{"id":25625,"date":"2024-11-11T01:55:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T09:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=25625"},"modified":"2025-07-14T18:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:28:57","slug":"what-counts-as-nighttime-driving-for-drivers-with-their-learners-permit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/dmv\/what-counts-as-nighttime-driving-for-drivers-with-their-learners-permit\/","title":{"rendered":"What counts as nighttime driving for drivers with their learner\u2019s permit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question:<\/strong> I just got my learner\u2019s permit and I\u2019m getting ready to do supervised driving with my parents. My instructor told me that I need to complete 10 hours of night driving, but didn\u2019t mention any times. What counts as nighttime driving for new drivers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might think nighttime driving has something to do with sunrise and sunset times but the truth is that this isn\u2019t true across most states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many states have implemented graduated licensing where your learner\u2019s permit tends to be highly restrictive in terms of when you can drive when it gets dark. However, most of these restrictions tend to apply to teenagers only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example permit restrictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For example, North Carolina has a graduated licensing system, for teens aged 15 to 17, that allows you to drive within a specific time frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For North Carolinans with a Level 1 permit, the limited learner permit, you can only drive while supervised between 5 am to 9 pm for the first six months. Thereafter, you can drive free of time restrictions with a supervising driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a Level 2, limited provisional license, you can drive unsupervised between 5 am to 9 pm, and to\/from work or any volunteer fire, rescue, or emergency medical service. After 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., a supervising driver is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are additional, non-time-based stipulations that you can refer to on the NCDOT website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you drive at night with a permit? State-by-state comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)<\/a>, here are the restricted times where permit holders cannot drive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State<\/th> Nighttime Restrictions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
AL<\/td>Midnight – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
AK<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
AZ<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
AR<\/td>11 p.m. – 4 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
CA<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
CO<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
CT<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
DE<\/td>10 p.m. – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
DC<\/td>Sep-Jun: 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Sun-Thur), 12:01 a.m. – 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat); Jul-Aug: 12:01 a.m. – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
FL<\/td>11 p.m. – 6 a.m. (16-year-olds); 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. (17-year-olds)<\/td><\/tr>
GA<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
HI<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
ID<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
IL<\/td>10 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Sun-Thur); 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat)<\/td><\/tr>
IN<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m. (first 6 months); 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. (Sun-Fri); 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. (Sat-Sun)<\/td><\/tr>
IA<\/td>12:30 a.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
KS<\/td>9 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
KY<\/td>Midnight – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
LA<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
ME<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MD<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MA<\/td>12:30 a.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MI<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MN<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MS<\/td>10 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Sun-Thur); 11:30 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat)<\/td><\/tr>
MO<\/td>1 a.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
MT<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NE<\/td>Midnight – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NV<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NH<\/td>1 a.m. – 4 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NJ<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NM<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
NY<\/td>9 p.m. – 5 a.m. (except NYC and Long Island)<\/td><\/tr>
NC<\/td>9 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
ND<\/td>Later of sunset or 9 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
OH<\/td>Midnight – 6 a.m. (first 12 months); 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. (second 12 months)<\/td><\/tr>
OK<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
OR<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
PA<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
RI<\/td>1 a.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
SC<\/td>6 p.m. – 6 a.m. (EST); 8 p.m. – 6 a.m. (EDT)<\/td><\/tr>
SD<\/td>10 p.m. – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
TN<\/td>11 p.m. – 6 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
TX<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
UT<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
VT<\/td>None<\/td><\/tr>
VA<\/td>Midnight – 4 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
WA<\/td>1 a.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
WV<\/td>10 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
WI<\/td>Midnight – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr>
WY<\/td>11 p.m. – 5 a.m.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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