Can you drive with an expired license? Is it legal?

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Driving with an expired license is illegal in all 50 states. An expired license means you do not have a valid permit to drive, which can lead to serious legal consequences. It’s important to understand the rules around expired licenses to avoid fines, higher insurance rates, or even jail time. If your license has expired, it’s best to renew it before getting behind the wheel.

Key Takeaways

Driving with an expired license is illegal in all U.S. states and can lead to serious consequences, including fines, increased insurance rates, or even jail time.
If you drive with an expired license and have an accident, insurers may deny your claim since driving without a valid license can void coverage, leaving you financially liable.
Most states offer a short grace period for renewing an expired license, and many DMVs provide online renewal options, but waiting too long may require retaking certain tests.

License expiration grace period

While some states do offer drivers a grace period to renew their driver’s licenses after they expire, this period is typically less than 30 days. It is advisable to renew your license before it expires for the best outcome.

Potential consequences of driving with an expired license

Driving with an expired license can invite a myriad of legal consequences. These may include hefty fines, potential jail time, increase in car insurance premiums or even a license suspension. The severity of these penalties generally depends on state laws, the length of time the license has been expired, and the driver’s previous driving record.

While it might seem tempting to risk a short drive with an expired license, it’s important to consider the potential risk. In the event of an accident, even if not at fault, an expired license can lead to insurance complications, with the possibility of the car insurance company denying the claim.

If your license expires, will your auto insurance coverage still be valid?

Having an expired license while you commit a moving violation or are involved in an accident can indeed affect your insurance claims. Here’s how:

The first thing to understand is that driving with an expired license is considered illegal. This means the driver is essentially uninsured. If you have a moving violation such as an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket, or a DUI while your license is expired, the insurance company may use this as a reason to deny your claim.

An insurance company’s primary duty is to cover the costs of accidents or damages resulting from driving-related incidents. However, they operate on the fundamental understanding that the person they are insuring is a legally authorized driver. If your license is expired at the time of a moving violation, this underlying condition is not met.

In the case of an at-fault accident while driving with an expired license, it’s highly likely the insurer will deny your claim. This could leave you financially responsible for all damages and medical expenses incurred due to the accident.

If you are caught speeding or receive a DUI with an expired license, these moving violations could also complicate car insurance claims. Insurers may argue that these actions indicate high-risk behavior, which, coupled with an expired license, could lead to claim denial.

However, the final decision depends on the insurance company’s policies, and in some instances, state laws. Some insurers might opt to cover a claim, but they may significantly increase your premiums as a consequence of your high-risk status.

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How much do your car insurance rates go up if you are driving without a license?

As per Insure.com study, on average, your car insurance rate goes up by $347 or 20% if you are driving without a valid license or permit.

Table: Car insurance rate increase for driving without a valid license or permit in each state.

