Is Driver's Education Required? A State-by-State Guide

Navigating the world of driving as a new driver can be daunting. There's a lot to learn, from controlling a vehicle to reacting to various driving situations and dealing with other drivers on the road. Many states address this challenge by requiring new drivers to take driver's education classes. This article explores whether driver's education is required, examining specific state requirements and the benefits of such programs.

Driver Training vs. Driver Education: Understanding the Difference

It's important to distinguish between "driver training" and "driver education." While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they represent distinct aspects of learning to drive. Driver education typically encompasses a broader curriculum, including classroom instruction on traffic laws, safe driving techniques, and the responsibilities of being a driver. Driver training, on the other hand, focuses more on the practical, behind-the-wheel skills needed to operate a vehicle safely.

State-Specific Driver's Education Requirements

Currently, 37 states mandate driver's education classes for new drivers, depending on their age. These requirements aim to reduce accident rates, which are statistically higher for inexperienced drivers. Here's a breakdown of some state-specific requirements:

California: Drivers under 17 and a half years old must complete a DMV-approved 30-hour California driver's education course.
Colorado: Drivers between 15 and 21 years old must complete a driver's education course that is at least 30 hours long.
Connecticut: All teen drivers must complete an eight-hour Safe Driving Course and 30 hours of classroom instruction.
Delaware: Teens under 18 must complete a driver's ed course to get a Level 1 learner's permit, including 30 hours of classroom, seven hours of lab instruction, and seven hours of in-car observation.
Florida: Starting July 1, 2025, Florida teens aged 15 to 17 will be required to complete a state-approved driver’s education course before obtaining a learner’s permit. Previously, teens only needed to complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. To get a learner's license, complete The Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course.
Hawaii: Teens under 18 years old must finish a state-approved 30-hour driver's education course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.
Idaho: If you are under 17, you must take a driver's education course to get a driver's license.
Illinois: Drivers under 18 years old must take high school driver education.
Indiana: Minors must take an Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles-approved driver's education course.
Iowa: Underage drivers must complete a 30-hour course (in-person or online) and six hours of in-car instruction.
Kentucky: Drivers who get a permit under the age of 18 must complete a driver training program.
Louisiana: Teens between 15-17 years old must complete a 30-hour driver education course, as well as an eight-hour behind-the-wheel course.
Maine: Applicants under 18 years old must have a driver's education completion certificate to be eligible for a driver's license.
Maryland: All new drivers of any age must complete a 30-hour driver's ed course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.
Massachusetts: Applicants under 18 have to complete a driver's ed program before scheduling the road test.
Michigan: All drivers under 18 years old have to complete two segments of driver's education.
Minnesota: All new drivers under 18 need to take a DPS-approved 30-hour driver's ed course and six hours of driving training.
Mississippi: To get a learner’s permit at 14, students must prove that they are in a driver's education program at their school.
Montana: To get a learner's permit at 14 and a half years old students must take a state-approved traffic education program.
Nevada: Most teens under the age of 18 have to pass a driver's education course to get an instruction permit.
New Hampshire: Complete 30 hours of driver education and 40 hours of practice driving to get a driver's license in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, persons under 18 years old must take an approved driver education program. In addition to the above, each student must log forty (40) additional hours of supervised driving time with a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult prior to applying for a driver license. Logged driving time may begin when the driver is 15½ years old. Included in the requirements for the forty (40) additional hours of supervised driving time is at least ten (10) hours to be completed at night. Upon completion of the Driver Education Program and the forty (40) hours of additional driving time, the individual may apply for a New Hampshire driver license.
New Jersey: To get a student learner's permit at 16 years old, enroll in driver's education.
New Mexico: Requires a 30-hour driver's ed course for new drivers under 18 before getting an instructional permit. New drivers between 18 and 24 years old must take a DWI awareness class.
New York: Before you can schedule the road test for a license you must complete a five-hour Pre-licensing Course.
North Carolina: Students who are at least 14 and a half can enroll in driver's ed to become eligible for a Level One Limited Learner Permit.
North Dakota: Fourteen and 15-year-olds must complete an approved driver training program, available through their school, the Department of Public Instruction, or a commercial education provider.
Ohio: Complete a 24-hour driver trainer course and eight hours of driving instruction to get a probationary driver's license if you're under 18.
Oklahoma: Driver's ed is only required if you want to get a learner's permit at 15 and half years old.
Pennsylvania: Complete driver's ed and behind-the-wheel training to move from a Junior license to a Senior license before turning 18.
Rhode Island: Drivers under 18 years old can get a limited instruction permit by taking a 33-hour driver's ed course.
South Carolina: All 15 and 16-year-olds must take a driver's ed course to get a license.
Texas: Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 have to complete a 32-hour driver education course. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 25 must complete a six-hour adult driver's ed course.
Utah: Applicants under 18 years old must complete a driver's ed course consisting of classroom and in-vehicle training.
Vermont: Vermont requires teen drivers to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel training, and six hours of supervised driving.
Virginia: Applicants under the age of 18 must provide proof that they have completed a state-approved driver's ed course to receive a license. For students under 18, there is an additional 90-minute parent/teen component to the classroom portion of the driver education curriculum. You are exempt from the 90-minute parent/teen component if you are: at least 18 years old, an emancipated minor, or an unaccompanied minor who is not in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.
Washington: Drivers under the age of 18 must complete a 30-hour course to get a license.
Wisconsin: Applicants under 18 must pass a 30-hour driver's ed course along with six hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Driver's Education in Georgia: A Closer Look

