What Is the Legal Age to Work in Texas

Verywell / Jessica Olah

Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage for many teenagers. But sadly, car crashes are the number one cause of death for young people (excluding suicide).

Some scientists argue that many 16-year-olds aren't mature enough to drive. Their brains aren't yet fully developed, and they're more likely to take risks, become distracted, and make mistakes.

Overview

As a way to help teens slowly gain driving responsibilities one step at a time, states adopted graduated license programs. These programs have restrictions for newly licensed drivers, such as a limit on the number of passengers or a curfew.

A 2017 literature review found that graduated license programs have been instrumental in reducing car crashes among 16 and 17-year-olds. In fact, it's been so successful that some states are considering adopting graduated license programs for 18 to 20-year-olds who are becoming first-time drivers.

Each state in the United States establishes their own driving laws, including laws about the age at which teens can begin driving, and the rules vary greatly about graduated license requirements.

Driving Age by State

The age at which teens may obtain their learner's permit and the laws about graduated licenses vary by state. Be sure to check your local laws to find out when your teen can begin driving.

State	Learner's Permit	Restricted License	Full License
Alabama	15	16	17
Alaska	14	16	16, 6 mos.
Arizona	15, 6 mos.	16	16, 6 mos.
Arkansas	14	16	18
California	15, 6 mos.	16	17
Colorado	15	16	17
Connecticut	16	16, 4 mos.	18
Delaware	16	16, 6 mos.	17
District of Columbia	16	16, 6 mos.	18
Florida	15	16	18
Georgia	15	16	18
Hawaii	15, 6 mos.	16	17
Idaho	14, 6 mos.	15	16
Illinois	15	16	18
Indiana	15	16, 3 mos.	18
Iowa	14	16	17
Kansas	14	16	16, 6 mos.
Kentucky	16	16, 6 mos.	17
Louisiana	15	16	17
Maine	15	16	16, 9 mos.
Maryland	15, 9 mos.	16, 6 mos.	18
Massachusetts	16	16, 6 mos.	18
Michigan	14, 9 mos.	16	17
Minnesota	15	16	17
Mississippi	15	16	18
Missouri	15	16	18
Montana	14, 6 mos.	15	16
Nebraska	15	16	17
Nevada	15, 6 mos.	16	18
New Hampshire	15, 6 mos.	16	17, 1 mos.
New Jersey	16	17	18
New Mexico	15	15, 6 mos.	16, 6 mos.
New York	16	16, 6 mos.	18
North Carolina	15	16	16, 6 mos.
North Dakota	14	15	16
Ohio	15, 6 mos.	16	18
Oklahoma	15, 6 mos.	16	17
Oregon	15	16	17
Pennsylvania	16	16, 6 mos.	18
Rhode Island	16	16, 6 mos.	17, 6 mos.
South Carolina	15	15, 6 mos.	16, 6 mos.
South Dakota	14	14, 6 mos.	16
Tennessee	15	16	17
Texas	15	16	18
Utah	15	16	17
Vermont	15	16	16, 6 mos.
Virginia	15, 6 mos.	16	18
Washington	15	16	17
West Virginia	15	16	17
Wisconsin	15, 6 mos.	16	16, 9 mos.
Wyoming	15	16	16, 6 mos.

Learner's Permits

Research suggests many parents miss important opportunities to teach kids to become safe drivers. Instead, they depend too much on driver's education programs.

Once your teen has a learner's permit, don't think of yourself as a passenger when your teen is behind the wheel. Think of yourself as a teacher.

Help your teen learn to recognize potential safety issues while driving.

Give instructions to help your teen improve and provide plenty of constructive feedback.

Each state has different laws about learner's permits and how many hours a teen needs to be behind the wheel. Take those laws seriously and make sure you're helping your teen gain the experience they need to become a safe driver.

Restrictions

While a lack of sleep impairs everyone's performance, studies show sleep deprivation takes the most serious toll on teens. Teens are more likely to make errors when driving later into the evening.

