How To Apply For a Pennsylvania Driver License As A Teen

If you have met the age requirements and are ready to apply for your driver's license in Pennsylvania, you may be wondering what that process looks like. When it comes to Pennsylvania, new teen drivers applying for their drivers license have pretty strict guidelines to follow. If you follow the steps below, you will get behind the wheel and gain that freedom you are looking for with your driver license.

First Up: Instruction Permit

The first step to getting your driver's license in Pennsylvania is to obtain your Instruction Permit. For this, the requirements are based upon your age.

If you are at least 16 years of age, then the State of Pennsylvania requires you to:

• Pass a written test.

Next Step: Get Your Pennsylvania Driver License

The next step in the process is getting your driver's license. Again, the requirements for this step are based on your age.

If you are under 18 years of age, then the State of Pennsylvania requires you to:

• Be at least 16 1/2 years of age or older.
• Hold your Pennsylvania Instruction Permit for six months. This is from the original date the Pennsylvania Instruction Permit was issued to you by the Driver License Center.
• Have a parent or legal guardian certify that you have practiced driving for a total of 65 hours of drive time, which includes at least 10 hours of driving at night and 5 hours in inclement conditions.
• Pass the Behind-The-Wheel Driver’s Test.

If you are 18 years of age or older, then the State of Pennsylvania requires you to:

• Pass the written Instruction Permit exam.
• Pass the Behind-The-Wheel Driver’s Test.

Driver's License Laws

Once you actually get your driver's license in hand, you will have some rules to follow if you are under the age of 18. The big rule to follow is that everyone in the vehicle must be wearing a seat belt or child restraint system. The following rules also apply, but are emergency exempt if an emergency should arise:

• You can not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• You may not use a cell phone while driving a vehicle.
• For the first six months of having your driver license, you may not have more than one passenger under 18 (siblings are exempt).
• Between six months and one year of holding your driver's license, you may have up to three passengers under the age of 18 (siblings are exempt).

It may seem like a lot, but as you work through the steps, it will all become easier and easier for you and then you'll have that driver license before you know it!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Driver's Ed and book your driving lesson today.