Probationary license — Indiana Permit Test

A driver's license issued to someone under 21 is probationary until the driver turns 21.

Young drivers crash more often, so their license carries extra limits until they gain years of experience.

If you are younger than 21 years of age when you obtain a driver’s license, your driver’s license is considered probationary until you turn 21 years of age.

For the first 180 days with a probationary license, you may not carry passengers unless a licensed adult 25 or older, a licensed spouse 21 or older, or a driving instructor sits in the front seat.

Friends in the car are a big distraction for a new driver, and the chance of a crash goes up with each one.

You may not drive with any passengers for the first 180 days after obtaining your probationary driver’s license unless one of the following individuals is seated in your vehicle’s front passenger seat:

During the first 180 days of a probationary license, you may still drive your child, stepchild, sibling or spouse without another adult in the car.

Family errands are allowed, because the limit is aimed at groups of young friends riding together.

However, you may drive with your child, stepchild, sibling, step or half-sibling, or spouse without another accompanying individual during the first 180 days after obtaining your probationary driver’s license.

For the first 180 days with a probationary license, you may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Night hours bring tired drivers, poor light and more impaired drivers, all harder for a beginner to handle.

For the first 180 days after obtaining your probationary driver’s license, you may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

After 180 days on a probationary license, a driver under 18 may not drive after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Weeknight limits keep young drivers off the road during the late hours when crashes are more likely.

Sunday through Thursday after 11 p.m.

After 180 days on a probationary license, a driver under 18 may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Weekend nights are when many impaired drivers are out, so the late hours stay off limits.

Saturday and Sunday between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

A probationary driver under 18 may drive during the restricted hours when going to or from a job, a school activity or a religious event.

The limits are meant to keep teens off the road at night for no reason, not to stop them from working or going to school.

You may drive during the periods described above if you are participating in, going to, or returning from:

Indiana must suspend a juvenile's driving privileges when the school reports that the student has dropped out or is a habitual truant.

Keeping a license is tied to staying in school, which gives teens one more reason not to drop out.

Indiana law requires the BMV to suspend the driving privileges of a juvenile upon notification from the juvenile’s school administrator or principal for any of the following reasons:

When a probationary license is renewed after the driver turns 21, it becomes an unrestricted license.

The extra limits end once the driver is 21, though the safety rules for every driver still apply.

When you renew your probationary driver’s license after turning 21 years of age, you will receive an unrestricted driver’s license.

Until what age is an Indiana driver's license probationary?

Until the driver turns 21. Young drivers crash more often, so their license carries extra limits until they gain years of experience. Indiana Driver's Manual, p.10: “If you are younger than 21 years of age when you obtain a driver’s license, your driver’s license is considered probationary until you turn 21 years of age.”