How Long Does Drivers Ed Take?

When it comes to obtaining your driver's license, many new teen drivers feel overwhelmed and confused with all the steps they need to take. At Coastline Academy, we are here to help you through this process and help you answer that question we often hear: how long does Drivers Ed take?

What Is Drivers Ed?

When it comes to drivers education, students are taught the techniques of driving a vehicle, as well as basic vehicle maintenance, safety precautions, traffic regulations and laws. Drivers Ed is a great way for new drivers to learn the rules of the road from licensed professionals with the experience to teach them.

Who Needs To Take Drivers Ed?

While the drivers education course is very beneficial and helpful for students, not all states require new drivers to take it. As of today, 32 states require teens to take drivers ed before they are allowed to sit for the written and driving exam to get their drivers license. Some states have that requirement for teens age 14-18 only.

Each state is different, as some states that don't require a drivers ed program do require teens to gain driving experience before taking their exam. It all varies by state, so make sure to verify with your state's DMV office regarding the hour requirements for classroom education and driving training.

How Long Does Drivers Ed Take?

For those states that do require a drivers education program, here is a breakdown of the requirements and how much time you need to complete:

• California - Drivers under 17 and a half years old need to complete a DMV-approved 30-hour California drivers education course.
• Colorado - Drivers between 15 years old and 21 years old have to complete a drivers education course.
• Connecticut - Every teen driver must complete the eight-hour Safe Driving Course. 
• Delaware - To get a Level 1 learner's permit, teens under the age of 18 must complete a drivers ed course.
• Florida - To get a learner's license, you must complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course.
• Georgia - Teens under 17 must complete a driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services in order to receive a Provisional License. The course must include 30 hours of online or classroom instruction, as well as 6 hours of instructor-taught time behind the wheel, or 40 hours of parent-taught time driving. At least six of those hours must be at night.
• Hawaii - To get a provisional license, teens under 18 years old must finish a state-approved drivers ed course and behind-the-wheel training.
• Idaho - If you are 17 or under, you must take a drivers ed course for a drivers license.
• Illinois - High school driver education is required for drivers under 18 years old.
• Indiana - If you are a minor, you must take a drivers ed course that is approved by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
• Iowa - State law requires underage drivers to complete a 30-hour drivers education course, which can be done online, and six hours of in-car instruction.
• Kansas - A drivers ed course must be completed in order to obtain a learners permit at 15 years old.
• Kentucky - Any driver who gets a permit before turning 18 years old must complete a driver training program. 
• Louisiana - Teens between 15 and 17 years old must complete a 30-hour driver ed course, as well as eight hours of behind-the-wheel training. 
• Maine - To be eligible for a drivers license, any applicant under the age of 18 must have a drives ed completion certificate.
• Maryland - Any new driver, despite their age, must complete a 30-hour drivers ed course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training.
• Massachusetts - Before taking the road test, applicants under 18 must complete a drivers ed program.
• Michigan - There are two segments of drivers ed for all drivers under 18 years in Michigan. The first segment includes 24 hours of instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel training and four hours of instruction in a training vehicle. 
• Minnesota - New drivers under 18 must take a 30-hour DPS-approved drivers ed course and six hours of driving training.
• Mississippi - Learner's permits are available at 14 years of age, but students must prove they are in a drivers ed program at their school.
• Montana - Learner's permits are available at 14 and a half years old for students that have taken a state-approved traffic education program.
• Nebraska - To get a Provisional Operator's permit or School Permit at 16 years old, applicants must take a DMV-approved drivers ed course.
• Nevada - To get an instruction permit, most teens under the age of 18 have to pass a drivers ed course.
• New Hampshire - To get a drivers license. 30 hours of drivers ed and 40 hours of practice driving are required.
• New Jersey - You must be enrolled in drivers ed to get a student learners permit at 16 years old.
• New Mexico - A 30-hour drivers ed course is required for new drivers in New Mexico under 18 years old before getting an instructional permit. New drivers between 18 and 24 years old must take a DWI awareness class.
• New York - You must complete a five-hour pre-licensing course before you can schedule the road test for a license.
• North Carolina - If you are 14 and a half years old, you can enroll in drivers ed to become eligible for a Level One Limited Learner Permit.
• North Dakota - For 14 and 15 year olds, you must complete an approved driver training program through your school, the Department of Public Instruction or a commercial education provider.
• Ohio - To get a probationary drivers license, applicants under 18 must take a 24-hour driver trainer course (can be done in class or online) and complete eight hours of driving instruction.
• Oklahoma - If you want to get a learner's permit at 15 and a half years old, then you must complete drivers ed. Otherwise, it is not required.
• Pennsylvania - To move from a Junior license to a Senior license before turning 18 years old, drivers ed and behind-the-wheel training are required.
• Rhode Island - Drivers under 18 years old can get a limited instruction permit by taking a 33-hour drivers education course.
• South Carolina - To get a drivers license in South Carolina, every 15 and 16 year old must take a drivers ed course. 
• Tennessee - For anyone under 18 years old, they must complete 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
• Texas - For applicants between the ages of 14 and 17, they must complete a 32-hour drivers ed course. For applicants between the ages of 18 and 25, they must complete a six-hour adult drivers ed course.
• Utah - A drivers ed course is required for applicants who are 18 or younger. The course consists of 18-30 hours of instruction, which depends on how the instruction is administered, six hours of behind-the-wheel training and six hours of supervised driving.
• Vermont - Teen drivers must complete drivers ed, which includes 30 hours of instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel training and six hours of supervised driving.
• Virginia - To receive a license, applicants under 18 years old must show proof of successfully completing a state-approved drivers ed course.
• Washington - If you are under 18 years old, you must complete a 30-hour drivers ed course to get your license.
• Wisconsin - Applicants under 18 must complete a 30-hour drivers ed course and six hours of behind-the-wheel training in order to get a driver's license in Wisconsin.

Whether or not your state requires drivers ed, the knowledge and experience you can gain is well worth considering it. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly support staff and make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed or book your driving lesson today.