In Pennsylvania, young drivers under the age of 18 must go through a 3-phase process to ultimately obtain a Regular or Unrestricted Driver’s License:

1. Learner’s Permit

2. Junior License

3. Regular/Unrestricted License

Please refer to PennDOT’s website for the most accurate information: www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/DriverLicensing/pages/get-driver-license.aspx

This permit is valid for one year from the date of issurance.

Yes, if something happens to your permit or you need more time to complete behind-the-wheel training, you may return to the PennDOT License Center BEFORE the permit expires and pay another $5.00 fee. You will not need to submit the other documentation to renew unless the original permit expires.

Junior Learner’s Permit holders may only drive while supervised by another licensed driver 21 years of age or older (usually a parent or guardian). That supervising driver must sit in the front seat beside the permit holder, and the vehicle may only carry the same number of passengers as there are seat belts available.

The program is available to AAA members at a discounted rate and consists of 8 chapters, each covering a single Pennsylvania driving topic. A multiple-choice quiz is presented at the end of each chapter. In compliance with DOE requirements, only 2 hours of the program may be taken each day, and each section is timed to ensure that the program takes no less than 30 hours to complete. When the course is done, a final exam is administered to earn certification. This exam may be re-taken as many times as is needed to pass, at no additional cost. The certification can be earned in a minimum of 15 days and you have 120 days to complete the certification.

Yes.

Yes, contact your insurance provider for details.

Successfully pass the PennDOT road test with a certified state examiner.

• You must have held your Learner’s Permit for at least 6 months
• You must be at least 16 years and 6 months old
• You must complete a minimum of 65 total hours of supervised practice driving (10 of which must have been done at night and 5 must have been done in poor weather conditions)
• Your parent or guardian must sign the DL-180C form attesting to the fact that you have indeed accomplished the required hours of training.

• Arrive early for your test to make certain you don’t miss the appointed time.
• You will have to show your Learner’s Permit and your accompanying driver will have to show his/her valid Driver’s License.
• The vehicle that you will be driving for the test must be properly registered, inspected and insured, and you must show proof of all of these. The examiner will check the mirrors, doors, seats, seat belts, and tires to confirm the vehicle is safe to drive.
• The examiner will ask you to demonstrate the proper operation of the lights, horn, brakes, windshield wipers, and turn signals.

As a new Junior License holder, you may drive unsupervised between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. To drive outside of those hours you must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Some exceptions apply (i.e., job, charity and volunteer activities).

For the first 6 months, Junior License holders may not drive with more than one passenger under the age of 18, who is not an immediate family member, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

After the first 6 months, you may drive with up to three unrelated passengers under 18, as long as you have not been convicted of a driving violation or as long as you have not been held partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash.

You must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if you wish to carry more than three young passengers regardless of how long the Junior License has been held. Under Pennsylvania law, the number of passengers carried is restricted to the number of seat belts available in the vehicle.

Your Junior License will automatically become a Regular/Unrestricted License on your 18th birthday. You can upgrade your license 6 months before turning 18 if you have held your Junior License for at least 1 year, have remained free of violations and crashes, and have taken a certified driver education course (classroom or online training, along with behind-the-wheel training) from your school, AAA Central Penn, or another PA Department of Education-approved private driving school.