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Driving 101

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Do you have a teenager who is nearing driving age? Are you wondering about steps needed to obtain a driver’s license? 

All 50 states now have a three-step Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system in an effort to reduce teenage driver crashes. Under the system, teens build up driving experience as they develop skills. There is no national GDL law, so individual states make their own laws.

Here is what local teens and their parents can expect when getting a driver’s license:

In Missouri

Eligible Age: 15

Teens must pass the vision, road sign recognition and written tests at a Missouri driver exam station. A qualified person—defined as a parent, legal guardian or certified trainer with a driver’s license—must accompany the teen to the office and sign a permission statement. 

With a permit, an under-16 driver must be accompanied in the front seat by a licensed driver who is a qualified person, grandparent, qualified driving instructor, qualified driver designated by a disabled parent or guardian or a qualified driver who is at least 25 and has the written permission from the parent or guardian. 

With a permit, an over-16 driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 and sitting in the front seat.

In this step, teens must have at least 40 hours of driving instruction with a qualified person, grandparent or driving instructor, including 10 hours of nighttime driving.

Eligible Age: 16

Drivers must have a permit for at least 182 days and not have any alcohol-related offenses in the last 12 months or traffic convictions in the last six months. A qualified person or grandparent must go to the license office and verify the driver has received the proper hours of instruction. Drivers must re-take the vision, road sign and written tests if the previous results are more than a year old. They also must take a driving test.

With the intermediate license, drivers may not have more than one passenger under the age of 19 (other than an immediate family member) for the first six months and no more than three passengers under 19 after that. Drivers also cannot drive alone between 1:00 and 5:00 in the morning.

Eligible Age: 18

Drivers cannot have any alcohol-related offenses or traffic convictions in the last 12 months, nor a suspended or revoked license. Drivers must pass the vision and road sign tests but do not have to take the written or driving test if already completed.

In Kansas

Eligible Age: 14

Teens must pass a vision exam and a written test or provide certificate of completion from a driver education course. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the teen to the exam and sign a permission statement.

With a permit, drivers must have a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the front seat at all times. In addition, drivers cannot use any wireless communication devices except to summon emergency help or report illegal activity.

In this step, teens must log a minimum of 50 hours of driving instruction with a licensed driver over 21, including 10 hours of nighttime driving.

Eligible Age: 15

Drivers must have a permit for at least 12 months before getting an intermediate license and must pass a vision and written test. Drivers are restricted to driving to/from work and school when alone; they must be with a licensed driver over 21 at all other times. 

At 16, drivers move to less restricted privileges if 50-hour requirement is met and driving record is satisfactory. At this stage, teens cannot drive alone between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Wireless communication is not allowed except in emergency situations.

Eligible Age: 17

Drivers are required to take a vision exam and a driving test or provide certificate of completion from a driver’s education course. There are no passenger or wireless restrictions.

Tisha Foley’s children are not yet driving age, but she already is fretting about when that day comes. They live in Belton.

These are highlights of each state’s requirements. For more detailed information, please go to KSRevenue.org for Kansas laws and DOR.MO.gov for Missouri laws.  

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