Minimum and Maximum Driving Ages in Every State

How old do you have to be to drive? For many countries, this question has a simple and straightforward answer. However, it's not the same in the United States. Getting a driver’s license is one task that lingers on the mind of most individuals, especially teenagers. Every individual is entitled to a driver’s license once you meet the set requirements and the driving age. Age is a major determinant for obtaining a driver’s license in the United States.

Recent studies have shown that car accidents are one of the major causes of death among young adults in the United States. Despite the approval of many states in the country, many scientists still believe that teenagers at the age of 16 are still very much unfit to drive. For this reason, many parents and guardians prefer to use a child transportation service for their kids.

When it comes to accidents and bad driving, the seniors or elderly drivers are not left out. Elderly drivers are mainly involved in many road accidents that occur around the country. There is no specific maximum driving age limit for elderly drivers set by the federal government. However, there are different set requirements for different states across the country. This guide will help to shed more light and properly explain the driving age by states as well as their respective restrictions.

Minimum Driving Ages by State

As mentioned earlier, there is no standard minimum age limit set across every state of the country. Each state employs a different age limit to encourage teens and young adults to develop driving responsibilities. To further promote good driving habits in teens, some states go as far as incorporating license programs with restrictions for new drivers. Some of these restrictions include curfews or limits on the number of possible passengers.

A research carried out in 2017 showed that license programs for young and newly licensed drivers have been very effective in curbing the rising rate of car accidents among 16 and 17-year-old drivers. The increasing success of these programs has encouraged other states to adopt similar programs for drivers aged between 18 to 20 years old. However, due to the difference in minimum age limits across each state, the rules surrounding the license programs also differ across each state.

So, when can you get your license?  Due to the difference in age limits and restrictions, it is important to always check and confirm from the Local department of Motor Vehicles within your state. Knowing the exact age limit for your state will help you determine the right time for you to get your license. Below is a list of states and their respective age limits for both driver’s license and driver’s permit.

Legal Driving Age by State (verywellfamily.com)

After carefully going through the list of states in the table above, you may be wondering why there are different age limits for a driver’s license and a learner's permit. Many individuals often make the mistake of thinking both licenses are the same when in fact they are quite different.

DRIVERS LICENSE AND LEARNER'S PERMIT

Despite the different age limits and restrictions across the fifty states of the country, a driver’s license allows you to drive a vehicle on all public roads. A learner’s permit also allows you to drive on public roads, but there are few restrictions attached to the use of a permit.

Also, it is worth noting that there are different categories or types of driver’s licenses that can be used across the country. Examples of the licenses offered in the United States include a commercial driver’s license (CDL), motorcycle license, and a Class C driver’s license which is needed for standard vehicles.

The restrictions on the learner’s permit also vary across each state of the country. Depending on the state in which you reside, some of the restrictions on a learner’s permit also vary based on the age of the holder. For minors below the age of 18, you’ll be unable to drive between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am within the first year of receiving the permit. Also, you cannot carry a passenger below the age of 20 unless you are being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or licensed driver above the age of 25. For adults with a learner’s permit, the only major restriction includes driving with a licensed driver sitting in the car. Teens, especially high school kids can always opt for a part-time driver to help take them to school as well as their other daily activities.

MAXIMUM DRIVING AGE BY STATE

Although there are no fixed limits on the maximum driving age by states in the United States, there are however certain restrictions and conditions for drivers who are above the age of 70. Elderly drivers who are 70 and above are frequently required to carry out driving tests and eye tests to ascertain their driving eligibility.

For elderly drivers with a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License), there are also requirements to adhere to for the license to remain valid. Other than the regular driving tests and eye tests, you may also need to provide a medical certificate from an approved and qualified doctor stating that you’re in a proper condition to drive.

ALTERNATIVES TO DRIVING

For those who are not eligible to obtain a valid driver’s license, there are so many alternative methods to transport yourself to your desired location without driving yourself. Other than taking taxis or public buses, there are other means of transportation.

For minors below the age of 18 who are unable to obtain a driver’s license, you can get your guardian or parents to apply for child transportation services to conveniently transport you to school or extracurricular activities. If you happen to be athletically inclined, you can consider taking a bike to school and back if the distance is favorable.

If you’re a parent or guardian with your car, you can hire a driver to drive your child to school if you’re indisposed at that time. There are reliable services that enable you to hire a driver to drive your child to school or extracurricular activities.

For elderly individuals who are unqualified to obtain a driver’s license, getting your family member to drive you is a convenient alternative to driving. Using public transports like trams, buses or taxis can also be a favorable alternative. However, if you own a car, you can always get a full time driver from a competent hiring service like idriveyourcar.com.