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Can You Drive at Night With a Learner's Permit? Curfews by State

It depends on your state. Some set a permit curfew, most don't, and many require night practice hours. See the hours for all 50 states and D.C.

30 October, 2026
12 min read

It depends on your state. Most state handbooks set no night curfew for permit holders, but a good number do, and some start as early as 9 p.m. Even where there's no curfew, you almost always need a licensed adult supervisor in the car, and many states require some of your practice hours to be at night.

This post covers every state and D.C. Everything comes from each state's driver handbook or official DMV pages. Several handbooks are old (Rhode Island 2015, Louisiana 2013, Connecticut 2019, Washington 2019, Hawaii 2018, Wyoming 2021, Pennsylvania 2021, Colorado 2023), so check your state's DMV before you plan a night drive.

Can you drive at night with a permit?

Three things decide it: your state, your age, and whether the handbook sets hours for permit holders.

  • States with a permit-stage night rule in the handbook: D.C., Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. Wisconsin has a darkness supervision rule instead of a fixed curfew. Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota and West Virginia have limits too, with details in the list below.
  • States where the handbook is silent on night hours for permits: most of the rest. Silence means no curfew was found in the handbook, not that anything goes. Your supervisor requirements still apply.
  • Night practice is often required. Many states count a set number of night hours inside the total supervised hours. For example, California asks for 10 of 50 and Pennsylvania asks for 10 night hours plus 5 in bad weather out of 65.

Looking for night practice to be ready for the written test too? GetMyPermit practice tests cover every state.

Can I drive at night with a learner's permit over 18?

Often the curfew is written only for teens, so an adult permit holder may have no night limit. Handbooks that tie the permit curfew to under 18 include Massachusetts, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Ohio. Nevada's curfew ends at 18, and Delaware's graduated licensing (GDL) is optional at 18+.

  • New Jersey is different: its hours rule ends at 21, not 18.
  • Wisconsin's darkness supervision rule is stated without an age limit.
  • Everywhere else the handbooks are silent. Adults generally still need a licensed supervisor 21+. Indiana asks for 25+ for permit holders 18+, and Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming ask for 18+.
  • D.C.: the hours rule appears to be tied to the under-21 program, but the pages don't state a rule for permit holders 21+. That is not confirmed, so ask D.C. DMV.

How the rules change after the permit stage

In states with no permit curfew, a night curfew often starts once you hold a license, usually something like midnight to 5 a.m. In other states the permit and license hours are the same, or the license hours are looser. Tennessee's permit curfew is 10 p.m.–6 a.m., while its intermediate license curfew is 11 p.m.–6 a.m. Illinois and New Jersey use the same hours for permit and license.

Some states change the hours over time. Ohio's probationary license bars driving midnight–6 a.m. for the first 12 months, then 1–5 a.m. until 18. A few are stricter at the license stage: New York City bans junior license driving entirely.

Night driving rules by state

Each entry covers the permit stage first, then supervised night hours and the license stage when the notes include them. "Not in handbook" means the handbook doesn't say.

