For families and new drivers
Driver education, explained state by state.
Your state decides when a teenager can start, how many hours count, what is on the permit test and whether a course can keep a ticket off your record. Pick your state and what you are working on, and we will walk you through it in order.
All 50 states and Washington, D.C. Each guide lists the state sources it was checked against and the date of that check.
Where are you in the process?
Start with the guide that matches the decision in front of you.
Teen Drivers Education
What a teenager needs before a permit and a first license: classroom and online hours, behind the wheel training, supervised practice and the graduated license stages.
Adult drivers edAdult Drivers Education
For new drivers who are already adults: whether the state requires a course, when one is worth taking anyway, and how it can shorten the road to a license.
Defensive drivingDefensive Driving and Ticket Dismissal
Whether a course can dismiss a ticket, take points off a record or lower an insurance premium, who qualifies, and what the court or agency needs to see.
Choose your state
Each state has ten guides: teen and adult drivers ed, the learner's permit, the permit test, behind-the-wheel practice, a first license at 18 or older, e-bikes and scooters, traffic school, points and defensive driving.
- ALAlabama
- AKAlaska
- AZArizona
- ARArkansas
- CACalifornia
- COColorado
- CTConnecticut
- DEDelaware
- DCWashington, D.C.
- FLFlorida
- GAGeorgia
- HIHawaii
- IDIdaho
- ILIllinois
- INIndiana
- IAIowa
- KSKansas
- KYKentucky
- LALouisiana
- MEMaine
- MDMaryland
- MAMassachusetts
- MIMichigan
- MNMinnesota
- MSMississippi
- MOMissouri
- MTMontana
- NENebraska
- NVNevada
- NHNew Hampshire
- NJNew Jersey
- NMNew Mexico
- NYNew York
- NCNorth Carolina
- NDNorth Dakota
- OHOhio
- OKOklahoma
- OROregon
- PAPennsylvania
- RIRhode Island
- SCSouth Carolina
- SDSouth Dakota
- TNTennessee
- TXTexas
- UTUtah
- VTVermont
- VAVirginia
- WAWashington
- WVWest Virginia
- WIWisconsin
- WYWyoming
How these guides are kept honest
From the state, not from rumor
Ages, hours, fees and point values come from the licensing agency, the courts and the statute books. Every guide lists those sources.
Dated
Rules change every legislative session. Each guide shows when its facts were last checked.
Approved courses only
A course only counts if your state accepts it, so we only point to providers on a state's approved list.