I’m getting ready to start driver’s education, but I can’t wait to get behind the wheel! How long does it take to pass a driving test? I’m gonna be driving an automatic car, if that helps :)

Pat Roache · Updated on Feb 3, 2022

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

Sounds like you’ve got a lot to look forward to on the road! Luckily, once you’ve completed driver’s ed, you’ll be able to get behind the wheel but you’ll need supervision. The amount of time it takes to pass your driving test and get unsupervised privileges depends on your state’s requirements and your own natural ability.

Every state has different requirements for how long you must have your

restricted driver’s permit

, how many supervised hours of driving you must complete, and how old you must be before completing a driver’s test. See the chart below for your state’s specific requirements.

State	Minimum duration for restricted permit with driver’s ed	Required hours of supervised driving with driver’s ed (Night time hours in parenthesis)	Minimum Age to take test
Alabama	6 months	0	16
Alaska	6 months	40 (10)	16
Arizona	6 months	0	16
Arkansas	6 months	0	16
California	6 months	50 (10)	16
Colorado	12 months	50 (10)	16
Connecticut	4 months	40	16, 4 months
Delaware	6 months	50 (10)	16, 6 months
District of Columbia	6 months	40	16, 6 months
Florida	12 months	50 (10)	16
Georgia	12 months	40 (6)	16
Hawaii	6 months	50 (10)	16
Idaho	6 months	50 (10)	15
Illinois	9 months	50 (10)	16
Indiana	6 months	50 (10)	16, 3 months
Iowa	12 months	20 (2)	16
Kansas	12 months	50 (10)	16
Kentucky	6 months	60 (10)	16, 6 months
Louisiana	6 months	60 (15)	16
Maine	6 months	70 (10)	16
Maryland	9 months	60 (10)	16, 6 months
Massachusetts	6 months	40	16, 6 months
Michigan	6 months	50 (10)	16
Minnesota	6 months	50 (15)	16
Mississippi	12 months	None	16
Missouri	6 months	40 (10)	16
Montana	6 months	50 (10)	15
Nebraska	6 months	None	16
Nevada	6 months	50 (10)	16
New Hampshire	None	40 (10)	16
New Jersey	6 months	None	17
New Mexico	6 months	50 (10)	15, 6 months
New York	6 months	50 (15)	16, 6 months
North Carolina	6 months	60 (10)	16
North Dakota	12 months	50	15
Ohio	6 months	50 (10)	16
Oklahoma	6 months	50 (10)	16
Oregon	6 months	50	16
Pennsylvania	6 months	65 (10) and 5 in inclement weather	16, 6 months
Rhode Island	6 months	50 (10)	16, 6 months
South Carolina	6 months	40 (10)	15, 6 months
South Dakota	180 days	50 (10) and 10 in inclement weather	14, 6 months
Tennessee	6 months	50 (10)	16
Texas	6 months	30 (10)	16
Utah	18 months	40 (10)	16
Vermont	12 months	40 (10)	16
Verginia	9 months	45 (15)	16, 3 months
Washington	6 months	50 (10)	16
West Virginia	6 months	None	16
Wisconsin	6 months	30 (10)	16
Wyoming	10 days	50 (10)	16

Once you’ve finished all your state’s requirements, you’ll be able to take your driving test. You’ll have an advantage if you take the test in a car with automatic transmission, since they’re typically easier to learn to drive. You may have to wait a certain time period before you can take the test again if you don’t pass the first time, depending on your state’s policies. But remember–there’s no rush when it comes to

safe driving

Once you start getting on the road, you’ll have to be added to your family’s insurance policy. Use the [Jerry](

https://getjerry.com/signup]

app with your family to find the cheapest insurance rates available for

new drivers

. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.

MORE:

Can you buy a car with a learner’s permit?

View full answer

WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY

Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.