State	Rates after violation	Rates before violation	Dollar difference	Percent difference
AK	$1,532	$1,288	$244	19%
AL	$1,826	$1,517	$309	20%
AR	$1,808	$1,483	$325	22%
AZ	$2,049	$1,661	$388	23%
CA	$3,752	$2,206	$1,546	70%
CO	$2,159	$1,977	$182	9%
CT	$1,625	$1,455	$170	12%
DC	$2,176	$1,904	$272	14%
DE	$1,972	$1,751	$221	13%
FL	$3,608	$3,008	$600	20%
GA	$1,951	$1,618	$333	21%
HI	$1,501	$1,309	$192	15%
IA	$1,548	$1,241	$307	25%
ID	$1,184	$1,011	$173	17%
IL	$1,685	$1,364	$321	24%
IN	$1,695	$1,282	$413	32%
KS	$1,756	$1,493	$263	18%
KY	$2,147	$1,865	$282	15%
LA	$3,639	$3,197	$442	14%
MA	$2,261	$1,760	$501	28%
MD	$2,351	$1,966	$385	20%
ME	$1,182	$1,049	$133	13%
MI	$5,019	$4,013	$1,006	25%
MN	$2,031	$1,686	$345	20%
MO	$2,762	$2,372	$390	16%
MS	$1,604	$1,405	$199	14%
MT	$2,021	$1,766	$255	14%
NC	$1,942	$1,396	$546	39%
ND	$1,342	$1,232	$110	9%
NE	$2,009	$1,847	$162	9%
NH	$1,132	$952	$180	19%
NJ	$2,651	$2,262	$389	17%
NM	$2,018	$1,695	$323	19%
NV	$2,941	$2,389	$552	23%
NY	$2,132	$1,867	$265	14%
OH	$1,355	$1,114	$241	22%
OK	$2,393	$1,852	$541	29%
OR	$1,930	$1,502	$428	28%
PA	$1,477	$1,297	$180	14%
RI	$2,138	$1,792	$346	19%
SC	$2,222	$1,811	$411	23%
SD	$1,780	$1,558	$222	14%
TN	$1,505	$1,311	$194	15%
TX	$2,400	$1,981	$419	21%
UT	$1,731	$1,601	$130	8%
VA	$1,423	$1,228	$195	16%
VT	$1,211	$1,057	$154	15%
WA	$1,829	$1,351	$478	35%
WI	$2,004	$1,573	$431	27%
WV	$1,716	$1,424	$292	21%
WY	$1,850	$1,763	$87	5%

Driver’s license laws by state

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs enable teenage drivers to accumulate driving experience prior to obtaining full driving privileges. Typically, these programs consist of three stages:

Learner stage

In most states, learner’s permits require the holder to be a minimum age, only drive with a fully licensed driver present, and accumulate a specific number of driving hours before advancing to the next level of licensing.