  • Alabama: Learner night hours are not in the handbook. The restricted license (16, or 17 with under 6 months held) bars midnight–6 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian. Exceptions: a licensed driver 21+ with parental consent, work, school or religious events, and emergencies. Limits lift at 17 after 6 months, or at 18.
  • Alaska: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor must be 21+ with 1 year of experience. Under-18s need 40 supervised hours, at least 10 in challenging conditions like night and bad weather. The provisional license bars 1–5 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian or licensed person 21+, with a work exception.
  • Arizona: The car permit has no night limit in the handbook. A motorcycle permit bars passengers and freeways between sunset and sunrise. Supervised hours are 30 with 10 at night, or 20 with 6 at night after a Traffic Survival or Defensive Driving course. The Class G license bars midnight–5 a.m. for the first 6 months, unless a parent or guardian is in the front seat or you are going to or from school, work, a religious activity or a family emergency.
  • Arkansas: Permit night hours are not in the handbook, and a licensed driver 21+ must be beside you. The intermediate license (16–18) bars 11 p.m.–4 a.m. unless a licensed driver 21+ is present or you are going to or from a school activity, church activity, job or emergency.
  • California: No permit night limit is in the handbook. Minors need 50 supervised hours, 10 at night. The provisional license bars 11 p.m.–5 a.m. for the first 12 months, with exceptions that need a signed note for medical need, school, work or a family member.
  • Colorado: The handbook says only that restrictions vary by age. Minors need 50 logged hours with 10 at night and a 12-month permit hold. In the first year of licensing, driving midnight–5 a.m. is barred unless with an instructor, parent or guardian. Exceptions include school or work with a signed statement and medical emergencies.
  • Connecticut: The handbook (2019 edition) doesn't separately state the 11 p.m.–5 a.m. curfew for permit holders. But the Teen-Parent Agreement signed at the permit stage says no driving in those hours, and curfew violations are listed as GDL violations for teens with learner's permits. Licensed 16–17-year-olds have the same curfew, with exceptions for employment, school, religious activities, medical necessity and the Safe Ride Program. Night practice hours are not in the handbook.
  • Delaware: Level One permit holders are supervised at all times for the first 6 months. After that, unsupervised driving is allowed 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. you need supervision, except directly to or from church, work or your school activities. The sponsor certifies 50 hours, 10 at night. GDL is optional at 18+, and non-GDL adult permit holders need a licensed driver 21+.
  • Florida: Learner's license holders may drive in daylight only for the first 3 months, then until 10 p.m., with a licensed driver 21+ beside them. Driving in restricted hours carries 3 points. Supervised hours are 50, 10 at night (the front Minor Drivers page says 10 should be at night). Licensed 16-year-olds can't drive 11 p.m.–6 a.m., and licensed 17-year-olds can't drive 1–5 a.m., with exceptions for work or a licensed driver 21+. The handbook's permit curfew is not tied to age 18.
  • Georgia: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor must be 21+, licensed and seated beside you. The Class D license bars 12:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. with "NO EXCEPTIONS." Class D applicants need 40 hours, 6 at night, and first-time applicants 18+ sign the same affidavit.
  • Hawaii: Permit holders under 18 must be with a parent or guardian between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The provisional license has the same window, with exceptions for work and school-authorized activities. Supervised night hours are not in the handbook, and the edition is from 2018.
  • Idaho: Under-16 drivers are limited to daylight (5 a.m.–10 p.m.) unless a licensed driver 21+ is in the front seat. The Class D permit (17+) has no stated curfew. Under-17 applicants log 50 hours, 10 at night, over 6 months.
  • Illinois: Permit phase: no driving Sunday–Thursday 10 p.m.–6 a.m., or Friday–Saturday 11 p.m.–6 a.m. Local curfews may differ. Under-18s who break this on a permit may be suspended. They need 50 practice hours, 10 at night. The initial license phase (16–17) has the same hours, and the full phase (18–20) has no age-related restrictions.
  • Indiana: No specific curfew for permit holders is in the handbook, but a permit with restriction G limits driving to daylight. The 50 supervised hours include at least 10 at night unless the permit has restriction G; the handbook places this in the 18+ section. The probationary license bars 10 p.m.–5 a.m. for the first 180 days. After that, under 18, there are weeknight and weekend limits (see the handbook), with exceptions for work, school or religious events, a licensed driver 25+ or a spouse 21+.
  • Iowa: Not confirmed. The handbook doesn't cover permit night hours, supervised hours or GDL rules and sends readers to iowadot.gov. Check the Iowa DOT.
