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.
| State | Minimum Driving Age | Driver's License Cost | Minimun Working Age | Legal Age a Child Can be Left Alone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 16 Years Old | $72 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Delaware | 16 Years Old | $40 | 12 Years Old | |
| District of Columbia | 16 Years Old | |||
| Kentucky | 16 Years Old | $30 | No Minimum Age | |
| Massachusetts | 16 Years Old | $50 | No Minimum Age | |
| New Jersey | 16 Years Old | $24 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| New York | 16 Years Old | $64.25 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Pennsylvania | 16 Years Old | $35.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| Rhode Island | 16 Years Old | $38.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| Alabama | 15 Years Old | $36.25 | No Minimum Age | |
| Colorado | 15 Years Old | $26 | 16 Years Old | 12 Years Old |
| Florida | 15 Years Old | $48 | No Minimum Age | |
| Georgia | 15 Years Old | $32 | 8 Years Old | |
| Illinois | 15 Years Old | $30 | 12 Years Old | 14 Years Old |
| Indiana | 15 Years Old | $17.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| Louisiana | 15 Years Old | $32.25 | No Minimum Age | |
| Maine | 15 Years Old | $30 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Minnesota | 15 Years Old | $25.25 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Mississippi | 15 Years Old | $24 | 12 Years Old | |
| Missouri | 15 Years Old | $10 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Nebraska | 15 Years Old | $21.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| New Mexico | 15 Years Old | $18 | 16 Years Old | 10 Years Old |
| North Carolina | 15 Years Old | $40 | 8 Years Old | |
| Oregon | 15 Years Old | $60 | 16 Years Old | 10 Years Old |
| South Carolina | 15 Years Old | $12.5 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Tennessee | 15 Years Old | $28 | 10 Years Old | |
| Texas | 15 Years Old | $25 | No Minimum Age | |
| Utah | 15 Years Old | $25 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Vermont | 15 Years Old | $32 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Washington | 15 Years Old | $89 | 18 Years Old | 10 Years Old |
| West Virginia | 15 Years Old | $40 | No Minimum Age | |
| Wisconsin | 15 Years Old | $34 | 18 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Wyoming | 15 Years Old | $20 | No Minimum Age | |
| Arizona | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $25 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| California | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $33 | 18 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Hawaii | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $20 | 18 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Nevada | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $42.25 | 14 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| New Hampshire | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $50 | 18 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Ohio | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $23 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Oklahoma | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $38.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| Virginia | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | $32 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Maryland | 15 Years Old, 9 Months | $72 | 8 Years Old | |
| Alaska | 14 Years Old | $20 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Arkansas | 14 Years Old | $40 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Iowa | 14 Years Old | $32 | No Minimum Age | |
| Kansas | 14 Years Old | $23 | 6 Years Old | |
| North Dakota | 14 Years Old | $15 | 14 Years Old | 9 Years Old |
| South Dakota | 14 Years Old | $28 | No Minimum Age | |
| Idaho | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | $30 | 16 Years Old | No Minimum Age |
| Montana | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | $40.5 | No Minimum Age | |
| Michigan | 14 Years Old, 9 Months | $25 | 11 Years Old |
Minimum Driving Age by State
Alabama
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$36.25
Ranked in the US
#17
No Minimum Age
Alaska
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#43
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Arizona
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#34
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Arkansas
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#11
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
California
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#20
18 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Colorado
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#32
16 Years Old
12 Years Old
Connecticut
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#2
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Delaware
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#12
12 Years Old
District of Columbia
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Florida
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#8
No Minimum Age
Georgia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#22
8 Years Old
Hawaii
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#44
18 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Idaho
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#26
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Illinois
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#27
12 Years Old
14 Years Old
Indiana
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#47
No Minimum Age
Iowa
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#23
No Minimum Age
Kansas
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#40
6 Years Old
Kentucky
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#28
No Minimum Age
Louisiana
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$32.25
Ranked in the US
#21
No Minimum Age
Maine
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#29
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Maryland
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 9 Months
Ranked in the US
#3
8 Years Old
Massachusetts
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#6
No Minimum Age
Michigan
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 9 Months
Ranked in the US
#35
11 Years Old
Minnesota
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
$25.25
Ranked in the US
#33
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Mississippi
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#38
12 Years Old
Missouri
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#50
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Montana
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#10
No Minimum Age
Nebraska
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#42
No Minimum Age
Nevada
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
$42.25
Ranked in the US
#9
14 Years Old
No Minimum Age
New Hampshire
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#7
18 Years Old
No Minimum Age
New Jersey
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#39
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
New Mexico
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#46
16 Years Old
10 Years Old
New York
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
$64.25
Ranked in the US
#4
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
North Carolina
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#13
8 Years Old
North Dakota
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#48
14 Years Old
9 Years Old
Ohio
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#41
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Oklahoma
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#15
No Minimum Age
Oregon
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#5
16 Years Old
10 Years Old
Pennsylvania
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#18
No Minimum Age
Rhode Island
Minimum Driving Age
16 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#16
No Minimum Age
South Carolina
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#49
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
South Dakota
Minimum Driving Age
14 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#30
No Minimum Age
Tennessee
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#31
10 Years Old
Texas
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#36
No Minimum Age
Utah
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#37
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Vermont
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#24
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Virginia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Ranked in the US
#25
16 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Washington
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#1
18 Years Old
10 Years Old
West Virginia
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#14
No Minimum Age
Wisconsin
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#19
18 Years Old
No Minimum Age
Wyoming
Minimum Driving Age
15 Years Old
Ranked in the US
#45
No Minimum Age