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How long must I hold a learners permit before I can apply for my license?
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The time requirements vary from state to state; check the grid below.
Before you commit the grid to memory (or, at least your state’s part of it), keep these factors in mind:
Before you commit the grid to memory (or, at least your state’s part of it), keep these factors in mind:
- States employ graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, and within these programs many states require more than one kind of learners permit. This grid deals mostly with each state’s first learners permit, but notes other kinds of drivers permits (like provisional licenses) when possible.
- The majority of states allow drivers 18 years old and older to apply for their drivers license the same day they pass their written exams – or, very soon after. This isn’t always the case, so be sure to get details from your examiner when you go in for the written test.
- This grid focuses on the amount of time you have to wait between obtaining your learners permit and obtaining your drivers license; it doesn’t focus on any other requirements, such as completing a drivers ed course. Be sure to check with your local DMV or state drivers license agency about other requirements.
| Alabama | 6 months, if you’re younger than 18; you can take the driving test the following day if you’re 18 or older. |
| Alaska | If you’re younger than 18, you must hold the learners permit for 6 months before applying for the provisional license. |
| Arizona | 5 months. |
| Arkansas | You must hold the learners permit until you turn 16, when you can apply for an intermediate license; if you’re 18 or older, you must hold it for 30 days. |
| California | If you’re younger than 18, you must hold the learners permit for 6 months before applying for the provisional license. |
| Colorado | If you’re younger than 18, you must hold the permit for 1 year before applying for the full drivers license. |
| Connecticut | If you’re 16 or 17 years old, you must hold the permit for 180 days (or, 120 days if you complete an approved driver education course). |
| Delaware | If you’re younger than 18, your learner permit automatically becomes a full Class D license after 12 months of infraction-free driving. If you’re 18 or older, you must hold the permit for 60 days. |
| Florida | If younger than 18, 1 year. |
| Georgia | If you’re younger than 18, you must hold the learners permit for 1 year and 1 day before you can move to your provisional or full license. If you’re 18 or older, you can take the road test for the full license the day after passing the written test. |
| Hawaii | If younger than 18, you must hold the learners permit for 180 days before taking the road test. |
| Idaho | If younger than 18, you must hold the Supervised Instruction Permit for 4 months before you can take the road test. |
| Illinois | If younger than 16, you must hold your learners permit for 6 months before applying for your initial license; if 16-17, you must hold your initial license until you’re 18 before you can apply for your full license. |
| Indiana | 60 days, regardless of age. |
| Iowa | Apply for your intermediate license at 16; once you turn 17, if you’ve held the intermediate for 12 months with no infractions, you can apply for your full license. |
| Kansas | If younger than 18, you must hold an instruction permit for 6 months before applying for a restricted license. |
| Kentucky | Permits are valid for 1 year. If you’re younger than 18, you must hold the permit for 180 days before applying for a provisional license. |
| Louisiana | No time requirements if you’re 18 or older. If you’re 15-16, you must hold the permit for 180 days before moving to the intermediate license. If you’re 17, you can move the full license after completing driver education and passing the road test. |
| Maine | If younger than 21, you must hold a learners permit for 6 months before applying for an intermediate license; if 21 or older, hold it for 3 months. |
| Maryland | If younger than 18, you must hold the learners permit for 9 months before applying for your provisional license. |
| Massachusetts | Learners permits are valid for 2 years. Hold the learners permit for 6 months before applying for the junior operators license. |
| Michigan | If younger than 18, hold the Level 1 permit for 90 days before applying for the Level 2; if 18 or older, hold the temporary permit for 30 days before getting the full license. |
| Minnesota | The permit is good for 2 years; hang on to it for at least 6 months if you’re younger than 18. |
| Mississippi | If you’re 17 or older, there are no time requirements; if you’re younger than 17, hold the permit for 6 months before moving on to the intermediate license. |
| Missouri | If you’re 18 or older, there are no time requirements; if younger than 18, hold the permit for 6 months before getting an intermediate license. |
| Montana | If you’re 18 or older, there are no time requirements; if younger than 18, keep the permit for 6 months before getting a restricted license. |
| Nebraska | If younger than 18, you must hold a learners permit for 1 year, then a provisional permit until you turn 18. |
| Nevada | If you’re 18 or older, you can’t take the road test the same day as the written test. If you’re younger than 18, instruction permits are valid for 1 year and you must complete the 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice before applying for your full license. |
| New Hampshire | You don’t need a learners permit. You apply for your full license at 16. |
| New Jersey | If you’re younger than 21, hold the learners permit for 6 months before getting the provisional; if you’re 21 or older, hold the examination permit for 3 months before getting the full license. |
| New Mexico | If younger than 18, hold the permit for 6 months before getting the provisional license; hold the provisional for 1 year before getting your full license. |
| New York | If younger than 18, hold your learners permit for 6 months before getting the junior license. Once you’re 17, you can apply for the full license if you’ve completed driver education. |
| North Carolina | If you’re younger than 18, you must keep your permit for 12 months. |
| North Dakota | The permit is valid for 1 year. If you’re younger than 17, hold the permit for 6 months (and until you’re 16) before moving on. |
| Ohio | Keep the learners permit for 6 months before applying for the full license. |
| Oklahoma | If you’re younger than 18, hold the learners permit for 6 months before getting your intermediate license; after another 6 months, you can apply for the full license. |
| Oregon | If you’re younger than 18, hold the permit for 6 months before applying for the provisional license. |
| Pennsylvania | If younger than 18, hold your permit for 6 months before getting a license. |
| Rhode Island | If you’re younger than 18, keep the instructional permit for 6 months before moving on to the limited provisional license. |
| South Carolina | Regardless of age, every new driver must hold a beginners permit for at least 180 days. |
| South Dakota | If younger than 18, you must hold the permit for 90 days if you’ve completed driver education; if you haven’t, hold it for 180 days. |
| Tennessee | If younger than 18, keep your learners permit for 180 days before moving to the intermediate restricted license, hold your intermediate restricted license for 1 year before getting your intermediate unrestricted license which lasts until you’re 18. |
| Texas | Hold the instruction permit for 6 months. If you’re younger than 18, you can’t move to the next phase until you’re 16. |
| Utah | If you’re younger than 18 you must keep your permit for 6 months. |
| Vermont | If you’re younger than 18, keep your permit for 1 year before applying for your junior operators license. |
| Virginia | If you’re younger than 18, hang on to the permit for 9 months. |
| Washington | If you’re younger than 18, you must keep the permit for 6 months. |
| West Virginia | If you’ve never held a Level 2 intermediate license (most folks 18 or older), you must keep your permit for 30 days; if you’re younger than 18, keep your Level 1 permit for 6 months and your Level 2 until you turn 18. |
| Wisconsin | Everyone needs a permit. Drivers younger than 18 hang on to the permit for 6 months, and drivers 18 and older keep it for a week. |
| Wyoming | The instruction permit is good for 1 year, and you can apply for your full license once you’re 16 1/2. |
| Washington DC | If younger than 21, 6 months; if 21 or older, you can schedule a road test appointment immediately. |
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