State	Minimum entry age	Mandatory holding period	Minimum amount of supervised driving	Other regulations
Alabama	15 years	6 months	50 hrs.	The supervising driver must be a parent, guardian, grandparent or driving instructor.
Alaska	14 years	6 month	40 hrs., including 10 at night or in inclement weather	–
Arizona	15 years, 6 mos.	6 month	30 hrs. including 10 at night ( with defensive driving course)	A driver education instructor can authorize an enrolled student who is 15 to drive only while supervised by the authorizing instructor.
Arkansas	14 years	6 months	None	14 year-olds can drive with an instruction permit after passing a written test. After passing a road test they are eligible for a learner’s license. Unsupervised driving is not permitted by holders of either the instruction permit or learner’s license.
California	15 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Students enrolled in driver education may drive while supervised by an instructor.
Colorado	15 years	12 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	The minimum permit age varies. Fifteen year-olds who are enrolled in driver education may apply for an instruction permit. Their supervising driver must be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, guardian, or driving instructor.
Connecticut	16 years	6 months (4 months with driver ed)	40 hrs.	Either driver education or home training is required for license applicants younger than 18. Permit holders may not carry any passengers aside from the person providing instruction, parents or guardians.
District of Colombia	16 years	6 months	40 hrs. in learner’s stage; 10 hrs. at night in intermediate stage	Learner’s permit required for all applicants regardless of age. Drivers in the learner’s stage aren’t allowed to drive between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Delaware	16 years	6 month	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for all license applicants younger than 18.
Florida	15 years	12 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Learners permit holders may not drive after sunset for the first three months and thereafter may not drive after 10 p.m.
Georgia	15 years	12 months	40 hrs. including 6 at night	License applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education.
Hawaii	15 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	License applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education.
Idaho	14 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	The state has three learner’s permit levels — driver training for drivers 14 ½; supervised instruction with a nonprofessional supervisor; and an instruction permit for people who are 17 who completed driver education and supervised driving or drivers who are 17 and older without driver education or supervised driving.
Illinois	15 years	9 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants.
Indiana	15 with driver’s ed. 16 without driver’s ed.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants must be at least 15 years old and completed a driver education course. All 16-year-olds can apply for a permit.
Iowa	14 years	12 months	20 hrs. including 2 hrs. at night	Holders of a minor school license may not use electronic communication devices or electronic entertainment devices (permanently installed equipment exempted), carry more than one unrelated passenger, or drive to another school district without an extra-curricular sharing agreement.
Kansas	14 years	12 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Restricted license holders younger than 16 may not drive unless supervised other than to and from school or work via the most direct route and may not carry minor passengers other than siblings.
Kentucky	16 years	6 months	60 hrs. including 10 at night	License holders younger than 18 must complete a driver education course or a state-sponsored traffic school.
Louisiana	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hours at night	–
Maine	15 years	6 months	70 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for a permit and a license if the applicant is younger than 18.
Maryland	15 years, 9 mos	9 months	60 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required regardless of applicant age.
Massachusetts	16 years	6 months	40 hrs. with 30 hrs. advanced driver training	Driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18.
Michigan	14 years, 9 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants younger than 18 must have completed the first segment of driver education.
Minnesota	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night, or 40 hrs. with 15 hrs at night if parent completes 90-minute course	Permit applicants under 18 must take driver education.
Mississippi	15 years	12 months	None	–
Missouri	15 years	6 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	–
Montana	14 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants under 15.
Nebraska	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night (none with driver’s ed)	Drivers who are 14 years old and live at least 1.5 miles from a school and live outside of a metro area can get a learner’s permit or limited license. Limited license allows the teen to drive while supervised.
Nevada	15 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night or 100 hrs. with 10 hrs. at night if driver’s ed not offered within 30 miles	–
New Hampshire	15 years, 6 mos.	None	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	New Hampshire does not issue learner’s permits. At age 15, 6 months a person can drive while supervised by a licensed driver 25 or older.
New Jersey	16 years	6 months	None	Learner’s permit holders may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and may carry only one passenger in addition to the supervising driver or any parent, guardian or dependent.
New Mexico	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants under 18 must take driver education.
New York	16 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night	–
North Carolina	15 years	6 months	60 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for permit applicants under 18.
North Dakota	14 years	12 months for drivers under 16; otherwise, 6 months or until age 18 (whichever comes first)	under 16: 50 hours; 16 and over: none	–
Ohio	15 years, 6 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	–
Oklahoma	15 years, 6 mos. with driver’s ed	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Fifteen-year-olds in Oklahoma can drive if supervised by an instructor.
Oregon	15 years	6 months	50 hrs.; 100 hrs. w/o driver’s ed.	–
Pennsylvania	16 years	6 months	65 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night and 5hrs. in inclement weather	–
Rhone Island	16 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for permit applicants under 18.
South Carolina	15 years	6 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
South Dakota	14 years	275 days (or 180 days after passing driver’s ed.)	50 (10 at night and 10 in inclement weather)	Learner’s permit holders may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless under the supervision of a parent or guardian.
Tennessee	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Learner’s permit holders in Tennessee may not drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m
Texas	15 years	6 months	30 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	People who are 15 or older but under 18 must satisfactorily complete and pass the classroom phase of an approved driver education course to be issued a permit.
Utah	15 years	18 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit holders younger than 18 may only drive under the supervision of a driving instructor, a parent or guardian, or a responsible adult who has accepted liability for the permit holder’s driving by signing the permit application. Permit applicants younger than 19 must be enrolled in driver education.
Vermont	15 years	12 months	40 years including 10 hrs. at night	–
Virginia	15 years, 5 mos.	9 months	45 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night	The night driving restriction and passenger restrictions apply to learner’s permit holders.
Washington	15 with driver’s ed; 15 years, 6 mos. without driver’s ed	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants must be enrolled in driver education; otherwise, the minimum permit age is 15, 6 months.
West Virginia	15 years	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night (none with driver’s ed.)	Learner’s permit holders younger than 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and may not carry more than two passengers in addition to the supervising driver
Wisconsin	15 years, 6 mos.	6 months	30 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants younger than 18. During the learner’s stage, permit holders may carry three passengers if supervised by a driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. Permit holders 16 and older may carry one passenger 25 or older who has been licensed at least two years.
Wyoming	15 years	10 days	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night

Intermediate stage

Once you have completed enough practice on the road, you will reach the intermediate GDL stage. In this stage, drivers are eligible to take the test for their state driver’s license, but they must complete additional requirements before obtaining the same driving privileges as more seasoned drivers.