Nighttime

Among 16- and 17-year-olds, approximately one-third of fatal car crashes occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. So, many states have enacted curfews to prevent teens from driving during the overnight hours. For example, Alabama doesn't allow newly licensed teens to drive between midnight and 6 a.m. North Carolina doesn't allow teens to drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Passengers

Researchers have found that for each passenger a teen has in the car, the risk of a car crash increases. Friends can serve as a serious distraction, and they may encourage your teen to take unnecessary risks. Consequently, many states have decided to restrict passengers in cars driven by teens.

While some states don't allow newly licensed teens to have passengers for several months, others restrict the number of minor passengers that can be in a car. Exceptions are usually made for siblings.

Cellphone

Talking on the phone while driving serves as a major distraction that increases the likelihood a teen will make driving mistakes. So many states have adopted specific cellphone restrictions for young drivers.

Unfortunately, some studies suggest cellphone restrictions may actually increase the chances that a teen will attempt to send text messages while behind the wheel. In an attempt to conceal cellphone use, teens may become even more distracted by trying to type messages on the sly.

It's vital for parents to talk to teens about the risks of distracted driving.

If a teen is caught sending messages or using a cellphone while driving, there should be clear consequences.

Safety

When it comes to letting your teen drive, don't depend on your state laws to keep your child safe. Create your own rules and restrictions for your teen's specific needs.

Keep in mind that just because your teen is old enough to drive legally, it doesn't mean they're mature enough to handle the responsibility.

If your 16-year-old regularly acts aggressive, impulsive, or irresponsible, don't let them behind the wheel just yet.

In order to be safe drivers, teens need to be able to think clearly, make good decisions, and resist temptations.

Once your teen has a driver's license, increase their freedom slowly. Remember, you don't have to grant new privileges just because the graduated licensing laws allow them to drive at night or use a cellphone in the car. You can continue to impose restrictions of your own.

A Word From Verywell

If your teen violates the law or breaks your rules, give them consequences. Take away their keys for a while or restrict the hours or places your teen drives.

And consider enrolling your teen in programs that teach driver safety beyond driver's education. You might get a discount on car insurance, but more importantly, additional driver training could save your teen's life.

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Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. WISQARS. Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1981 - 2019. Updated February 20, 2020.

2. Romer D, Lee Y-C, Mcdonald CC, Winston FK. Adolescence, attention allocation, and driving safety. J Adolesc Health. 2014;54(5 Suppl):S6-15. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.202

3. Teen and novice drivers. Governors Highway Safety Association.

4. Williams AF. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the United States in 2016: a literature review and commentary.J Safety Res. 2017;63:29-41. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2017.08.010

5. Goodwin AH, Foss RD, Margolis LH, Harrell S. Parent comments and instruction during the first four months of supervised driving: an opportunity missed?. Accid Anal Prev. 2014;69:15-22.  doi:10.1016/j.aap.2014.02.015

6. Martiniuk AL, Senserrick T, Lo S, et al. Sleep-deprived young drivers and the risk for crash: the DRIVE prospective cohort study. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(7):647-55. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1429

7. Shults R, Williams A. Graduated driver licensing night driving restrictions and drivers aged 16 or 17 years involved in fatal night crashes — United States, 2009–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(29):725–730. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6529a1

8. Ouimet MC, Pradhan AK, Brooks-Russell A, Ehsani JP, Berbiche D, Simons-Morton BG. Young drivers and their passengers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies on crash risk. J Adolesc Health. 2015;57(1):S24-S35. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.03.010

9. McCartt AT, Kidd DG, Teoh ER. Driver cellphone and texting bans in the United States: evidence of effectiveness. Ann Adv Automot Med. 2014;58:99-114.

Additional Reading

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Consumer Safety Brochures.

What Is the Legal Age to Work in Texas

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/driving-age-by-state-2611172

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