Young Drivers

Current Young Driver Laws
   The laws listed below are current as of October 2005.

To find out more about the requirements of Maryland’s graduated licensing system, please click the link below and you'll be taken to the Motor Vehicle Administration's website. www.mva.state.md.us

Teen Driving Laws Effective October 1, 2005

Maryland is concerned about the safety of new drivers, and has strengthened the laws, especially those that apply to drivers who are eighteen years of age and younger. The following outlines the requirements for all those who are learning to drive and are graduating through the Maryland Rookie Driver: Graduated Licensing System. Anyone obtaining a learner's permit or provisional driver's license should take note of all the changes that became effective October 1, 2005.

Learner’s Permit Holders:

• The learner’s permit must be held for at least six (6) months before the driver is eligible for a provisional license.
  
• The learner’s permit driver must complete a minimum of sixty (60) hours of driving practice with someone at least age twenty one (21) who has held a driver’s license for three (3) years or more.
  
• A minimum of ten (10) of the 60 practice driving hours must occur at night. The nighttime practice driving can occur 30 minutes before sunset, but no earlier, or 30 minutes after sunrise, no later, to qualify as nighttime practice driving.
  
• Learner's permit holders under 18 may not use any wireless communication device, including a cell phone, while driving, except to make an emergency 911 call. Violations may result in the suspension of one’s driving privilege for up to 90 days.

Provisional Driver’s License Holders:

• Minimum age is 16 years and 3 months.
  
• During the first 5 months (151 days) of the provisional period, drivers under the age of eighteen (18), may not carry passengers who are minors (under eighteen), unless they are accompanied by a qualified supervising driver or the passengers are direct family members. Direct family members can be a spouse, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson, sister, brother, stepsister, or stepbrother of the provisional license holder, or a relative of the license holder who lives at the same address. Violations may result in a suspension of one’s driving privilege.
  
• Drivers under the age of eighteen (18) may not use any wireless communication devices, including a cell phone, while driving, except to make an emergency 911 call. Violations may result in the suspension of one’s driving privilege for up to 90 days.
  
• Drivers must hold the provisional license for eighteen (18) consecutive months with no moving violations. Any violations or Probation Before Judgement (PBJ) rulings, will mean the eighteen (18) month period must be restarted.
  
• Provisional drivers are ineligible for a PBJ ruling from the court if the defendant has previously received a PBJ.

Converting to a Full Driver's License:

• A driver must be at least age seventeen (17) years and nine (9) months.

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