Learner's Permit Practice Hours by State: A Log Guide

Most states ask teens to do more than pass a class and a road test. They also want proof of supervised practice: a set number of hours behind the wheel with a parent or another qualified adult, often with some of those hours at night. A parent usually signs to certify the hours before the license is issued.

The numbers vary a lot, from 30 hours in some states to 65 or more in others. This guide lists the requirement in a sample of states, explains the official log forms that several states use, and gives tips for keeping a log that holds up.

How many hours? A state sample

The table below comes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's graduated licensing laws table, which tracks every state. IIHS notes the table may not be current and should be checked, so confirm with your state agency before you rely on it. Several rows also match the state pages we link further down.

State	Supervised hours	At night
Arizona	30 (none with driver education)	10
California	50	10
Colorado	50	10
Connecticut	40	not specified
Florida	50	10
Georgia	40	6
Illinois	50	10
Indiana	50	10
Kentucky	60	10
Maine	70	10
Maryland	60	10
Massachusetts	40	not specified
New Hampshire	40	10
New Jersey	50	10
New York	50	15
North Carolina	60	10
Ohio	50	10
Oregon	50 with driver education, 100 without	not specified
Pennsylvania	65 (5 in bad weather)	10
South Carolina	40	10
Texas	30	10
Vermont	40	10
Virginia	45	15
Washington	50	10
West Virginia	50 (none with driver education)	10

Rules can depend on age and on whether the teen takes driver education. In Arizona and West Virginia, for example, IIHS lists no required hours for teens who complete driver education, and in Oregon a driver education course cuts the requirement from 100 hours to 50.

Official log forms and apps

Some states accept any reasonable log. Others require a specific form or app, and a homemade spreadsheet will not do. Here is what several state agencies say.

Log rules from state agencies

Colorado: permit holders log at least 50 hours, 10 at night, on Drive Time Log Sheets (DR 2324) or the RoadReady app, and bring the printed log to the license appointment.
New Jersey: permit holders under 21 whose permit was issued on or after February 1, 2025 need 50 hours, 10 in darkness, certified on a Certification of Supervised Driving signed by a parent, guardian or supervising driver.
New York: applicants under 18 bring form MV-262, completed by a parent or guardian, and give it to the examiner each time they take a road test.
Nevada: hours must be logged on the RoadReady app or form DLD-130, and other logs will not be accepted. Even with the app, a parent signs the first page of the DLD-130.
Indiana: teens complete the 50-hour log on State Form 54706, even if they finished driver education.
South Carolina: practice is certified on SCDMV Form PDLA, available from driver training schools and high schools. SCDMV warns not to download copies found online.
Vermont: use the Driving Practice Log Sheet or the RoadReady app. The 40 hours are in addition to the 6 behind-the-wheel hours in driver education.
West Virginia: a 50 hour certification form, 10 hours at night, certified by a parent or legal guardian or by a Driver Education Card.

Who can supervise

States also set rules on who sits in the passenger seat. Colorado requires a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. Nevada requires a licensed driver 21 or older with at least 1 year of driving experience. In New Hampshire the hours are supervised by a licensed parent or guardian, and a licensed adult over 25 may step in if no parent or guardian is available. Georgia's Joshua's Law refers to 40 hours with a parent or guardian, 6 of them at night.

What counts as "night"?

Night hours are often the hardest to collect, especially in summer when it stays light late. States define night differently. Vermont, for example, counts 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and New Hampshire's law uses the same window. Check your state's definition before you count a dusk drive as a night hour.

Tips for a log that holds up

Start on day one. Write down every drive, even short ones. Rebuilding a log from memory weeks later is hard.
Record the basics every time. Nevada's instructions are a good model: date, time and duration of each session.
Use the official form or app if your state has one. Nevada and South Carolina say plainly that they only accept their own forms.
Plan night driving early. Fall and winter evenings make night hours easier to collect.
Mix conditions. Pennsylvania's count includes bad-weather driving, and the license will not come with a fair-weather promise. Highways, rush hour and rural roads all build different skills.
Keep a copy. Photograph signed pages before you hand them in.

Do not sign hours that did not happen

A parent's signature on a practice log is a certification to the state. The hours exist so new drivers get real experience before driving alone. Signing for practice that never happened puts the new driver on the road with less experience than the state requires.

Professional lessons and practice hours

Lessons with a licensed driving school are a separate requirement in many states, not a replacement for supervised hours. Vermont spells this out: its 40 hours come on top of driver education. Indiana says the 50-hour log is required even after driver education. If your state does let driver education reduce the hours, as Oregon and West Virginia do, keep the course certificate with your log.

For what comes after the log, see The Road Test: What to Expect and Why People Fail and Teen Driver GDL Restrictions Explained for Parents.

FAQ

How many supervised hours does my teen need?

It depends on the state. In the IIHS table, requirements range from 30 hours in Texas and Arizona to 65 in Pennsylvania and 70 in Maine. Many states, including California, New Jersey and Ohio, require 50 hours with 10 at night.

Can I use any app to log hours?

Not everywhere. Nevada accepts only the RoadReady app or form DLD-130. Colorado lists its DR 2324 log sheets and the RoadReady app. Check your state's rules first.

Do driving school lessons count toward practice hours?

Usually they are a separate requirement. Vermont's 40 hours are in addition to driver education, and Indiana requires the 50-hour log even after driver education. Some states, like Oregon, reduce the hours when a teen completes an approved course.

Who signs the practice log?

Usually a parent or guardian. New Jersey also allows a supervising driver to sign its Certification of Supervised Driving.

Pair practice with real training

Supervised hours work best alongside lessons from a licensed driving school. You can find driving schools in our directory and see each school's license details and source, and check a certificate issued through RoadVerified when it is time to show proof of training.