  • Kansas: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is a licensed adult 21+ with 1 year of experience. Under-18 applicants need 50 hours, 10 at night. At 16 the license allows 5 a.m.–9 p.m. except for school, religious activity, work or farm work, or with a licensed adult. Restrictions lift after 6 months at 16.
  • Kentucky: Permit holders under 18 can't drive midnight–6 a.m. unless they show good cause. They need a 60-hour log, 10 at night. The intermediate license bars 12 a.m.–6 a.m. unless good cause, such as emergencies, school or work. The rule is stated only for under-18s. Adult permit holders still need a supervisor 21+.
  • Louisiana: Drivers below 17 can't drive 11 p.m.–5 a.m. unless with a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21+, or a sibling 18+. The intermediate license has the same hours. Supervised practice is 50 hours, at least 15 at night. The copy of the handbook in my research is from 2013 and was hosted by a third party. I couldn't confirm an official source, so check with Louisiana OMV.
  • Maine: No permit night limit is in the handbook. The supervisor must be 20+ with 2 years' licensing. Under-21 applicants need 70 supervised hours, 10 at night. Licensed drivers under 18 can't drive 12 a.m.–5 a.m. for 270 days from passing the road test.
  • Maryland: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor must be 21+ with 3 years' licensing. Under-25 applicants need 60 hours, 10 of them between 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise. The provisional license under 18 bars unsupervised driving midnight–5 a.m., except to, from or during a job, an organized volunteer program, an official school activity or an athletic event or training session.
  • Massachusetts: Class D permit holders under 18 can't drive 12:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian who is licensed with 1 year of experience. The rule applies only under 18. Violations can suspend the permit for 60 days, then 180 days, then 1 year. The Junior Operator License bars 12:30–5:00 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian, but 12:30–1:00 a.m. and 4:00–5:00 a.m. are enforced only if you're stopped for another violation. Required night hours within the 40 supervised hours are not in the handbook.
  • Michigan: Level 1 night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is a licensed parent, guardian or designated adult 21+. Required practice includes 2 night hours in the Segment 2 log and 10 at night within 50 hours before the skills test. Level 2 bars 10 p.m.–5 a.m., with exceptions for a parent, guardian or designated adult 21+, work and authorized activities. Level 3 has no state-imposed restrictions. The 18+ permit's night limits are not in the handbook, and the motorcycle permit bans night riding.
  • Minnesota: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. Under-18 applicants need a 40-hour log (with the parent class) or 50 hours, 15 at night. The provisional license bars midnight–5 a.m. for the first 6 months unless with a licensed driver 25+, or driving home–work, home–school event or for employment. The edition date is uncertain.
  • Mississippi: Not confirmed from an official page for permit night hours. The handbook says the supervisor must be 21+ and beside you, and it lists no provisional stage and no night limits for new license holders. Night hours in the 50-hour affidavit are not in the handbook. Check with Mississippi DPS.
  • Missouri: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. Under-16 supervisor options are on p. 17, and permit holders 16+ need a licensed person 21+. Applicants need 40 hours, at least 10 at night. The intermediate license bars driving alone 1:00–5:00 a.m. unless going to or from a school activity, job or emergency, or with a licensed driver 21+.
  • Montana: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. Supervised hours are 50 with 10 at night, over at least 6 months. The first-year restricted license bars 11 p.m.–5 a.m., with exceptions for emergencies, farm activities, travel to or from school, church or work, and purposes authorized by a parent.
  • Nebraska: Night limits for the LPE and LPD permits are not in the handbook. The LPD supervisor must be 21+ and beside you. The 50-hour form needs at least 10 hours between sunset and sunrise. The Provisional Operator's Permit allows unsupervised driving 6 a.m.–midnight. From midnight to 6 a.m. you may only go to or from home and work or a school activity, or be with a parent, guardian or licensed driver 21+. The handbook doesn't say directly when this limit ends.
  • Nevada: Class C permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is 21+ with 1 year licensed. Supervised hours are 50, 10 at night, on the DLD-130 log. A minor may not drive 10 p.m.–5 a.m. unless going to or from a scheduled event, until 18. The handbook states this for licensed minors and places it after the permit section. A motorcycle permit is daylight only.
  • New Hampshire: New Hampshire issues no learner's permit. Practice drivers 15½+ need a parent, guardian or licensed adult 25+. Night limits are not in the handbook. Driver education includes 40 supervised hours, 10 at night. A Youth Operator under 18 can't drive 1:00–4:00 a.m. I couldn't confirm an official link for the handbook, so check with New Hampshire DMV.