State	Minimum age	Times when unsupervised driving is prohibited	Passenger restrictions	Other regulations
Alabama	16 years	Midnight-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	At age 16, permit holders may drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.
Alaska	16 years	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 months: no passengers under 21	–
Arizona	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m. (Secondary enforcement)	First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 (secondary enforcement)	–
Arkansas	16 years	11 p.m.-4 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	Applicants for an intermediate license must be 16 and must be crash/violation-free for six months. Licensees younger than 18 are prohibited from transporting passengers who are unrestrained.
California	16 years	11 p.m.- 5 a.m.	First 12 months: no passengers under 20 (secondary enforcement) unless accompanied by parent, guardian or other adult 25 years or older	Students enrolled in driver education may drive while supervised by an instructor. License applicants who do not take driver education must wait until age 18 for a license. They are not required to go through an intermediate license stage.
Colorado	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.	First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement)	At age 15, 6 months, driver education is no longer required, but applicants for this permit must have completed a four hour driver awareness program. At 16, young drivers may apply for a permit that allows driving while supervised by a licensed driver age 21 or older.
Connecticut	16 years, 4 mos.	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 months: no passengers except parents or instructor, Second 6 months: no passengers except parents, instructor or immediate family	Before an applicant who under 18 may take the driver’s test, parents or guardians must attend two hours of instruction regarding teen driving laws and related issues with such applicant
District of Colombia	16 years, 6 mos.	September through June: 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Sun-Thurs); Midnight – 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat) July through August: midnight – 6 a.m.	First 6 months: no passengers Thereafter: No more than 2 passengers under 21	Applicants younger than 21 must go through the intermediate stage until they’ve achieved full status or turn 21.
Delaware	16 years, 6 mos.	10 p.m.-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	Everyone in a driver under 18 must have a seatbelt on. If not, the teen faces a two-month suspension. Driver education required for any applicant under 18.
Florida	16 years	11 p.m.-6 a.m.(age 16); 1 a.m.-5 a.m. (age 17)	None	–
Georgia	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no passengers; 2nd 6 mos. no more than 1 younger than age 21; thereafter no more than 3 passengers; secondary enforcement	license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education.
Hawaii	16 years	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 18 except household members	License applicants younger than 18 must complete driver education.
Idaho	15 years	Sunset to sunrise	First 6 months: no more than 1 under 17	License applicants younger than 17 must have completed driver education.
Illinois	16 years	Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. – 6 a.m Fri-Sat: 11 p.m. – 6 a.m.	First 12 months: no more than 1 under 20	License applicants 18 through 20 years of age who did not take driver’s education in school must complete a 6 hour adult driver education course.
Indiana	16 years, 3 mos. with driver’s ed. 16 years, 9 mos. without driver’s ed.	First 180 days: 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. After 180 days: 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. (Sun-Thurs); 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. (Fri-Sat)	First 180 days: no passengers	Holders of operator licenses issued to individuals younger than 21 must adhere to both the night and passenger restriction for six months or until age 21, whichever occurs first.
Iowa	16 years	12:30 a.m.-5 a.m.	First six months, not more than one passenger under 18; parents may waive that requirement.	In Iowa, driver education is required for an intermediate license and for an unrestricted license if the applicant is younger than 18.
Kansas	16 (at 15, can drive without supervision to and from work or school)	9 p.m.-5 a.m. for first six months	No more than 1 non-sibling for first six months.	–
Kentucky	16 years, 6 mos.	Midnight-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 20 except with driving instructor	License holders younger than 18 must complete a driver education course or a state-sponsored traffic school.
Louisiana	16 years	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than one passenger younger than 21 between the hours of 6 pm-5 am	–
Maine	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.	First 270 days: no passengers	Driver education is required for a permit and a license if the applicant is younger than 18.
Maryland	16 years, 6 mos.	Midnight-5 a.m.	No passengers younger than 18 for first five months; secondary enforcement	License applicants who are 19 years old (or 18 with a high school diploma) but younger than 25 must hold a learner’s permit for three months before taking the road test. All applicants 25 and older must hold the permit for 45 days.
Massachusetts	16 years, 6 mos.	12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. (Secondary enforcement between 12:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and 4 a.m.-5 a.m.)	First six months, no passengers younger than 18	The requirement for supervised driving is 30 hours for applicants who have successfully completed a driver skills development program in a closed, off-road course licensed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
Michigan	16 years	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	License applicants under 18 must complete the second segment of driver education.
