State rankings

Driving Age by State

New York has the highest Learner's Permit Age (16), followed by Pennsylvania (16) and New Jersey (16). Alaska has the lowest (14).

CultureLaw51 states · 8 metricsUpdated Apr 3, 2025Original page
1 source
51 of 51 states
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Learner's Permit Age

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
15
Middle half 15 – 15.5
Average
15.13
51 states
Highest
16
New York
Lowest
14
Alaska

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Learner's Permit Age
#
1New York1616.517
1Pennsylvania1616.517
1New Jersey161718
1Massachusetts1616.518
1Kentucky1616.517
1Connecticut1616.318
1Rhode Island1616.517.5
1Delaware1616.517
1District of Columbia1616.518
10Maryland15.816.518
11California15.51617
11Ohio15.51618
11Virginia15.516.418
11Arizona15.51616.5
11Oklahoma15.51616.5
11Nevada15.51618
11Hawaii15.51617
11New Hampshire15.51618
19Texas151618
19Florida151618
19Illinois151618
19Georgia151618
19North Carolina151616.5
19Washington151617
19Tennessee151617
19Indiana1516.421
19Missouri151617.9
19Colorado151617
19Wisconsin151618
19Minnesota151617
19South Carolina1515.516.5
19Alabama151617
19Louisiana151617
19Oregon151617
19Utah151616.5
19Mississippi151616.5
19New Mexico1515.516.5
19Nebraska151617
19West Virginia151617
19Maine151616.8
19Vermont151616.5
19Wyoming151617
43Michigan14.81617
44Idaho14.51516
44Montana14.51516
46Iowa141617
46Arkansas141618
46Kansas141616.5
46South Dakota1414.815.5
46North Dakota141516
46Alaska141616.5

What correlates with Learner's Permit Age?

Pearson r against 2,092 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Learner's Permit Age tend to score higher on these

  1. Average (Minutes)Commute Time by State
    r = +0.72 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  2. Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
    r = +0.72 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  3. Average Commute Time (Minutes)Single Mom Friendly States
    r = +0.71 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  4. ER Wait TimesER Wait Times by State
    r = +0.69 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Other Drug Use Rate (Per 100k)Drug Use by State
    r = +0.67 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  6. Rural Population DensityMost Rural States in the U.S.
    r = +0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Learner's Permit Age tend to score lower on these

  1. Weapons per 100 ResidentsCastle Doctrine States
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. % of Households w/GunsBest States for Gun Owners
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. % of Households That Own GunsGun Ownership by State
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Average Pct of Households That Own Guns 2007–2016Guns per Capita
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Lean RepublicansPolitical Parties by State
    r = −0.63 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  6. Rural Land AreaMost Rural States in the U.S.
    r = −0.63 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Learner's Permit Age?
New York has the highest Learner's Permit Age, at 16, followed by Pennsylvania (16) and New Jersey (16).
Which state has the lowest Learner's Permit Age?
Alaska has the lowest Learner's Permit Age, at 14.
What is the median Learner's Permit Age across US states?
The median is 15 across the 51 US states with data.
Where does this driving age by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Graduated licensing laws - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.