Which States Require Driver's Education to Get a License?

 There's so much to learn as a new driver! You need to know how to control a vehicle, how to read and react to a ton of driving situations, and even deal with crazy drivers. One way states are trying to prepare new drivers for this is by requiring them to take driver's education classes. 

Which States Require Driver's Ed?

There are currently 37 states where driver's education classes are mandatory depending on your age. Since accident rates are the highest for new drivers, it's smart to take one. These are the states that currently have those requirements:

  • California: DMV-approved 30-hour California driver's education course for drivers under 17 and a half years old.

  • Colorado: Drivers between 15 years old and 21 years old have to complete a driver's education course that is at least 30 hours.

  • Connecticut: All teen drivers must complete the eight-hour Safe Driving Course and 30 hours of classroom instruction.

  • Delaware: Teens under the age of 18 must complete a driver's ed course to get a Level 1 learner's permit. It includes 30 hours of classroom, seven hours of lab instruction, and seven hours of in-car observation.

  • Florida: Complete The Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course to get a learner's license.

  • Hawaii: Teens under 18 years old must finish a state-approved 30-hour driver's education course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.

  • Idaho: Take a driver's education course if you are under 17 to get a driver's license.

  • Illinois: Drivers under 18 years old must take high school driver education.

  • Indiana: Minors must take an Indian Bureau of Motor Vehicles-approved driver's education course.

  • Iowa: Laws mandate that underage drivers complete a 30-hour course (in-person or online) and six hours of in-car instruction. 

  • Kentucky: Drivers who get a permit under the age of 18 must complete a driver training program. 

  • Louisiana: A 30-hour driver education course must be completed by teens between 15-17 years old. You must complete an eight-hour behind-the-wheel course as well. 

  • Maine: Applicants under 18 years old must have a driver's education completion certificate to be eligible for a driver's license. 

  • Maryland: All new drivers of any age must complete a 30-hour driver's ed course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.

  • Massachusetts: Before scheduling the road test, applicants under 18 have to complete a driver's ed program

  • Michigan: All drivers under 18 years old have to complete two segments of driver's education

  • Minnesota: All new drivers under 18 need to take a DPS-approved 30-hour driver's ed course and six hours of driving training.

  • Mississippi: To get a learner’s permit at 14, students must prove that they are in a driver's education program at their school.

  • Montana: To get a learner's permit at 14 and a half years old students must take a state-approved traffic education program

  • Nevada: Most teens under the age of 18 have to pass a driver's education course to get an instruction permit.

  • New Hampshire: Complete 30 hours of driver education and 40 hours of practice driving to get a driver's license in New Hampshire.

  • New Jersey: To get a student learner's permit at 16 years old, enroll in driver's education. 

  • New Mexico: Requires a 30-hour driver's ed course for new drivers under 18 before getting an instructional permit. New drivers between 18 and 24 years old must take a DWI awareness class.

  • New York: Before you can schedule the road test for a license you must complete a five-hour Pre-licensing Course.

  • North Carolina: Students who are at least 14 and a half can enroll in driver's ed to become eligible for a Level One Limited Learner Permit.

  • North Dakota: Fourteen and 15-year-olds must complete an approved driver training program. They are available through their school, the Department of Public Instruction, or a commercial education provider.

  • Ohio: Complete a 24-hour driver trainer course and eight hours of driving instruction to get a probationary driver's license if you're under 18.

  • Oklahoma: Driver's ed is only required if you want to get a learner's permit at 15 and half years old. 

  • Pennsylvania: Complete driver's ed and behind-the-wheel training to move from a Junior license to a Senior license before turning 18.  

  • Rhode Island: Drivers under 18 years old can get a limited instruction permit by taking a 33-hour driver's ed course.

  • South Carolina: All 15 and 16-year-olds must take a driver's ed course to get a license. 

  • Texas: Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 have to complete a 32-hour driver education course. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 25 must complete a six-hour adult driver's ed course.

  • Utah: Applicants under 18 years old must complete a driver's ed course consisting of classroom and in-vehicle training.

  • Vermont: Vermont requires teen drivers to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction. There are also six hours of behind-the-wheel training, and six hours of supervised driving.

  • Virginia: Applicants under the age of 18 must provide proof that they have completed a state-approved driver's ed course to receive a license. 

  • Washington: Drivers under the age of 18 must complete a 30-hour course to get a license.

  • Wisconsin: Applicants under 18 must pass a 30-hour driver's ed course along with six hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Take a Driver's Education Course to Get Your License

Most states mandate taking a driver's education course, but even if yours doesn't, there may be some benefits. Some states will let you get your permit at an earlier age, require fewer behind-the-wheel hours, or let you skip the driving test. Either way, signing up for a driver's ed course at DriversEd.com is a great idea. It'll make you a safer driver through its interactive, entirely online lessons.

Get Started with your Online Drivers Ed Course Today

Learn More