Minnesota	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 20; 2nd 6 months no more than 3 passengers younger than 20	License applicants younger than 18 must provide proof that a parent has taken a course for parents of teen drivers or perform an additional 10 certified practice hours.
Mississippi	16 years	Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Fri-Sat: 11:30 p.m. – 6 a.m.	None	–
Missouri	16 years	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 months: no more than 1 under 19 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 19	–
Montana	15 years	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; second 6 mos. no more than 3 passengers younger than 18	License applicants under 16 must complete driver education.
Nebraska	16 years	Midnight-6 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 19; secondary enforcement	–
Nevada	16 years	10 p.m.-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no passengers younger than 18; secondary endorsement	Driver education is required of all license applicants younger than 18 unless there is no driver education program offered within a 30-mile radius of the applicant’s residence.
New Hampshire	16 years	1 a.m.-4 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 25	License applicants who are younger than 18 must take driver education.
New Jersey	17 years	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger except dependents	Night driving and passenger restrictions waived for new drivers who are at least 21.
New Mexico	15 years, 6 mos.	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	License applicants under 18 must complete driver education.
New York	16 years, 6 mos.	9 p.m. – 5 a.m. except NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised allowed)	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	–
North Carolina	16 years	9 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 under 21; if passenger under 21 is family, no other non-family passengers under 21	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
North Dakota	16; 15 for a parent- requested restricted license	Sunset or 9 p.m. (whichever is later) – 5 a.m.	No passenger restrictions	Driver education is required for license applicants younger than 16.
Ohio	16 years	Age 16: midnight-6 a.m.; age 17: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 12 months, no more than 1 unless supervised	Driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. Applicants who are 18 and older and who have failed the road test must complete an abbreviated driver training course.
Oklahoma	16 years	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	A person who has been issued an intermediate Class D license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger unless all passengers live in the same household as the custodial legal parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver at least 21 years of age is actually occupying a seat beside the intermediate Class D licensee.
Oregon	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.	First 6 mos. no passengers younger than 18	Driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. However, it is waived for applicants who certify an additional 50 hours of supervised driving.
Pennsylvania	16 years, 6 mos.	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 months, no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers	–
Rhone Island	16 years, 6 mos.	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	First 12 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	Driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. Parents or guardians of applicants who are younger than 18 will be required to attend a course of instruction on the content of the driver education curriculum and the requirements of graduated licensing.
South Carolina	15 years, 6 mos.	6 p.m.-6 a.m. EST; 8 p.m.-6 a.m. EDT	No more than 2 passengers under 21 except when driving to and from school	–
South Dakota	14 + minimum of 6 months	10 p.m. – 6 a.m. (exemption for going directly to or from school event, work or church event and driving agricultural machinery)	No passengers outside of household for first 6 months; 1 passenger outside of household after 6 months.	–
Tennessee	16 Years	11 p.m.-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	–
Texas	16 Years	Midnight-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	No more than 1 passenger under 21; secondary enforcement	The minimum license is 18 for applicants who don’t complete driver education.
Utah	16 Years	Midnight-5 a.m.	for first six months, no passengers; secondary enforcement	In Utah license applicants who are younger than 19 must have completed driver education.
Vermont	16 Years	None	First 3 mos. No passengers; second 3 mos. no passengers except family; secondary enforcement	In Vermont, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18.
Virginia	16 years, 3 mos.	Midnight-4 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21 (secondary enforcement) Thereafter: no more than 3 under 21 under certain conditions (secondary enforcement)	Driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. Virginia has implemented a 90-minute segment for parents of driver education students.
Washington	16 years	1 a.m.-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. No passengers younger than 20; 2nd 6 mos. No more than 3 passengers younger than 20; secondary enforcement	Intermediate license holders with a crash or violation history are ineligible for an unrestricted license until age 18.
West Virginia	16 years	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No passengers younger than 20 for first 6 mos. No more than 1 passenger younger than 20 for second 6 mos.	–
Wisconsin	16 years	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	Driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18.
Wyoming	16 years	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 18	All applicants for an unrestricted license who are younger than 17 must have completed driver education and must have held an intermediate license for at least six months.

