.m.-10:59 p.m., Fri-Sat 6 a.m.-11:59 p.m.; Jul-Aug 6 a.m.-11:59 p.m. (work/school/religious/athletic exceptions, or with licensed 21+) | Full license with conditions under 18: no more than 2 passengers under 21 (siblings excepted) | not stated | not stated | 18 |
| Florida | Learner: daylight only for first 3 months, then until 10 p.m.; licensed at 16: no driving 11 p.m.-6 a.m.; at 17: 1 a.m.-5 a.m. (unless with licensed 21+ or to/from work) | not stated | not stated | 0.02 | 18 |
| Georgia | Class D: no driving 12 midnight to 5 a.m., no exceptions | Class D: first 6 months immediate family only; next 6 months one non-family passenger under 21; after 1 year up to three non-family passengers under 21 | not stated | not stated | 18 |
| Hawaii | Provisional: no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless with licensed parent/guardian (work and school-activity exceptions) | Provisional: no more than one person under 18 unless a licensed parent/guardian is present (household members excepted) | not stated | 0.02 | 17 |
| Idaho | Under 16: daylight only (5 a.m.-10 p.m.) unless with licensed driver 21+ | Under 17, first 6 months of license: no more than one passenger under 17 (relatives excepted) | not stated | 0.02 | 16 |
| Illinois | Under 18 (permit and initial license): no driving Sunday to Thursday 10 p.m.-6 a.m. and Friday to Saturday 11 p.m.-6 a.m. | Initial license, first 12 months or until 18: no more than one passenger under 20, except siblings, stepsiblings and children of the driver. | banned | 0.00 | 18 |
| Indiana | First 180 days: no driving 10 p.m.-5 a.m.; then until 18: not after 11 p.m. Sun-Thu, not 1-5 a.m. Sat-Sun, not before 5 a.m. Mon-Fri (work/school/religious exceptions) | First 180 days: no passengers unless accompanied by licensed instructor, licensed driver 25+ or spouse 21+ (own child, sibling, spouse allowed) | banned | not stated | 18 |
| Iowa | Intermediate: no driving 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless accompanied (waiver possible for school activities and work) | Intermediate, first 6 months: max one unrelated minor passenger unless waived by parent | not stated | 0.02 | 17 |
| Kansas | Restricted license at 15: only work/school/religious trips unless accompanied; at 16 for 6 months: unaccompanied driving 5 a.m.-9 p.m. plus work/school/religious trips | Under 16: no non-sibling minor passengers; 16, first 6 months: max one passenger under 18 who is not immediate family | banned | 0.02 | 16½ |
| Kentucky | Permit and intermediate under 18: no driving midnight to 6 a.m. without good cause (emergency, school, work) | Permit and intermediate under 18: max 1 unrelated passenger under 20 | not stated | 0.02 | 17 |
| Louisiana | Intermediate: no driving 11 p.m.-5 a.m. unless with licensed parent/guardian, adult 21+ or licensed sibling 18+ | Intermediate: 6 p.m.-5 a.m., max one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family unless with licensed adult 21+ | banned | not stated | 17 |
| Maine | Intermediate (under 18): no driving midnight to 5 a.m. | Intermediate: no passengers other than immediate family unless accompanied by a qualifying licensed operator | banned | not stated | 16¾ |
| Maryland | Provisional under 18: unsupervised driving only 5 a.m.-midnight (work, school, volunteer, athletic exceptions) | not stated | banned | 0.00 | 18 |
| Minnesota | Provisional, first 6 months: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. except home-work, school events, or with a licensed driver 25+ | Provisional: max 1 passenger under 20 (non-family) for first 6 months, max 3 for next 6 months, unless a parent is present | banned | 0.00 | 17 |
| Mississippi | not stated | not stated | not stated | 0.02 | 16 |
| Missouri | Intermediate: no driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless accompanied (exceptions: school, work, emergency) | Intermediate: max 1 non-family passenger under 19 for first 6 months, then max 3 | general rules | 0.02 | 18 |
| Montana | First-year restricted license (under 18): no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a licensed driver 18+, or for work, school, religious events, emergencies, farm work, or parent authorization | First 6 months: max 1 passenger under 18 (non-family) unless supervised by licensed driver 18+; next 6 months: max 3 passengers under 18 | general rules | 0.02 | 16 |
| Nebraska | POP: no unsupervised driving from midnight to 6 a.m. unless to/from home and work or a school activity | POP, first 6 months: no more than one passenger under 19 who is not an immediate family member | banned | 0.02 | 17 |