  • New Jersey: The Special Learner Permit and Examination Permit bar driving 11:01 p.m.–5:00 a.m. The rule doesn't apply to permit holders 21+. Under-21 exemptions for employment or religion need a signed certification on letterhead. Practice is at least 50 hours with 10 in darkness over 6 months (Options A and B). Option C (21+) is 3 months with no night-hour requirement. The probationary license has the same ban. The handbook doesn't state a change at 18, only at 21.
  • New Mexico: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is 21+ with 3 years licensed, in the right front seat. Applicants need 50 hours, 10 at night. The provisional license bars public highway driving midnight–5 a.m., with exceptions for a licensed driver 21+, family or medical necessity, work, school or religious activity, and medical emergency.
  • New York: The junior learner permit bars driving 9 p.m.–5 a.m. in New York City and on Long Island. Upstate, 9 p.m.–5 a.m. is allowed only with a parent, guardian, driver ed teacher or driving school instructor. (In New York City, at other times too, you need one of those people.) Before the road test you need 50 hours with at least 15 after sunset. Junior license: no driving at any time in New York City, while Long Island and upstate have curfew windows with employment and school exceptions. Junior restrictions run until 18, and adult permit holders still need a supervisor 21+.
  • North Carolina: At Level One (15–17), driving is allowed only 5 a.m.–9 p.m. with a supervising driver for the first 6 months, then at any time with a supervisor. The log is 60 hours, 10 at night. Level Two allows unsupervised driving 5 a.m.–9 p.m., or any time to or from work or volunteer fire, rescue or EMS service, and needs a 12-hour log with 6 at night. Level Three removes the time limits. The 18+ learner permit has no hour limits stated.
  • North Dakota: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is 18+ with 3 years' experience. Under-16 applicants need 50 hours across conditions including night driving, but the number of night hours is not in the handbook. The restricted license at 15 bars driving between the later of sunset or 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a parent, guardian or someone 18+, with work, official school or religious exceptions. At 16 it becomes unrestricted.
  • Ohio: Permit holders aged 16–17 must be with a parent, guardian or custodian who holds a valid license between midnight and 6 a.m. At 18+ the handbook requires a licensed driver 21+ and has no midnight–6 a.m. rule. Under-21 applicants log 50 hours, 10 at night. The probationary license bars midnight–6 a.m. for 12 months, then 1–5 a.m. until 18. Exceptions: a parent or guardian, work (BMV 2825), or a school or religious event (BMV 2826).
  • Oklahoma: Learner permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor must be 21+ and beside you. The intermediate license (T restriction) allows driving 5 a.m.–10 p.m., with exceptions for school, church or work activities, or any time with a licensed driver 21+. There's no T restriction at 18+. Supervised night hours are not in the handbook.
  • Oregon: Permit night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor must be 21+ with 3 years of driving privileges. Under-18 applicants need 100 hours, or 50 hours plus an approved course, with night hours not specified. The provisional license rules are not confirmed. Check Oregon DMV.
  • Pennsylvania: No permit night curfew is stated. Under-18 applicants need 65 hours, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather. The junior license bars 11 p.m.–5 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse 18+. Exceptions: public or charitable service, volunteer fire company and employment. It becomes a regular license at 18.
  • Rhode Island: Permit night hours are not in the handbook (2015 edition). The supervisor is 21+ with 5 years licensed, beside you. Applicants need 50 hours, 10 at night. The provisional license bars driving alone 1:00–5:00 a.m., with exceptions for work and volunteer fire, rescue or EMS. With a supervisor beside you, driving is allowed any time.
  • South Carolina: Permit holders may drive 6 a.m.–midnight with a licensed driver 21+ with 1 year of experience in the front seat. After midnight, only with someone listed in SC Code 56-1-100(A)(1-7). The 180-day holding period applies at any age. Ages 15–16 practice 40 hours, 10 at night, and ages 17+ aren't required to. Conditional and special restricted licenses allow driving alone 6 a.m.–6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time), with a driver 21+ until midnight. A waiver can allow driving alone until midnight for a job, school or church activity, or parent-approved sports. Full privileges come at 17 or after 1 clean year.
  • South Dakota: Instruction permit night hours are not in the handbook. Supervised driving is 50 hours, including 10 after dark and 10 in bad weather. The Restricted Minor's Permit allows driving 6 a.m.–10 p.m. with parental permission. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. a parent or guardian must be beside you, or you may drive alone after 10 p.m. only by the direct route to or from school, church, work or farm work. At 18 it converts to an Operator's License.
