How to Get Your Driver's License in Utah
Last verified: 2026-03
Here is how to get your driver's license in Utah. Utah uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system with 3 stages. You can get a full unrestricted license at age 17.
GDL Stages in Utah
Learner's Permit
Requirements
- Pass written knowledge test
- Pass vision screening
- Complete driver education course
- Parental consent if under 18
Restrictions
- Must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older
Provisional License
Requirements
- Hold learner's permit for at least 6 months
- Complete 40 hours supervised driving including 10 at night
- Pass road skills test
Restrictions
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- No passengers who are not immediate family for the first 6 months
Full Unrestricted License
Requirements
- Hold provisional license with clean record
- Turn 17 or 16 and a half with driver education completion
Restricted License Rules
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. for provisional license holders.
- No non-family passengers are allowed for the first 6 months. Utah imposes a complete passenger ban during this initial period.
How restrictions lift: Passenger restrictions ease after 6 months. Full restrictions lift at age 16 and a half with driver education or at 17 without.
Road Test Overview
What Is Tested
- Vehicle control
- Turning and lane changes
- Parking
- Obeying traffic signals and signs
- Speed management
- Yielding right of way
Adult Licensing Pathway
If you are 18 or older, you do not need to complete the full GDL process. Drivers 18 and older skip the provisional license phase and may apply directly for a full license.
Utah-Specific Information
Utah allows teens who complete an approved driver education course to receive a full license at 16 and a half rather than 17, providing a strong incentive for course completion. The state bans all non-family passengers during the first 6 months of the provisional period.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 17 years old to get an unrestricted full driver's license in Utah.
Utah uses a 3-stage Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system: Learner's Permit, Provisional License, Full Unrestricted License.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. for provisional license holders.
- No non-family passengers are allowed for the first 6 months. Utah imposes a complete passenger ban during this initial period.
Adults age 18 and older in Utah can apply for a license directly without going through the GDL stages. Drivers 18 and older skip the provisional license phase and may apply directly for a full license.
Need your permit first?
Start with the learner's permit before your full license.
Utah learner's permit guideCheck drivers ed requirements
Find out if drivers ed is required in Utah.
Utah drivers ed requirementsPrefer to learn online?
Complete a state-approved driving course from home on your own schedule. Same certifications, same insurance discounts.
View Online CoursesThis information is based on Utah Driver License Division guidelines. Requirements can change. Visit the official Utah Driver License Division website for the most current information.