Optimum Driver

New drivers

Teen and new driver basics

Learning to drive takes many hours of practice in different conditions. The rules for permits and licenses come from your state, so this guide covers the general picture and the habits that help at any age.

Your state sets the rules

Start with your state DMV. Minimum ages, required practice hours, driver education, test steps, curfews and passenger limits all vary by state and change over time. Your state DMV, or the agency that handles licenses where you live, publishes the current rules and the driver handbook you'll be tested on. Read it before your permit test and keep it handy afterward.

How graduated licensing usually works

Every state uses some form of graduated driver licensing for young drivers. The details differ, but the stages usually look like this:

  1. 1Learner permit. You pass a knowledge test and a vision check, then drive only with a licensed adult in the car. Many states set a minimum number of supervised practice hours, often with some at night.
  2. 2Intermediate or provisional license. After a road test you can drive alone, usually with limits such as no driving late at night and few or no young passengers.
  3. 3Full license. The limits lift after a set time or at a certain age, often if your record stays clean.

Adults getting a first license often follow a shorter path, but they still need to pass the tests. Check your state's rules for your age.

Practice that actually helps

The required hours are a minimum. More practice in more conditions builds better judgment. Try to work through a range of situations step by step:

  • Empty parking lots for steering, braking and parking
  • Quiet neighborhood streets, then busier roads
  • Highway merging, lane changes and exits
  • Night driving, then rain, then other weather your area gets
  • Routes you'll actually drive alone later, like the trip to school or work

Talk while you drive. A supervising driver who points out hazards early, and a learner who says out loud what they see, both help build the scanning habit described in defensive driving.

Habits to build from day one

  • Belt on, every trip, every seat. Check that passengers are buckled before you move.
  • Phone away. Set up navigation first and put the phone where you can't reach it. Many states ban all phone use for new drivers. See avoiding distraction.
  • Space ahead. Count at least three seconds behind the car in front. See following distance.
  • Speed for conditions. The posted limit is the most you should drive in good conditions.
  • Never impaired. No alcohol or drugs before driving, and never ride with a driver who has used them. Most states have zero-tolerance rules for drivers under 21.
  • Rested. Teens often need more sleep than they get. See drowsy driving.

For parents and supervising drivers

Your example matters more than any rule. Young drivers copy what they've watched for years, so model the habits you want to see. Many families write a simple driving agreement that sets out when, where and with whom the new driver can drive, and what happens if the rules are broken. Several road safety groups and some state agencies offer free templates. Loosen the limits gradually as experience grows.

Insurance and the car itself

Ask your insurer how adding a new driver works before they start driving alone. If you're choosing a car for a new driver, look up its crash test results from NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and check that it has no open safety recalls. A quick walk-around before each drive is a good habit to teach early. See quick vehicle checks.