Arkansas—along with most other states—require teens at least 14 years old to follow a Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) before getting an unrestricted license at age 18.

Teens everywhere can’t wait to hop behind the wheel the second they’re of age—but the legal driving age varies from state to state. If you’re hazy on details about the driving age in Arkansas, you’ve come to the right place.

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cheap car insurance in Arkansas

as a new driver.

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What is the driving age in Arkansas?

For Arkansas teens, you have to be at least 14 years old to apply for a learner’s license, the first step in the Arkansas Graduated Driver License program.

What is the Graduated Drivers License program in Arkansas?

According to the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), car accidents are the second leading cause of death for teenagers. That’s why many states, including Arkansas, implemented the Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) to decrease the number of teen motor crashes.

These GDL programs give young drivers the chance to gain some experience behind the wheel before they’re given unrestricted driving privileges. Like most programs, Arkansas’ program includes three stages:

Learner’s license stage: supervised driving

Intermediate license stage: limited unsupervised driving

Full license stage: unrestricted standard driver’s license

MORE:

Arkansas minimum car insurance laws

How to get your learner’s license in Arkansas

All drivers under 18 have to go through the GDL program via the

Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

, which staggers the number of driving restrictions for teens on their way to a full driver’s license. Before going to your local

testing center

, though, you’ll need to collect all the required documents.

Here are all the requirements to get your learner’s license:

Be at least 14 years old

Pass a vision test

Take a

knowledge exam

Pay the $5 permit test fee

Pay the $40 prorated license fee

Complete the driving skills test

You’ll also need to bring the following with you:

A parent or guardian (or their signature on an

ASP 33 form

)

Your birth certificate

A secondary form of ID

You can

schedule your test

online, but be sure to read up on the

Arkansas Driver License Study Guide

so you’re ready for your big test! Your knowledge test will consist of 25 questions, and you must get at least 20 of them right to pass. If you fail, you can retake the test three times.

Learner’s license restrictions

As the first phase of the GDL program, the Arkansas learner’s license comes with a few restrictions. First, you can only drive with a parent or licensed driver at least 21 years old. The other restrictions dictate that all passengers must be

wearing a seatbelt

in the car, and the driver cannot use a cell phone when driving.

MORE: Your questions about teenage car insurance, answered

How to get your intermediate license in Arkansas

Now that you’ve got the hang of driving thanks to your learner’s permit, you’re ready to graduate to the next stage of the GDL program. Getting an intermediate license is easy: all you have to do is be 16 years old or have had your learner’s permit for six months without serious traffic violations. That’s it!

Intermediate driver’s license restrictions

You may be free of your learner’s permit and on the open road alone, but you’ve still got a few limitations to worry about.

Drivers with an intermediate license aren’t allowed to drive between 11 pm and 4 am unless there are extenuating circumstances. They’re also prohibited from having more than one unrelated minor passenger—unless a licensed driver over 21 is also in the car.

Exceptions

In Arkansas, teens who need help getting to school, work, or medical appointments may qualify for a hardship license. These special licenses are granted to teenagers at least 14 years old permitting them to drive alone. Of course, these licenses are not guaranteed and include a number of restrictions, including:

You can only drive during approved times for the specific activity or appointment

You can only drive between 6 am and 9 pm

You can only drive up to 30 miles

Hardship licenses are considered on an individual basis after

an application

is submitted.

MORE:

Worst cars for teenage drivers

How to save on car insurance in Arkansas

Now that you’ve got your Arkansas license in tow, you can go anywhere…as long as you’ve got the right insurance coverage for a teen driver. Don’t worry, though—with comparison super app

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