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Does my teen need drivers ed to get a license in Pennsylvania?

An unrestricted license before age 18 needs an approved drivers ed course and 12 months with no crash or conviction. Before the junior license road test, PennDOT asks for six months of practice and 65 hours of driving with an adult.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
An unrestricted license before 18 needs a 12-month clean record and an approved courseA course matters for an unrestricted license before age 18. That license also takes a crash- and conviction-free record for 12 months.
Verified. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation · Young driver law (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Course hours
At least 65 hours of supervised driving, with 10 at nightYour teen needs at least 65 hours of adult-supervised driving. Of those, 10 hours must be at night and five in poor weather.
Same source and date as above
Practice period
A six-month skill-building period is required before the road test for a junior licensePennDOT calls it time to practice and gain experience.
Same source and date as above
Supervising adult
An experienced, licensed driver aged 21 or older must accompany a young driverThat adult must be with your teen at all times.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
The learner's permit is valid for one year, with extensions availableThe learner's permit is valid for one year, and PennDOT allows extensions for teens who need more practice time.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check what a course is for. PennDOT says a young driver cannot get an unrestricted license before age 18 without a crash- and conviction-free record for 12 months and an approved driver's education course. A full license is typically issued at age 18. State law also issues a license at 17 to a teen who finished an approved driver's training course and met clean-record conditions for 12 months on a junior license.

  2. Step 2. Practice with a permit. Your teen needs a six-month practice period before the road test for a junior license, with at least 65 hours of adult-supervised driving. An experienced, licensed driver 21 or older must be in the car at all times.

  3. Step 3. Know the limits. A young driver may not be behind the wheel between 11 PM and 5 AM. Young drivers may travel for employment and for volunteer or charitable service during those hours, with proper documentation. The learner's permit is valid for one year, with extensions for those requiring more practice time.

  4. Step 4. If your teen wants the early license, take an approved driver's education course. It is one of two conditions, along with 12 crash- and conviction-free months.

Before you pay

If your teen wants the early unrestricted license, ask the school whether its course is approved before you pay.

We haven't confirmed a Pennsylvania price from a source.

Questions

What does my teen pass before behind-the-wheel practice?

After a physical exam, vision screening and knowledge test, young drivers may begin behind-the-wheel practice.

How do we apply for the early license?

Your teen completes form DL-59 and submits it to PennDOT with the certificate from an approved course. An affidavit of consent from a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is at least 18 must also be provided.

Who certifies the practice hours?

A parent or guardian signs form DL-180C to certify that the six months included at least 65 hours of adult-supervised driving.

How many passengers can my teen carry?

One non-family member under 18 at first, then up to three under 18 after six months on the junior license. A teen responsible for a reportable crash, or with a traffic violation, keeps the one-passenger limit until 18. Immediate family doesn't count, and the limit doesn't apply with a parent or legal guardian in the car. There can never be more passengers than seat belts.

What gets a young driver's permit suspended?

A young driver's permit is suspended for 90 days after six or more points, or after being convicted of driving 26 miles per hour or more over the limit.

What to do next

Start with PennDOT's young driver page, then decide whether your teen wants the early license.

www.pa.gov

Sources we read