| Nevada | Drivers under 18: no driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless going to/from a scheduled event (school or work) | First 6 months of license (16-17): no passengers under 18 except immediate family | general rules | 0.02 | 18 |
| New Hampshire | Youth operators under 18: no driving between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. | Under 18, first 6 months: no more than one passenger under 25 who is not family, unless accompanied by a licensed adult 25+ | banned | 0.02 | 18 |
| New Jersey | Permit and probationary drivers under 21: no driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (work/religion exemptions) | Permit and probationary: dependents plus one additional passenger, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian | banned | 0.01 | 18 |
| New Mexico | Provisional: no driving midnight-5 a.m. unless with licensed driver 21+; exceptions for school, work, family/medical need, religious functions. | Provisional: no more than one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family, unless a licensed driver 21+ is in the vehicle. | not stated | 0.02 | 16½ |
| New York | Junior permit/license: no driving 9 PM-5 AM in New York City (5 boroughs); Long Island: 9 PM-5 AM only directly between home and work-study/college/driver-ed/farm work; Upstate: 9 PM-5 AM only home-work/school or with parent/guardian. | Junior license: no more than one passenger under 21 unless immediate family. Junior permit: same, and only the supervising driver may sit in front. | general rules | 0.02 | 17 |
| North Carolina | Level 1: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. only (with supervisor) for first 6 months. Level 2: no unsupervised driving 9 p.m.-5 a.m. except to/from work or volunteer fire/rescue/EMS. | Level 1: no one but supervising driver in front seat. Level 2 unsupervised: max one non-household passenger under 21 (plus one student driven to/from school); no limit if all under-21 passengers are household members. | banned | 0.00 | 18 |
| North Dakota | Restricted license (age 15): no driving between the later of sunset or 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without parent/guardian or person 18+, except directly to/from work, official school or religious activity. | No passenger limit for the restricted license; permit holders: nobody but the supervising driver in the front seat. Restricted license limited to vehicles of parent/guardian/grandparent/sibling/aunt/uncle. | banned | 0.02 | 16 |
| Ohio | Probationary, first 12 months: no driving midnight-6 a.m.; after 12 months and under 18: no driving 1-5 a.m.; exceptions with parent/guardian/designated 21+ driver, work, school or religious event. Permit holders 16+: midnight-6 a.m. only with parent/guardian/designated driver. | First 12 months of probationary license: no more than one non-family passenger unless accompanied by parent or guardian. | banned | not stated | 18 |
| Oklahoma | Intermediate ('T' restriction): driving allowed only 5 a.m.-10 p.m. unless for school, church or work activities or accompanied by licensed driver 21+. | Intermediate: one passenger, or only household members, unless a licensed driver 21+ is in the front passenger seat. | general rules | 0.00 | 16½ |
| Oregon | not stated | not stated | banned | 0.00 | not stated |
| Pennsylvania | Permit and junior license: no driving 11 p.m.-5 a.m. (exceptions: employment, volunteer/charitable service with documentation). | Junior license: max 1 non-family passenger under 18 unless a parent/guardian is in the vehicle; after 6 months (no crash/conviction) up to 3. Passengers never exceed seat belts (under 18). | not stated | 0.02 | 17½ |
| South Carolina | Conditional/special restricted license: daylight driving only alone; after 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during DST) must be accompanied by licensed adult 21+; no driving midnight-6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent/guardian-type licensed individual. Permit: 6 a.m.-midnight with 21+ driver. | Conditional/special restricted: no more than two passengers under 21 unless accompanied by a licensed adult 21+ (family members and students to/from school exempt). | not stated | 0.02 | not stated |
| South Dakota | Instruction permit and restricted minor's permit: driving 10 p.m.-6 a.m. only with parent/guardian in the seat beside (restricted permit exceptions: school, religious, work/farm routes). | None stated in statute for the restricted minor's permit. | banned | 0.02 | 16 |
