In Utah the path from learner permit to license is a graduated one, with steps set by the Driver License Division and limits on new drivers. The details below come from the division's own pages; the division notes that since Utah's graduated system began in 1999, UDOT has reported a 69 percent drop in the number of teens 15 to 17 killed in crashes.
Step one: the learner permit
- Age: at least 15.
- The test: a 50-question, closed-book written knowledge test at a Driver License Division office, studied from the Utah Driver Handbook. Applicants schedule an appointment, bring proof of identity, Social Security number and Utah address, pass an eye test and pay the fee; the permit is issued the same day they pass.
- The signature: a parent or legal guardian signs for financial responsibility for any applicant under 18. Withdrawing that signature later invalidates the license.
- How long it lasts: permits and written test scores are valid for 18 months, and a replacement or renewal costs $19.
- Moving in: the division accepts an out-of-state learner permit toward the six-month holding period.
Who can ride along
A teen with a learner permit may drive only with one of these adults in the seat beside them: a licensed parent, a legal guardian, an approved driving instructor, or the responsible adult who signed for financial responsibility. A parent or guardian who is not a licensed driver can authorize another adult, 21 or older, to sit in that seat. Other passengers are allowed, and the permit must be in the car.
The six-month rule and the hours
- Holding period: six months for drivers 15 to 17, and at 15 also until the 16th birthday. At 18 there is no holding period; at 19 or older it is 90 days unless the driver completes driver education.
- Practice: 40 hours of supervised driving, at least 10 after sunset.
- Driver education: required for drivers 15 to 18 and optional at 19 and older.
In practice, a teen who gets a permit on their 15th birthday cannot be licensed until their 16th, and one who starts at 16 needs six months.
Driver ed and the test: the school-run options
Driver education comes from a program approved by the State Board of Education or the division, which in Utah Valley usually means a high school driver education class or a commercial driving school. The driving skills test can be taken at the Driver License Division, at a high school, or at a commercial or private driving school with a tester, and every applicant also completes the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam before a license is issued. For the Provo-area office, see The Provo DMV, Decoded.
Step two: the license, and its limits
Once licensed, drivers 16 and 17 live under two limits:
- Nighttime: no driving between midnight and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older, or traveling to or from work, a school-sponsored activity, an emergency or agricultural work.
- Passengers: for the first six months, or until 18, no passengers outside the immediate family, unless a licensed driver 21 or older is in the passenger seat, or for agricultural work or an emergency.
The passenger rule is the one that catches families. A newly licensed 16-year-old cannot drive friends to a youth activity for six months without a licensed adult 21 or older in the passenger seat; FSY, for one, requires participants to be dropped off. See FSY in Provo and Girls Camp and Young Men Camp in Utah Valley.
The costs to plan for
Beyond the permit and license fees, a new driver changes a family's insurance bill; see Car Insurance in Utah. Driver education through a commercial school is a separate cost, while high school classes may be included or low-cost; ask the school.
Practical notes
- Start the clock early. The six months only begin when the permit is issued.
- Log the night hours. Ten of the 40 must come after sunset.
- Read the passenger rule twice. It lasts six months or until 18.
- Check the division's pages. Rules and fees change.
Related Guides
- The Provo DMV, Decoded
- Car Insurance in Utah
- FSY in Provo
- Girls Camp and Young Men Camp in Utah Valley
- Pioneer Trek for Utah Valley Stakes
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be for a learner permit in Utah?
How long do you have to hold a learner permit in Utah?
How many practice hours does Utah require?
What are the restrictions on a new teen driver in Utah?
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