In Georgia, driver's education plays a crucial role in obtaining a Class D driver's license for individuals under 18. Here's a detailed overview of the requirements and options available:

Requirements for a Class D Driver's License in Georgia

If you are under the age of 18 in Georgia, you will need to show proof of taking a driver education course approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). You also need to complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving.

Components of Georgia's Driver Education Program

Georgia’s driver education program comprises two components:

Theoretical Component: A minimum of 30 hours of instruction, which teens can acquire either in a classroom environment or via the web through any of the DDS-approved online courses.
Practical Component: The practical, or behind-the-wheel component, can be obtained under the supervision of a DDS-certified instructor or through the use of the Parent/Teen Driving Guide.

There are two ways to complete each component, resulting in four methods of satisfying the driver education requirements.

Joshua's Law

Be sure to register for a course that meets the Joshua’s Law requirements for the State of Georgia.

Supervised Driving

“Supervised driving” refers to the driving experience obtained under the supervision of an individual who is:

at least 21 years old
possesses an unexpired Class C Driver’s License
seated next to the driver at all times while he or she is driving
capable of exercising control over the vehicle if necessary.

No log is required for supervised driving.

Read also: Comprehensive Driver Education

The 40-hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide

The DDS Parent/Teen Driving Guide is a manual that provides in-car lessons to help parents prepare their teenagers for the responsibilities of driving. The guide can be used in conjunction with a 30-hour DDS-approved classroom or online driver education course to satisfy the driver’s education requirements of Joshua's Law.

Insurance Premium Reductions

Georgia law allows insurance companies to offer reductions in automobile insurance premiums to customers that complete a driver education course.

Important Note

Driver education instructors are employees of the schools where they teach and are not DDS employees. Driver training schools are independently owned and operated or offered through local schools or school districts and they are not employees of the DDS.

Out-of-State Certificates

For parents active in the U.S military, an out of state certificate can be used to get a Class D driver's license in Georgia.

Benefits of Driver's Education

Even if your state doesn't mandate driver's education, there are several benefits to taking a course:

Read also: Comprehensive Driver Education

Early Permit Eligibility: Some states allow you to get your permit at an earlier age if you complete a driver's education course.
Reduced Behind-the-Wheel Hours: Some states may require fewer behind-the-wheel hours if you've completed a driver's education course.
Skipping the Driving Test: In some cases, completing a driver's education course may allow you to skip the driving test.
Improved Driving Skills and Knowledge: Driver education programs provide you with the skills and experience needed to pass your driving test and build lifelong good driving habits.
Insurance Discounts: As seen in Georgia, some insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who have completed a driver's education course.

