Top Beginner's Basics

The process for a teen to get a driver's license is slightly different for those younger than 18 than for those older than 18. The teen younger than 18 will need to first obtain a learner's permit and will have specific education requirements. The teen older than 18 doesn't need a permit and has fewer restrictions.

Top How to Apply for a Permit

Beginning on your 16th birthday, you may apply at any Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office on a walk-in basis for a learner's permit. Before applying you should study the Connecticut Driver's Manual well enough to answer at least 20 questions correctly on the 25-question exam.

When applying be sure to bring:

• A completed Learner's Permit Application.

• A signed parental consent form.

• Verification of address.

• A recent passport-size photo without sunglasses or a head covering.

• A certified birth certificate as well as one other form of proper ID.

• Your Social Security card, or a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you are ineligible for a number.

• Cash, check or money order to pay a $40 test fee and an $18 permit fee (if paying by check you'll need two separate checks).

If you pass you must hold the permit for 180 days (120 if graduated from an approved driver's education course) before you can apply for a license exam.

Top Permit Restrictions

When driving during the first three months of holding your permit you cannot be accompanied by anyone other than:

• A licensed instructor.

• Your parents or legal guardian, one of whom has a driver's license.

• Anyone 20 or older who has held a license for at least four years and has not had his or her license suspended during this time.

During the second three months of holding your permit you are allowed to drive with immediate family members in the car.

Be sure to stay informed about new laws pertaining to teen drivers in Connecticut taking effect in late 2008.

Top Connecticut Driver's Education Requirements

Anyone younger than 18 applying for a driver's license is required to show proof that he or she has completed a state-approved driver's education course or has received home-based driver's education training (see below). A teen driver who has taken a state-approved course gets a break on the minimum time requirement before taking a road exam: 120 days, versus 180 days for teen drivers certified under home-education requirements.

Teens older than 18 are not required to obtain a learner's permit. They may receive driver training from a licensed driver older than 20 who has held a license for four consecutive years. They are not required to take any official driver's education and they do not need parental permission. Otherwise, the process is identical to that for other teens.

Top Connecticut Home Training Requirements

Connecticut does not require all drivers younger than 18 to receive their driver education from a state-approved education program. Teens may learn at home from a licensed driver, but home driver training has some special requirements:

• The trainer must be a parent, foster parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or the applicant's spouse.

• The trainer must be at least 20 years old and must have held a Connecticut license for four consecutive years.

• The trainer will need to provide a signed statement that the applicant completed at least 22 hours of study of the Connecticut Driver's Manual and eight hours of behind-the-wheel training.

• The applicant must also show a certificate of completion from an approved eight-hour course of study, with at least four hours devoted to alcohol and drug education.

Remember, any teenager who obtains a learner's permit with a certified home education background is required to hold the permit for at least six months before applying for a driver's license test.

Top Assistance for Home Training

To help parents who are teaching their children to drive, Connecticut provides the Parents' Guide for Training Teen Drivers: How Parents Can Help Their Teens Become Safe Drivers, as well as the following podcasts:

• How's My Kid Driving? A New Solution that Actually Let's You Find Out

• 2006 Study Shows Driving Restrictions Help to Reduce Teenage Drivers' Deaths

• Experts Say Parents Can Play an Even Greater Role in Training

Top Applying for a License

Complete an application. The application must be turned into any DMV office. The DMV will notify you by mail of a scheduled appointment. Be sure to bring with you:

• Proof of driver training, which includes 40 hours of on-road practice and completion of driver education course (home training, commercial driving school, secondary driving school).

• Proof of parental training (your parent or legal guardian must attend a two-hour course on teen driving).

• Your learner's permit.

• Proof of your legal name.

• Proof of residence.

• A recent passport-size photo without sunglasses or a head covering.

• A certified birth certificate as well as one other form of proper ID.

• Proof of car insurance for the vehicle you'll be driving during the road test.

• Cash, check or money order to pay the license fee ($66 or $77 depending on the number of years the license is valid for).

Top License Testing

• Eye Test: Must have 20/40 in each eye with or without glasses; or at least 20/30 if the other is blind.

• Written Test: Must answer at least 20 out of 25 questions correctly.

• Road Test: Exam lasts approximately 15-20 minutes.

Top License Restrictions

• During the first six months of driving, the teen may only legally drive with one or both of his or her parents or guardians, one driver's education instructor, or one person older than 20 who has held a license for four or more consecutive years.

• During the second six months, the teen may drive with members of his or her immediate family.

• They may not drive a vehicle that requires a public passenger permit, such as a bus or vanpool vehicle.

• They may not drive with more passengers than there are seat belts in the vehicle.

• They may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., except for special circumstances or with their parent or guardian.

• They may not drive while talking on a cell phone (even if it's hands-free).

Top Teen Drinking and Driving

Connecticut is particularly tough on teen drivers when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI) violations. First of all, the standard is lower. While adults need to register a 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) count to be arrested for DUI, teens only need to register 0.02%, which could be caused by one alcoholic drink―or even part of one.

Any teen arrested for drunk driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher will automatically lose his or her driver's license for 90 days. If the teen refuses to take a BAC test, his or her license will be automatically suspended for 18 months. These penalties are added on to the state's regular drunk driving penalties, which might include fines, an order to attend an alcohol education program, points against the license, and even a jail term.

As of August 1, 2008, there are more new laws covering suspensions for 16- to 17-year-old drivers.

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