Drivers licenses for 16 and 17 year old's in CT

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PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CT DMV FOR THE LATEST ON CHANGING AND UPDATED INFORMATION 

You must be at least 16 years old before beginning a driver education program, however you do not need to obtain your learner's permit to attend classroom instructions. The learners permit will be needed before any on the road lessons can begin. Please carry your original learners permit and wear a closed toe shoe for every driving lesson. Students have 1 year to complete the program that they are enrollred in. Per the DMV, the course will need to be repeated with an additional fee, if not finished in the 1 year period.

For information on obtaining a learners permit, please refer to the CT DMV website at: https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Licenses/Licenses/Applying-for-a-License/Learners-Permit--Main-Page.

Driver License Eligibility Date
Enroll and attend the entire 30 hour (program and receive the classroom/driving lessons package. If you complete the full 30 hour program at our driving school, which includes the 8 Hr. Drug and Alcohol course and the 2 hours of parent training for 16 and 17 year old students, *this may qualify you for a significant discount on insurance rates.  Also included are 8 hours of behind the wheel lessons.  

Learner permit holders are then eligible to apply for a driver license after they have held the permit for 120 days, rather than the 180 days you would have to wait with just the 8 hour class. Upon completion of a program, the certificate (form CS-1)  will be issued.

Two-Hour Parent Training
Connecticut law requires that one parent or legal guardian be available and take a 2 hour parent training at a commercial driving school before a teen is eligible for a driver license. If your parent or legal guardian is unable to attend the 2 hour parent training, you will not be eligible for a Connecticut driver license until you reach age 18.

40 hours of driving practice, (behind-the-wheel) may be given by any combination of commercial/secondary/parent instruction. However, the driving practice must be given by a Qualified Trainer. 

Qualified Trainers (eligible to train and sign a form under penalty of false statement attesting to applicant’s fulfillment of all driver education requirements) must be 20 or older, held a driver license for at least 4 years with no suspensions during past 4 years and can include:

• spouse of married minor (under 18) applicant, or
• parent, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian, or
• if applicant has no spouse, parent, grandparent, foster parent or guardian who is qualified & available:  stepparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, by blood or marriage.

Seatbelts

All passengers in vehicle must use permanently installed seat belts.

Passengers

Only a parent, legal guardian or qualified trainer, may drive with a student driver for the duration of the permit. Parents or guardian may accompany the instructor for driving lessons. 

During the first six months the newly licensed driver may not have any passengers in the vehicle except for:

• Licensed driving instructor; or
• Parents or legal guardian, at least one of whom holds a valid driver license or 
• Person providing instruction who is at least 20 years old, has held a license for at least 4 years and with no suspensions during the last 4 years.

For the second six months, may drive with the above people or may also drive with immediate family (e.g., brothers, and sisters). 

 
Curfew

Until 18th birthday, may not drive between hours of 11PM – 5AM unless it is for:

• employment
• school 
• religious activities
• medical necessity 

You must have a note from a parent or person running the event. No curfew for permit holders, but must be accompanied by a Qualified Trainer.

Cell Phones, GPS, etc until 18th birthday, may not use cell phones (even if hands-free) or other mobile or electronic devices while driving. This includes any hand-held computers or other device with a video display.

Until the 18th birthday, a teen may not use cell phones (even if hands-free) or other mobile electronic devices while driving. This includes any hand-held computers or other device with a video display.

Passenger/Curfew Exemptions 

The passenger and curfew restrictions do not apply to:

• active members of a volunteer fire company or department who are responding to, or returning from, an emergency or carrying out duties.
• active members of a volunteer ambulance service or company who are responding to, or returning from, an emergency or carrying out duties.
• active members of medical service organization who are responding to, or returning from, an emergency or carrying out duties.
• assigned driver in a Safe Ride program

 A driver education certificate (form CS-1) will be issued by a CT licensed driving school after completion of the training course. The certificate will certify the completion of 30 hours of classroom and 8 hours behind-the- wheel driving; or 8 hours only of Safe Driving Practices course. (2 hrs of parent training is included in the courses for 16 &17-year-old students.) All applicants must present the CS-1 certificate at the time of road testing. 

Please contact the CT. DMV for any updated information or view their website at https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/General/Homepage-Boxes/Drivers-License/Drivers-License-and-ID.