Options for Completing Driver's Education

Driver education programs may be taken at a public or private school, or at a driver training school. In Florida, for example, Florida Virtual School offers the driver’s education course online for free. Ticket School also offers a range of classes tailored to Florida residents.

Virginia's Driver Education Program

In Virginia, DMV may exchange your out-of-state license for a Virginia license if you meet the following conditions: You are at least age 16 and three months but under age 18 and hold a valid license, You have successfully completed a driver education program while residing in another state, and the program meets a minimum of 30 classroom hours and six in-car instruction hours, You can present all documents required for the driver's license or driver privilege card you are applying for. See our Interactive Document Guide for more guidance. If you hold a current out-of-state driver's license but do not have proof of driver education, you may be issued a Virginia six-month temporary license.

Options for Obtaining a Virginia Driver's License

If you are exchanging your out-of-state license from another state, territory or foreign country, there are two options to get your driver's license.

Option 1: Complete a driver education program and pass the driver's license knowledge exam. You are required to apply for and receive a learner's permit. However, completing driver education, including the end of course skills exam, waives the mandatory 60-day holding period and taking a DMV- administered skills exam.
Option 2: Hold a Virginia learner's permit for at least 60 days and complete a Behind-the-Wheel Checklist before taking the road skills test at DMV. This waives the need for a driver education program. However, a licensed driver must certify they were with you while you practiced, and that you have complied with all requirements for learner's permit holders while operating a motor vehicle.

90-Minute Parent/Teen Component in Virginia

For students under 18, there is an additional 90-minute parent/teen component to the classroom portion of the driver education curriculum. You are exempt from the 90-minute parent/teen component if you are:

at least 18 years old
an emancipated minor
an unaccompanied minor who is not in the physical custody of your parent or guardian

An unaccompanied minor is a minor who may be separated from their parents and living with others who do not have custody for a variety of reasons. After an unaccompanied minor has completed their training, they must check the appropriate box on the Virginia Driver Training Certificate of Classroom Completion regarding the exemption from the parent/teen component and sign the certificate before the license can be processed.

Additional Florida Driver Education Courses

Beyond the mandatory requirements, Florida offers several courses to enhance driving skills and meet specific needs:

Drug and Alcohol Course (TLSAE): Mandatory for all first-time drivers in Florida, this course covers crucial topics related to traffic laws, the effects of substance abuse on driving, and the responsibilities of driving.
Florida Learner’s Permit Test (Class E Knowledge Exam): After completing the TLSAE course, the next step is to pass the Class E Knowledge Exam. Ticket School offers this exam online for those under the age of 18, which is a requirement to move forward in obtaining a Florida learner’s license.
Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDI): Ideal for drivers who have received a non-criminal moving violation and wish to avoid points on their driving record. Electing to take this course can also help in preventing insurance premium increases due to a traffic citation. It’s a proactive step toward maintaining a clean driving record.
Intermediate Driver Improvement Course (IDI): This 8 hour course is designed for drivers looking for more comprehensive training beyond the basic level, the IDI course offers deeper insights into safe driving practices to reduce the likelihood of future violations.
Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI): This course is for drivers who are trying to avoid license suspension, have had their license suspended already due to points accumulation or as mandated by a court. Completing an ADI course is a key step in the process of license reinstatement for drivers looking to get back on the road legally.

Each of the Florida courses provided by Ticket School is crafted with the goal of enabling drivers to fulfill legal requirements and also enhance driving skills.

Finding Driver's Education Programs

Driver education programs are available statewide to residents of all ages. They may be taken at a public or private school, or at a driver training school. In Virginia, for example, if you are interested in the program, reach out to your local DMV or search online for a list of approved providers.

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