How Many Supervised Driving Hours Do Teens Need? A State Comparison
From 20 hours to 70, here is how the required practice time varies across all 50 states and DC.
Key takeaways
- Most states ask teens to log around 40 to 50 supervised hours, with about 10 at night.
- Maine requires the most at 70 hours, while a few states list no minimum.
- Always confirm your state's log form and signature rules before your road test.
Why supervised hours matter
A learner’s permit is only useful if you use it. Supervised practice is where new drivers meet real traffic, bad weather and darkness with an experienced adult beside them. IIHS lists at least 70 supervised hours as its recommended best practice, which is more than most states require today.
Supervised hours by state
The table below groups every state and Washington DC by the total number of supervised hours in the IIHS graduated licensing table (September 2026). Some states waive or reduce the hours with driver education, and a few split them between the learner stage and later stages.
| Supervised hours | States |
|---|---|
| 70 hours | Maine |
| 65 hours | Pennsylvania |
| 60 hours | Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina |
| 50 hours | Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| 45 hours | Virginia |
| 40 hours | Alaska, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont |
| 30 hours | Arizona, Texas |
| 20 hours | Iowa |
| No minimum listed | Arkansas, Mississippi |
What about night hours?
Most states that set a practice requirement also require a number of those hours to be at night, usually about 10. A few ask for more, such as 15 in New York, Louisiana, Minnesota and Virginia. Night practice is worth taking seriously. Judging distance, glare and unlit hazards is harder in the dark, and that is exactly when many teen crashes occur.
How to log your hours
Keep a simple log from the first day: date, start and end time, weather, roads and what you practiced. Many states require a parent or guardian to certify the log before the road test, and some provide an official form.
Vary your practice. Add city streets, highways where allowed, parking, rain and night driving. Hitting the minimum number is the floor, not the goal.
Check your own state
Rules change and exceptions apply, so read the exact wording for your state. Our license requirements by state show each state’s hours next to its other graduated licensing rules, and the state permit test pages start with a quiz built on your state’s figures.
How to make each hour count
Plan your sessions. Spend one on parking and low-speed control, another on residential streets and intersections, another on multi-lane roads and merging, and another at night or in the rain. Ask your supervisor to comment on your habits, such as scanning, following distance and speed, after each drive.
Short, regular sessions build skill faster than a few long ones. Thirty to sixty minutes several times a week is more useful than a single long weekend drive.
Tips for supervisors
Stay calm, give directions early and keep your comments about the drive rather than the driver. Let the new driver decide, and correct only when needed for safety. Choose a quiet place for the first sessions and add complexity slowly.
Next steps
The bottom line: the minimum is only a floor. Start your log early, vary your conditions and get every signature your state requires. Then use the DMV practice test by state page to take the permit test for your state.
Frequently asked questions
Do all states require supervised hours?
No. A few states list no minimum number of certified hours, though practice is strongly advised.
Can driver education replace supervised hours?
In some states, driver education reduces or waives the requirement. The table notes these states.
Keep learning
Related guides and practice tests.
Drivers license requirements by state
Permit ages, holding periods, hours and limits for all 51.
ReadGraduated Driver Licensing Explained: The Three Stages
Why new drivers move through a permit and an intermediate license before a full license, and what to check for your state.
ReadHow to get a learner's permit
The steps from application to permit for teens and adults.
ReadDMV practice test by state
Free permit, license, motorcycle and CDL tests for every state.
ReadPractice for your state's test
Choose your state and take a free quiz. Every answer comes with an explanation.