  • Tennessee: Permit holders under 18 can't drive 10 p.m.–6 a.m. The supervisor is a licensed driver 21+ beside you. The log is 50 hours, 10 at night, certified on form SF-1256. The intermediate license bars 11 p.m.–6 a.m., with exceptions for a parent, guardian or designated adult 21+, school activity or work with written permission, and early-morning hunting or fishing. Graduated rules don't apply at 18+, and night limits for adult permit holders are not in the handbook.
  • Texas: Learner license night hours are not in the handbook. The supervisor is 21+ with 1 year of experience, beside you. The Phase Two provisional license bars midnight–5 a.m. unless necessary for work, a school-related activity or a medical emergency. Supervised hours are not in the handbook, and 18+ applicants get a Class C license with learner restrictions.
  • Utah: The handbook table shows no night restriction for permits at any age. Students complete 40 hours with a parent or guardian, 10 after sunset. The age 16 license bars 12–5 a.m., with exceptions for a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat, agricultural assignment, work, school-sponsored activity and emergencies. No night restriction at 17 or 18+.
  • Vermont: Permit holders may drive anywhere, anytime with an approved supervisor, with no night restriction. Supervised driving is 40 hours with at least 10 at night (night means 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise). The Junior License has no legal night restriction stated. The handbook suggests a family rule after 9 p.m., which is advice only.
  • Virginia: Not confirmed. Permit night hours are not in the handbook, and provisional license and supervised night hours aren't covered either. The supervisor must be 21+ in the front passenger seat. Check Virginia DMV.
  • Washington: Permit night hours are not in the handbook (2019 edition). The supervisor needs 5 years' licensing, in the right-front seat. Practice is 50 hours, 10 at night, certified by a parent or guardian. The intermediate license bars 1–5 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian or licensed driver 25+, and becomes a standard license at 18. I couldn't confirm an official link for the guide, so check with Washington DOL.
  • West Virginia: The Level 1 permit (15–17) allows driving only 5:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., with a licensed driver 21+ in the right front seat. You need 50 hours with at least 10 at night, or an approved driver's education course. Level 2 allows driving without a supervisor 21+ only 5 a.m.–10 p.m., with exceptions for lawful employment, school or religious activity and emergency. The 18+ regular instruction permit states only a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat, with no hour limit.
  • Wisconsin: There's no fixed permit curfew. During hours of darkness you must be accompanied by a qualified instructor or a licensed person 25 with 2 years' experience, beside you. Under-18 applicants need 50 hours, 10 in darkness. For the first 9 months of GDL, from midnight to 5 a.m. you may drive alone only between home, school and/or work; otherwise one qualified adult may ride along. GDL hour restrictions end at 18.
  • Wyoming: Permit night hours are not in the handbook (2021 edition). The supervisor must be 18+ with a valid license, in the front seat. Getting an intermediate license at 16 requires 50 hours, 10 at night, certified by a parent or guardian. The intermediate license bars 11 p.m.–5 a.m. unless an exception applies and you carry the exception form (medical, work, school or youth activity, medical emergency). The restricted license at 14–15 is valid only 5 a.m.–8 p.m. and within 50 miles of home.
  • District of Columbia: A learner permit allows driving only between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Minimum permit age is 16. The provisional license, September–June, allows driving Sunday–Thursday 6 a.m.–10:59 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. In July–August it is every day 6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. Exceptions: driving to or from work, a school-sponsored activity, a religious or athletic event, or a civic organization event, or with a licensed driver 21+ in the passenger seat. Full-license drivers 17–18 keep the same hours, and there are no hour restrictions after 18. The holding period is 6 months, with 40 supervised hours at the learner stage and 10 night hours listed in the intermediate stage. Rules for permit holders 21+ are not confirmed.

What to do before you drive at night

  1. Look up your state's rules on its DMV site, since these handbooks can be out of date.
  2. Check your age against any under-18 or under-21 cutoffs.
  3. Confirm who can supervise you: the age, license history and seat position are all set by state.
  4. Ask about exceptions for work, school or religious events if you need them, and carry any required form.
  5. Log night hours as you go if your state requires them.

Passing the written test comes first. You can run through your state's questions with a free practice test.

Sources