| Texas | Under 18: no driving midnight-5 a.m. unless for work, school-related activity or medical emergency (not applicable when accompanied as a learner). | Under 18: no more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member. | banned | 0.00 | 18 |
| Utah | not stated | not stated | not stated | 0.00 | not stated |
| Vermont | None (no night curfew for junior licenses). | Junior license: first 3 months drive alone (or with parent/guardian, instructor or licensed person 25+); months 4-6 may also carry family members; none after 6 months. | not stated | 0.02 | 18 |
| Virginia | Learner's permit and under-18 license: no driving midnight-4 a.m. (license exceptions: emergency, work, supervised school/civic/religious activity, or with parent/adult in front seat). | Permit: max one passenger under 21 (family excepted). Under-18 license: one passenger under 21 during the first year; after one year up to three under 21 only for school activities, with 21+ licensed driver in front, or emergency. Family/household exempt. | not stated | 0.02 | 18 |
| Washington | Intermediate license: no driving 1 a.m.-5 a.m. unless with parent, guardian or licensed driver 25+; expires after one year of safe driving. | Intermediate: first 6 months no passengers under 20 except immediate family; then max 3 passengers under 20 until 18 or one year of safe driving. | banned | 0.02 | 17 |
| West Virginia | Level 1 and Level 2: no driving 10 p.m.-5 a.m. (Level 2 may drive then with a licensed adult 21+; exceptions for work, school-sanctioned or religious activity, emergency). | Level 2: no non-family passengers under 20 for the first 6 months; max one non-family passenger under 20 in the second 6 months. Level 1: max 2 non-family passengers besides the supervisor. | banned | 0.02 | 17 |
| Wisconsin | First 9 months of probationary license (under 18): midnight-5 a.m. only between home, school and/or work, or with a qualified licensed adult. | First 9 months (under 18): immediate family plus one qualified licensed adult (instructor/spouse 19+ or person 21+) and one other person. | banned | 0.00 | 16¾ |
| Wyoming | Intermediate permit: driving only 5 a.m.-11 p.m. unless a licensed adult 18+ with full privileges is in the front seat; exceptions for work, school/youth sports/religious activities with signed form. | Intermediate permit: no more than one passenger under 18 who is not immediate family (unless a licensed adult 18+ is in the front seat). | general rules | 0.02 | 16½ |
Why these three limits
Each restriction answers a specific risk documented by NHTSA research on teen drivers. Night driving is harder for everyone, but a new driver has no experience with glare, dark curves or impaired drivers on the road. Each extra teen passenger raises the crash risk of a young driver, through distraction and pressure. Phones take the eyes, the hands and the attention off the road at once. The limits are temporary by design: they cover the first months of solo driving, when the crash rate is at its peak, and lift as the driver gains experience.
The phone rule
25 states in our data confirm a total ban for young drivers, 6 apply only the rules that cover all drivers, and the rest do not publish the point on the pages we read. Even in states without a special teen rule, handheld use while driving is widely restricted for everyone, and texting is banned for all drivers in most states. In practice, a teen should put the phone out of reach before starting the car, whatever the state.
Alcohol: a separate rule until 21
The provisional limits end at 17 or 18, but the alcohol rule follows age 21. 40 states publish the under-21 limit in our data: 11 set it at 0.00 and the highest is 0.02. For comparison, the adult limit is 0.08 in almost every state, and commercial drivers are held to 0.04. The mini-tool below the summary shows the figure for any state. A driver under 21 who blows over the limit usually loses the license for a period, even if the level would be legal for an adult.
When the limits end
17 states in our data keep provisional limits until 18; others lift them earlier, after a set time without violations. The earliest end is in Idaho, at 16 years. The date calculator gives the date for a given birthday, and the hours guide explains the practice that comes before. This page summarizes official rules; it is not legal advice and the site is not an agency.