WGK Personal Injury Lawyers | July 3, 2025 | Maryland Law
Learning to drive is a big milestone for many teenagers, and Maryland has a structured process in place to help young drivers develop safe habits behind the wheel and prevent car accidents. The state uses a graduated licensing system, which means teens earn driving privileges in stages rather than all at once. This system is designed to help reduce accidents and prepare teens for the responsibility of driving.
Why Maryland Uses a Graduated Licensing System
By requiring teens to move through different stages of licensing, Maryland ensures that they learn the rules of the road gradually and safely. These rules also give parents more opportunities to guide and support their children before they drive on their own. Setting clear expectations at each stage helps everyone on the road stay safer, including pedestrians, passengers, and other drivers.
Step One: The Learner’s Instructional Permit
The first step toward getting a driver’s license in Maryland is applying for a learner’s instructional permit. Teens can apply as early as 15 years and 9 months old. To get a learner’s permit, applicants must pass a vision screening and a written knowledge test about Maryland traffic laws and road signs. They also need to show proof of age, identity, and residency. If the applicant is under 18, a parent or guardian must co-sign the application.
With a learner’s permit, the teen can only drive when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and has held a license for at least three years. The supervising driver must be seated next to the teen in the front passenger seat.
Cell phone use while driving is not allowed, even with hands-free devices, and all passengers must wear seat belts. This permit allows young drivers to begin gaining valuable real-world experience while under close adult supervision.
Step Two: The Provisional License
A teen becomes eligible for a provisional license after holding a learner’s permit for at least nine months without any traffic violations and reaching at least 16 years and 6 months of age. Before applying, the teen must complete 60 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, which must be recorded in a practice log. They must also complete a state-approved driver’s education course that includes both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
Once issued, the provisional license allows teens to drive alone, but there are important restrictions during the first 18 months. For the first 151 days, they cannot drive with any passengers under the age of 18 who are not immediate family members unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver.
In addition, teens with a provisional license are not allowed to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless they are traveling for work, school, or a volunteer activity and have proper documentation.
Cell phone use is still strictly prohibited while driving. These rules are designed to help reduce distractions and avoid situations that often lead to crashes among young drivers. The provisional license gives teens more freedom while continuing to place boundaries that encourage smart and cautious decision-making.
Step Three: The Full Driver’s License
Once a driver has held their provisional license for 18 months without any moving violations and has reached at least 18 years old, they may graduate to a full driver’s license. Before doing so, they must also ensure that they have resolved any outstanding fines, tickets, or license suspensions.
A full license lifts the restrictions that were placed on earlier stages. At this point, the driver has the same privileges and responsibilities as any other adult driver in Maryland. While there are no longer limits on passengers or driving hours, drivers must still obey all state traffic laws, including Maryland’s ban on texting or using handheld devices while driving. By the time a teen earns a full license, they should have enough experience and training to drive independently with confidence and responsibility.
If you or your child has been involved in a crash involving a young or inexperienced driver, WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Call our Baltimore car accident attorneys to schedule a free consultation.
Contact the Baltimore Personal Injury Law Firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information contact the Baltimore personal injury law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
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