Full privilege

Once young drivers have acquired enough supervised driving experience, they are granted full driving privileges. At this point, in most states, drivers are permitted to have passengers in the car and drive at any time.

Here’s when each state allows full privileges:

State	Full privilege minimum age
Alabama	17 years
Alaska	16 years, six months
Arizona	16 years, six months
Arkansas	18 years
California	17 years
Colorado	17 years
Connecticut	Nighttime Driving: 18 Driving with Passengers: 17 years, 4 months
Delaware	17 years
District of Columbia	18 years
Florida	18 years
Georgia	18 years
Hawaii	17 years
Idaho	Nighttime driving: 16 Driving with passengers: 15 years, 6 months
Illinois	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Indiana	17 years with drivers ed, driving with passengers; 17 years, three months, without drivers ed; 18 years, nighttime driving
Iowa	17 years
Kansas	16 years, six months
Kentucky	17 years
Louisiana	17 years
Maine	16 years
Maryland	16 years, 11 months, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Massachusetts	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Michigan	17 years
Minnesota	16 years, six months, nighttime driving; 17 years, driving with passengers
Mississippi	18 years
Missouri	18 years
Montana	16 years
Nebraska	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, nighttime driving
Nevada	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
New Hampshire	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, one month, nighttime driving
New Jersey	18 years
New Mexico	16 years, six months
New York	17 years with drivers ed; 18 years without drivers ed
North Carolina	16 years, six months
North Dakota	16 years
Ohio	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Oklahoma	16 years, six months with drivers ed; 17 years without drivers ed
Oregon	17 years
Pennsylvania	17 years with drivers ed and 12 months free of crash or conviction; 18 years without drivers ed
Rhode Island	17 years, six months
South Carolina	16 years, six months
South Dakota	16 years
Tennessee	17 years
Texas	18 years
Utah	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, nighttime driving
Vermont	16 years, six months
Virginia	18 years
Washington	18 years
West Virginia	17 years
Wisconsin	16 years, nine months
Wyoming	16 years, six months

Renewing an expired license

The process of renewing an expired license varies from state to state. However, most Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) allow online renewal, provided the license has not been expired for a long duration. In some cases, the driver may need to retake vision, written, and road tests.

It’s important to note that licenses do not traditionally expire without notice. DMVs usually send notifications via mail or email several weeks before the license expiration date. To avoid the risk of driving with an expired license, drivers should ensure that their contact information is up-to-date with the DMV.

The importance of a valid license

A valid driver’s license verifies that the holder has fulfilled all legal requirements to drive, including passing the necessary tests. It also serves as a government-issued identification document. This makes it invaluable not just for driving, but also for various other transactions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is illegal to drive with an expired license, and doing so can result in significant penalties. As responsible citizens, it’s essential to regularly check the status of your license and renew it in a timely manner.

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On this page

License expiration grace period
Potential consequences of driving with an expired license
If your license expires, will your auto insurance coverage still be valid?
How much do your car insurance rates go up if you are driving without a license?
Driver’s license laws by state
Renewing an expired license
The importance of a valid license
Conclusion

Can you drive with an expired license?