How licensing works in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) licenses drivers. Teens aged 16 and 17 follow strict rules on training, passengers and curfew.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's permit | 16 | Pass the vision test and the 25-question knowledge test. Drive only with an instructor or a qualified trainer. Valid until you get a license or 2 years. |
| Teen license (16 and 17) | 16 and 4 months (with driver education) or 16 and 6 months | Wait 120 or 180 days with the permit. 40 hours of training. Curfew 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Passenger limits for 12 months. |
| Full privileges | 18 | Teen curfew ends. |
Training requirements for teens
- At least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
- The 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course.
- A two-hour course that a parent or guardian attends with the teen.
- The DMV lists the Work Zone Safety Course as a new driver's first step.
Who can supervise
A permit holder drives with a licensed driving instructor or a qualified trainer. A trainer must be at least 20, and must have held a license for at least four years in a row with no suspension. Trainers can be a parent, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian. If none is available, a stepparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt may serve.
Teen passenger rules
| Time | Who may ride with a 16- or 17-year-old driver |
|---|---|
| Permit | A driving instructor, or one qualified trainer (a parent may also come along) |
| License, months 1 to 6 | An instructor, parents or guardians, or one licensed adult 20 or older with 4 years' experience |
| License, months 7 to 12 | The people above, plus immediate family members |
The 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew has exceptions for work, school, religious activities, medical needs and Safe Ride drivers. Teens may never carry more passengers than seat belts.
The Connecticut knowledge test
The knowledge test has 25 questions. You must answer 20 correctly to pass. It is based on the Connecticut Driver's Manual, and you take it by appointment at a DMV office along with a vision test.
- DMV practice tests are available in English and Spanish.
- Sample tests are also in the DMV mobile app.
- Check the DMV website for the documents you must bring.
Rules specific to Connecticut
Phones
No driver may use a handheld phone or device while driving, even when stopped in traffic or at a light. Adults may use hands-free devices. Drivers under 18 may not use any phone, even hands-free. For teens, a conviction means a license suspension. Fines are doubled for handheld use in work zones.
Seat belts and child seats
Every driver and passenger must wear a belt, and each unbelted person can be ticketed. Children under 2 or under 30 pounds ride rear-facing with a harness. If a child's age and weight fit different categories, follow the more restrictive rule. Never put a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
Move Over law
When any vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road, slow down below the posted limit and move over one lane when it is safe. Pull to the right and stop for emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights.
Slow down and move over one lane for any vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
- The vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
- Your car moves to the next lane.
- If you cannot move over, slow down below the limit.
Vulnerable users and ice cream trucks
Give bicyclists and other vulnerable users at least 3 feet when passing. When an ice cream truck is stopped to sell, stop at least 10 feet away, yield to pedestrians, then go by at no more than 5 mph.
Alcohol
Connecticut has a zero-tolerance law for teens who drink and drive.
Test tips
- Read the Connecticut Driver's Manual all the way through.
- Learn the numbers: 16, 20 and 4 years, 40 hours, 120 and 180 days, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Do the DMV practice tests and these questions.
- Review signs, which make up a large part of most tests.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Connecticut. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.