Teen Drivers

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.

How to Get Your First License

Teens less than 18 must follow this process:

• Beginning on the teen's 16th birthday, he or she may apply to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles on a walk-in basis for a learner's permit.

• Before applying, the teen should become familiar with the rules for applying for a new license and study the Connecticut Driver's Manual well enough to answer at least eight questions on the 10-question exam. It's a good idea to take a practice test before the real thing to get a sense of the typical questions. The teen will also need to have a signed parental consent form and proper ID.

• To apply, the teen should visit any full-service Connecticut DMV office; a satellite, mobile, or AAA office will not do. There is no appointment necessary, but the teen should check locations and office hours to make sure he or she arrives at least one hour before closing. The fee for the exam is $18 in cash, check, or money order. No credit cards are accepted.

• If the teen passes the written and vision exams, he or she will be issued a learner's permit. The permit allows the teen to drive with a licensed driver who has held a license for at least four consecutive years. The teen has to hold the permit for 180 days (120 if graduated from an approved driver's education course) before he or she may apply for a license exam.

• Once the teen is ready for a driver's license exam, he or she must complete an application and pay a $40 fee. The application must be turned into a Connecticut DMV branch or satellite office. The DMV will notify the teen by mail of a scheduled appointment.

• The driver's license exam comes in three parts. First, the teen will need to pass a second written exam and a second vision exam. If the teen passes those exams, he or she will be allowed to take a road exam with a DMV inspector. The teen will need to provide a vehicle for the exam, as well as proper ID.

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.

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.

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

Restrictions on Teen Drivers

Over the past decade, Connecticut has increased its restrictions on 16- and 17-year-olds who have a driver's license. Right now, the state has the following restrictions:

• During the first three 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 three 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.

• 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.

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 six 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.