What is the Driving Age in Utah?

You must be at least 15 years old to begin the Graduated Drivers License program in Utah. You can get your full Utah license after six months or when you turn 18.
Written by Sarah Williams
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
background
Utah
uses the Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) to help
teen drivers
—at least 15 years old—get important driving experience before receiving their
unrestricted driver’s license
after six months or when they turn 18. 

What is the driving age in Utah?

In Utah, you can apply for a learner permit once you are 15 years old. You won’t be able to get your unrestricted Utah driver's license until you’ve held your learner permit for six months or have turned 18. 
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What is the Graduated Drivers License program in Utah?

The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) lists motor vehicle accidents as the second-leading cause of death among young Americans. Utah uses a Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) to help cut back on the high rates of teen car accidents. 
The GDL program gets young drivers to develop their driving skills before receiving full driving privileges. In Utah, young drivers can get a restricted learner permit once they turn 15 and their full driver’s license either after six months or when they turn 18. 

How to get your learner permit in Utah

Once you turn 15 years old, you can visit a
Utah Driver's License office
to apply for your learner permit. You’ll have your photo taken and must pass a mandatory
eye test
. Don’t forget to bring:
  • Your nonrefundable $19 fee
  • Proof of your identity (with your name and date of birth)
  • Your Social Security card
  • A parent/guardian who can sign for financial responsibility (if you’re under 17) 
Study your driver's
handbook
in advance so you can pass the 50-question
written knowledge test
. Your $19 fee allows you to take the test three times, but if you need more tries, you’ll have to pay the fee again. 
Depending on your age, there are different requirements for how long you must hold your learner permit. If you’re under 18 years old, you must hold your permit for six months before applying for a Utah driver’s license. As soon as you turn 18, you can apply for your full license, even if you haven’t completed your six months.

Utah learner permit restrictions

With a learner permit in Utah, you can only drive a vehicle if you have your learner permit in your possession and there is someone over 21 with their license in the passenger seat
If you’re under 18, the person beside you should be the responsible adult who signed for financial responsibility. Minors in Utah aren’t allowed to drive between 12 am and 5 am or transport any passengers who are not family members. 

How to get your driver’s license in Utah

Once you’ve turned 18 or finished your six-month learner permit period, it’s time to prepare for your
driving skill test
. You’ll have to pass this test to receive your full license. If you’re under the age of 19, you’ll also need to enroll in a
driver's education course
Before receiving your Utah driver’s license, you’ll need to pass the online
Traffic Safety and Trends Exam
, an
eye test
, a
written knowledge test
, your driving skills test, and a driver education course. You’ll also need to finish 40 hours of driving, 10 of which should be done after dark. 
Key Takeaway Remember to bring your $19 fee, proof of your identity (with your name and date of birth), your Social Security card, and two documents proving your Utah residence when you go to get your learner permit.  

Utah driver’s license restrictions

Congratulations on your first driver’s license! You can now drive in the car alone and enjoy the benefits of a full Utah driver’s license. If you are 18 or under, there are still some rules in place for minors. 
Until you turn 18, you still can’t drive between 12 am and 5 am. For the first six months of your driver’s license, you also can’t carry any passengers who aren’t part of your immediate family

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to these two rules for minors driving in Utah:
You may not operate a motor vehicle on any public roadway between 12 am and 5 am.
Exceptions:
  • You have a licensed driver in the passenger seat who is at least 21 years old.
  • You are driving in connection with work, directly home from a school-sponsored event, or on the assignment of a farmer or ranger.
  • In the case of an emergency. 
For the first six months or until you turn 18, you may not transport passengers who are not immediate family members. 
Exceptions:
  • You are accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. 
  • You are driving on the assignment of a farmer or rancher and are engaged in an agricultural operation. 
  • In the case of an emergency.  

How to save on car insurance in Utah

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FAQs

Once you turn 15, you can apply for a learner permit in Utah. You’ll have to wait six months or until you turn 18 before you are eligible for your full Utah driver’s license.
Once you turn 15 years old, you can visit a Utah Driver's License office to apply for your learner permit. You’ll have to pass a mandatory eye test and a 50-question written knowledge test
Don’t forget to bring a nonrefundable $19 fee, proof of your identity (with your name and date of birth), your Social Security card, two documents proving your Utah residence, and a parent/guardian who can sign for financial responsibility (if you’re under 17).
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