How getting a license works
Every state uses graduated driver licensing for teens: a learner's permit with supervised driving, then an intermediate license with limits like a night curfew and passenger limits, then a full license.
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) gives new drivers experience in lower-risk conditions first. Teens who learn this way crash less.
Stage 1: learner's permit
- Pass a knowledge test on signs and rules, and a vision screening.
- Drive only with a licensed adult beside you.
- Log the supervised hours your state requires, including some at night.
Stage 2: intermediate or provisional license
- Pass a road test after holding your permit for the required time.
- Nearly every state limits late-night driving at this stage.
- Most states limit how many teen passengers you can carry.
- Many states ban all phone use for new drivers.
Stage 3: full license
Restrictions end at an age or after a time set by your state, as long as your record stays clean. Tickets during the early stages can delay this or lead to suspension.
What the knowledge test covers
Signs, signals and markings; right of way; speed and following distance; parking; alcohol and drugs; and your state's licensing rules. Some states test signs separately. Our practice test covers all of these.
Quick quiz
5 questions with explanations.
Questions people ask
How old do I have to be for a permit?
It depends on your state, usually between 14 and 16. Check your state page.
Why are there passenger limits?
Each extra teen passenger raises a new driver's crash risk.
Sources
Last checked October 2026. Laws change; your state's official handbook is the final word.