Introduction
In America, the minimum driving age varies from state to state. Alaska and Arkansas have the lowest minimum driving age, allowing individuals to start driving at 14 years old. On the other hand, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have the highest minimum driving age, requiring individuals to be 16 years old before obtaining a driver’s license.
Generally, there is a regional trend of lower driving ages in the Midwest and some Southern states, such as Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi, where the minimum driving age is 14. However, the majority of states set the minimum driving age at 15 years old. Several states, including California, Hawaii, Idaho, and Nevada, have a minimum driving age of 15 years old with an additional six months of age.
It is worth noting that the driving age can also be influenced by other factors, such as the type of driver’s license (learner’s permit or full license) and the requirements for driver’s education or supervised driving hours.
Legal Driving Age
| State | Minimum Driving Age | Driver's License Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 16 Years Old | $72 |
| Delaware | 16 Years Old | $40 |
| District of Columbia | 16 Years Old | |
| Kentucky | 16 Years Old | $30 |
| Massachusetts | 16 Years Old | $50 |
| New Jersey | 16 Years Old | $24 |
| New York | 16 Years Old | $64.25 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 Years Old | $35.5 |
| Rhode Island | 16 Years Old | $38.5 |
| Alabama | 15 Years Old | $36.25 |
| Colorado | 15 Years Old | $26 |
| Florida | 15 Years Old | $48 |
| Georgia | 15 Years Old | $32 |
| Illinois | 15 Years Old | $30 |
| Indiana | 15 Years Old | $17.5 |
| Louisiana | 15 Years Old | $32.25 |
| Maine | 15 Years Old | $30 |
| Minnesota | 15 Years Old | $25.25 |
| Mississippi | 15 Years Old | $24 |
| Missouri | 15 Years Old | $10 |
| Nebraska | 15 Years Old | $21.5 |
| New Mexico | 15 Years Old | $18 |
| North Carolina | 15 Years Old | $40 |
| Oregon | 15 Years Old | $60 |
| South Carolina | 15 Years Old | $12.5 |
| Tennessee | 15 Years Old | $28 |
| Texas | 15 Years Old | $25 |
| Utah | 15 Years Old | $25 |
| Vermont | 15 Years Old | $32 |
| Washington | 15 Years Old | $89 |
| West Virginia | 15 Years Old | $40 |
| Wisconsin | 15 Years Old | $34 |
| Wyoming | 15 Years Old | $20 |
| Arizona | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $25 |
| California | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $33 |
| Hawaii | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $20 |
| Nevada | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $42.25 |
| New Hampshire | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $50 |
| Ohio | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $23 |
| Oklahoma | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $38.5 |
| Virginia | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $32 |
| Maryland | 15 Years Old, 9 Months | $72 |
| Alaska | 14 Years Old | $20 |
| Arkansas | 14 Years Old | $40 |
| Iowa | 14 Years Old | $32 |
| Kansas | 14 Years Old | $23 |
| North Dakota | 14 Years Old | $15 |
| South Dakota | 14 Years Old | $28 |
| Idaho | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | $30 |
| Montana | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | $40.5 |
| Michigan | 14 Years Old, 9 Months | $25 |
Driving Age by State
Alabama
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$36.25
Ranked in the US
#17
The driving age in Alabama is 15 years old.
Alaska
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#43
The driving age in Alaska is 14 years old.
Arizona
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#34
The driving age in Arizona is 15 years old, 6 months.
Arkansas
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#11
The driving age in Arkansas is 14 years old.
California
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#20
The driving age in California is 15 years old, 6 months.
Colorado
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#32
The driving age in Colorado is 15 years old.
Connecticut
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#2
The driving age in Connecticut is 16 years old.
Delaware
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#12
The driving age in Delaware is 16 years old.
District of Columbia
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
The driving age in the District of Columbia is 16 years old.
Florida
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#8
The driving age in Florida is 15 years old.
Georgia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#22
The driving age in Georgia is 15 years old.
Hawaii
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#44
The driving age in Hawaii is 15 years old, 6 months.
Idaho
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#26
The driving age in Idaho is 14 years old, 6 months.
Illinois
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#27
The driving age in Illinois is 15 years old.
Indiana
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#47
The driving age in Indiana is 15 years old.
Iowa
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#23
The driving age in Iowa is 14 years old.
Kansas
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#40
The driving age in Kansas is 14 years old.
Kentucky
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#28
The driving age in Kentucky is 16 years old.
Louisiana
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$32.25
Ranked in the US
#21
The driving age in Louisiana is 15 years old.
Maine
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#29
The driving age in Maine is 15 years old.
Maryland
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 9 Months
Ranked in the US
#3
The driving age in Maryland is 15 years old, 9 months.
Massachusetts
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#6
The driving age in Massachusetts is 16 years old.
Michigan
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 9 Months
Ranked in the US
#35
The driving age in Michigan is 14 years old, 9 months.
Minnesota
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$25.25
Ranked in the US
#33
The driving age in Minnesota is 15 years old.
Mississippi
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#38
The driving age in Mississippi is 15 years old.
Missouri
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#50
The driving age in Missouri is 15 years old.
Montana
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#10
The driving age in Montana is 14 years old, 6 months.
Nebraska
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#42
The driving age in Nebraska is 15 years old.
Nevada
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
$42.25
Ranked in the US
#9
The driving age in Nevada is 15 years old, 6 months.
New Hampshire
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#7
The driving age in New Hampshire is 15 years old, 6 months.
New Jersey
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#39
The driving age in New Jersey is 16 years old.
New Mexico
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#46
The driving age in New Mexico is 15 years old.
New York
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
$64.25
Ranked in the US
#4
The driving age in New York is 16 years old.
North Carolina
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#13
The driving age in North Carolina is 15 years old.
North Dakota
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#48
The driving age in North Dakota is 14 years old.
Ohio
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#41
The driving age in Ohio is 15 years old, 6 months.
Oklahoma
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#15
The driving age in Oklahoma is 15 years old, 6 months.
Oregon
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#5
The driving age in Oregon is 15 years old.
Pennsylvania
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#18
The driving age in Pennsylvania is 16 years old.
Rhode Island
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#16
The driving age in Rhode Island is 16 years old.
South Carolina
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#49
The driving age in South Carolina is 15 years old.
South Dakota
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#30
The driving age in South Dakota is 14 years old.
Tennessee
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#31
The driving age in Tennessee is 15 years old.
Texas
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#36
The driving age in Texas is 15 years old.
Utah
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#37
The driving age in Utah is 15 years old.
Vermont
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#24
The driving age in Vermont is 15 years old.
Virginia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#25
The driving age in Virginia is 15 years old, 6 months.
Washington
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#1
The driving age in Washington is 15 years old.
West Virginia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#14
The driving age in West Virginia is 15 years old.
Wisconsin
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#19
The driving age in Wisconsin is 15 years old.
Wyoming
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#45
The driving age in Wyoming is 15 years old.
FAQs
How old do you have to be to drive ?
The minimum age to drive varies by state but is typically either 14 or 15 years old.
What age can you get your license in California ?
In California, you can get your license at the age of 15 years and 6 months.
What age can you get your license in Texas ?
In Texas, you can get your license at 15 years old.
What age can you get your license in NY ?
In New York, you can get your license at 16 years old.
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