Supervised Driving Hours by State (Plus a Free Practice Log)

Fifty hours sounds like a lot until you divide it by six months: it's about two hours a week, or one long Saturday drive and a couple of school runs. The trickier part is the fine print. Some states want night hours, one wants bad-weather hours, some cap how many hours count per week, and nearly all of them want a parent's signature certifying it. Below are supervised driving hours by state for some of the largest states, followed by a log template you can copy and a week-by-week plan.

Supervised driving hours by state: the table

These requirements apply to teen drivers before the intermediate or provisional license. We've checked each against state sources, but rules change; confirm with your state's DMV before you start counting.

A few patterns stand out. Fifty hours with ten at night is the most common requirement. Pennsylvania is the only big state that asks for poor-weather hours. And North Carolina's weekly cap means you can't cram the whole log into a summer month.

For the full rules in New Jersey, including the BA-CSD form, read our NJ learner's permit guide. The Governors Highway Safety Association also tracks teen driving laws across all states.

Night, weather and highway requirements

Night hours. States define "night" differently. Ohio's log counts from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise; Maryland uses a similar half-hour window; New York and Virginia simply say "after sunset." Read your state's definition before logging a dusk drive as night.

Weather hours. Pennsylvania requires five hours in poor weather conditions, so save a few rainy or snowy days for practice instead of canceling the drive. Even if your state doesn't require them, get some. A teen whose first rainy highway drive happens alone is a teen without a plan for hydroplaning.

Highway hours. Few states require a specific number of highway hours, but every road test examiner and insurance claims adjuster will tell you they matter. Build them into your plan.

Who can be the supervising driver

Requirements differ, but the most common rules are:

• Age: usually at least 21. Some states set it higher.
• License: valid for the type of vehicle being driven, and sometimes held for a minimum number of years (New Jersey and Maryland both require three).
• Seat: front passenger seat.
• Certifier: many states let any qualified adult supervise practice, but only a parent or guardian can sign the certification.

Older siblings can supervise only if they meet the age and license requirements. A 19-year-old brother usually doesn't qualify; a 25-year-old sister with a valid license often does.

How to log hours (paper vs apps)

Most states don't care how you track hours as long as the final certification is accurate and signed. You have two options:

Paper log. Many DMVs publish a free printable log, including Michigan, Florida and Ohio. Paper is simple and easy for a parent to review, and some states require their own form.

Apps. Phone apps can record drive times and routes automatically. They're convenient, but check whether your state accepts app printouts or requires its official form. In New Jersey, for example, the signed BA-CSD form is what counts, not the log itself.

Here's a log template you can copy into a notebook or spreadsheet:

Add a running total at the bottom of each page. When the night column and the total both reach your state's number, you're done.

A 50-hour practice plan

Hours spent circling the same three blocks don't build much skill. Here's a progression that works for most families, roughly ten hours per phase:

1. Hours 1–10: control. Empty lots, then quiet streets. Starting, stopping, steering, turning, mirrors and blind spots.
2. Hours 11–20: neighborhood traffic. Stop signs, right of way, lane position, pedestrians and parked cars. Start parking practice.
3. Hours 21–30: busier roads. Multi-lane streets, lane changes, left turns at lights, merging into moderate traffic.
4. Hours 31–40: highways and night. Ramps, merging at speed, following distance, and the first night drives on familiar roads.
5. Hours 41–50: everything together. Rain, unfamiliar routes, city driving, parallel parking and a mock road test.

If your state requires more than 50, extend phases 4 and 5. Our first-time driving tips post covers the very first sessions, and how to teach your teen to drive gives parents a lesson-by-lesson script.

Signing the certification form

At the end, a parent or guardian signs a form stating the hours were completed. Treat it as a legal document, because it is. North Carolina's law, for example, makes a teen wait six more months for a provisional license if a log is found to be falsified.

Before you sign:

• Make sure the total and night hours meet the state minimum.
• Check whether your state requires the form to be notarized or presented at the road test.
• Keep your own copy of the log.

Understanding why these hours matter is part of the graduated driver's license system. Practice hours build the experience that makes solo driving safer. And while your teen is logging miles, they can keep the rules fresh with our free practice tests.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of driving do you need for a license?

It depends on the state. Fifty hours with ten at night is most common, but Pennsylvania requires 65, Maryland and North Carolina require 60, Texas requires 30 and Georgia requires 40.

Do practice hours have to be logged?

Most states require a parent or guardian to certify the hours, usually on an official form. Even when a detailed log isn't submitted, keeping one is the only reliable way to prove the hours.

Can a sibling supervise a permit driver?

Only if they meet your state's supervisor rules, typically at least 21 with a valid license, and sometimes a minimum number of years licensed. Younger siblings usually can't.

Do driving school hours count?

In some states, lessons with a licensed instructor can count toward the total; in others they're a separate requirement. California and Ohio, for example, require professional training in addition to the parent hours.