Driving Age by State

Map

Table

Introduction

Driving has long been a crucial part of an American’s life, especially considering the central role the automobile has played within the United States. 

The age at which one can receive a license varies by state; typically, states will also have a junior or provisional license for those under eighteen. These junior licenses will often have certain restrictions, such as how many passengers can be in the vehicle and a curfew. New drivers are also typically required to obtain a learner’s permit, which allows them to drive with a responsible adult (typically a parent or guardian) in the vehicle. 

However, Federal law does not dictate how old one must be to obtain a typical driver’s license, although it does require one to be at least twenty-one to get a commercial driver’s license.

Learn for yourself how the driving age differs by state by surveying the data in the charts.

StateMinimum Driving AgeDriver's License CostMinimun Working AgeLegal Age a Child Can be Left Alone
Connecticut16 Years Old$7216 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Delaware16 Years Old$4012 Years Old
District of Columbia16 Years Old
Kentucky16 Years Old$30No Minimum Age
Massachusetts16 Years Old$50No Minimum Age
New Jersey16 Years Old$2416 Years OldNo Minimum Age
New York16 Years Old$64.2516 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Pennsylvania16 Years Old$35.5No Minimum Age
Rhode Island16 Years Old$38.5No Minimum Age
Alabama15 Years Old$36.25No Minimum Age
Colorado15 Years Old$2616 Years Old12 Years Old
Florida15 Years Old$48No Minimum Age
Georgia15 Years Old$328 Years Old
Illinois15 Years Old$3012 Years Old14 Years Old
Indiana15 Years Old$17.5No Minimum Age
Louisiana15 Years Old$32.25No Minimum Age
Maine15 Years Old$3016 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Minnesota15 Years Old$25.2516 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Mississippi15 Years Old$2412 Years Old
Missouri15 Years Old$1016 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Nebraska15 Years Old$21.5No Minimum Age
New Mexico15 Years Old$1816 Years Old10 Years Old
North Carolina15 Years Old$408 Years Old
Oregon15 Years Old$6016 Years Old10 Years Old
South Carolina15 Years Old$12.516 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Tennessee15 Years Old$2810 Years Old
Texas15 Years Old$25No Minimum Age
Utah15 Years Old$2516 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Vermont15 Years Old$3216 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Washington15 Years Old$8918 Years Old10 Years Old
West Virginia15 Years Old$40No Minimum Age
Wisconsin15 Years Old$3418 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Wyoming15 Years Old$20No Minimum Age
Arizona15 Years Old, 6 Months$2516 Years OldNo Minimum Age
California15 Years Old, 6 Months$3318 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Hawaii15 Years Old, 6 Months$2018 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Nevada15 Years Old, 6 Months$42.2514 Years OldNo Minimum Age
New Hampshire15 Years Old, 6 Months$5018 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Ohio15 Years Old, 6 Months$2316 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Oklahoma15 Years Old, 6 Months$38.5No Minimum Age
Virginia15 Years Old, 6 Months$3216 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Maryland15 Years Old, 9 Months$728 Years Old
Alaska14 Years Old$2016 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Arkansas14 Years Old$4016 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Iowa14 Years Old$32No Minimum Age
Kansas14 Years Old$236 Years Old
North Dakota14 Years Old$1514 Years Old9 Years Old
South Dakota14 Years Old$28No Minimum Age
Idaho14 Years Old, 6 Months$3016 Years OldNo Minimum Age
Montana14 Years Old, 6 Months$40.5No Minimum Age
Michigan14 Years Old, 9 Months$2511 Years Old

Minimum Driving Age by State

Alabama

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Minimum Driving Age

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#17

Driver's License Cost

Alaska

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Minimum Driving Age

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#43

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Arizona

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#34

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Arkansas

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#11

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

California

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#20

18 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Colorado

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#32

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Connecticut

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Minimum Driving Age

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#2

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Delaware

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#12

Driver's License Cost

District of Columbia

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16 Years Old

Florida

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#8

Driver's License Cost

Georgia

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#22

Driver's License Cost

Hawaii

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#44

18 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Idaho

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14 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#26

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Illinois

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#27

12 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Indiana

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#47

Driver's License Cost

Iowa

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#23

Driver's License Cost

Kansas

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#40

Driver's License Cost

Kentucky

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#28

Driver's License Cost

Louisiana

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#21

Driver's License Cost

Maine

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#29

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Maryland

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15 Years Old, 9 Months

Ranked in the US

#3

Driver's License Cost

Massachusetts

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#6

Driver's License Cost

Michigan

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14 Years Old, 9 Months

Ranked in the US

#35

Driver's License Cost

Minnesota

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#33

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Mississippi

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#38

Driver's License Cost

Missouri

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#50

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Montana

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14 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#10

Driver's License Cost

Nebraska

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#42

Driver's License Cost

Nevada

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#9

14 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

New Hampshire

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#7

18 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

New Jersey

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#39

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

New Mexico

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#46

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

New York

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#4

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

North Carolina

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#13

Driver's License Cost

North Dakota

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#48

14 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Ohio

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#41

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Oklahoma

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#15

Driver's License Cost

Oregon

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#5

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Pennsylvania

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#18

Driver's License Cost

Rhode Island

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16 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#16

Driver's License Cost

South Carolina

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#49

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

South Dakota

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14 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#30

Driver's License Cost

Tennessee

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#31

Driver's License Cost

Texas

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#36

Driver's License Cost

Utah

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#37

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Vermont

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#24

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Virginia

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15 Years Old, 6 Months

Ranked in the US

#25

16 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Washington

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#1

18 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

West Virginia

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#14

Driver's License Cost

Wisconsin

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#19

18 Years Old

Driver's License Cost

Wyoming

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15 Years Old

Ranked in the US

#45

Driver's License Cost