What is a provisional license?
A provisional license — sometimes called an intermediate, conditional, or restricted license depending on the state — is the credential issued to a new driver after they pass the road test but before they qualify for an unrestricted full license. Unlike a learner's permit, a provisional license allows solo driving. Unlike a full license, it carries enforced restrictions that automatically lift after a clean period or at age 18.
Not every state uses the word "provisional." Terms used by state include: - "Junior license" or "Class DJ" (New York) - "Provisional license" (Texas, California) - "Junior driver's license" (Pennsylvania) - "Probationary license" (New Jersey) - "Conditional license" (some plus-18 first-license programs)
What's restricted under a provisional license?
Restrictions vary by state, but four show up almost everywhere:
1. Night driving curfew. No driving between specified hours (typically 11pm–5am or midnight–5am) without a parent, guardian, or for school/work necessity. Curfews often start earlier in the first 6 months.
2. Passenger limits. Limits on non-family passengers under a specified age (often 20 or 21) — usually none or one during the first 6–12 months, sometimes until 18.
3. Zero-tolerance BAC. Blood alcohol concentration over .00–.02 (depending on state) is grounds for license suspension. This is much stricter than the .08 adult limit.
4. No phone use. In some states (e.g., Texas, Illinois, New Jersey), hands-free and handheld are both banned for provisional holders — even where adults can use hands-free legally.
Violating any of these restrictions can trigger a provisional license suspension or extension, and can delay the date the unrestricted license is issued.
How long does a provisional license last?
The provisional period varies:
- 6 months — Arizona (curfew and passenger limits), Pennsylvania (one-passenger limit; other junior-license rules continue)
- 12 months — California and Illinois (passenger limits; other rules until 18), New Jersey (probationary license, any age)
- Until 18 — Texas, Florida, Georgia
If you turn 18 before the provisional period ends, most states issue you the full license automatically; a few states (e.g., New Jersey) require you to complete the provisional period regardless of age.
What happens if I violate a provisional restriction?
States enforce provisional restrictions seriously, but the specific penalties vary by state.
In some states the provisional clock resets after a violation — in Maryland, for example, a traffic conviction restarts the 18-month clean-record period — meaning a violation late in the period can push your full-license date back by months.
How is a provisional license different from a permit?
The two are often confused. The critical differences:
- Solo driving. Permit: never. Provisional: yes, with restrictions.
- Road test. Permit: not required (only written). Provisional: required (provisional is issued *after* passing the road test).
- Passengers. Permit: must have a licensed adult in front seat. Provisional: can drive alone but limited on whom you may carry.
- Holding requirement. Permit: must be held first. Provisional: comes after the permit.