Teenage drivers in New Jersey must work through a graduated driver licensing program to become fully licensed. As part of this program, driver's license applicants between 16 and 17 years old must enroll in an approved driver education course and practice driving with an instructor before being issued a provisional license.

After you pass the vision and knowledge tests as described in detail in our teen drivers article or present a knowledge test waiver from your high school, you will be issued a student learner's permit. (If you're 16, you must bring your driving instructor with you to get the permit.)

This permit allows you to complete six hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction, in addition to classroom training. These lessons must be administered by a state-approved commercial or secondary-school driver education program.

Once you've completed driver's education, you may have your student learner's permit validated. This will allow you to practice driving for six months with adult supervision.

Driving Practice

After completing driver's education and having your student permit validated, you may practice driving as long as you are supervised at all times by a licensed adult driver. There are some restrictions you must adhere to, however:

• Driving is forbidden between 11:01 p.m. and 5 a.m.

• No cell phones, pagers, or other wireless devices are allowed.

• Seat belts must be worn.

When you've practiced driving for six months with these restrictions and you are granted a provisional license, you may drive without supervision. The restrictions are the same as those listed above, except you may not drive at night between 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. The restrictions will be lifted once you turn 18 and are issued a basic driver's license.

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