Utah learner's permit rules and teen restrictions

What do the Utah learner's permit rules say about who can supervise you?

Who can sit beside you depends on your age:

• Under 18: a licensed parent, stepparent, foster parent or legal guardian (stepparents and foster parents since May 6, 2026), an approved driving instructor, or a licensed responsible adult who signed for your permit.
• Under 18, another adult can supervise only if they're 21 or older and licensed, your parent or guardian isn't a licensed driver, and they carry a note from your parent.
• 18 and older: any licensed driver who's at least 21.
• Whoever supervises sits in the front passenger seat. Other passengers can ride along.

How long the permit lasts

The learner permit and your written test score are valid for 18 months. If the permit expires or you renew it, you retake the written test. Renewing or replacing a permit costs $19, as of October 2026. A valid permit from another state counts toward your six months, but you can't use an out-of-state permit to drive in Utah.

Limits on a license at 16 and 17

These apply once you have a license and are 16 or 17:

• Night: no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. until you turn 18, unless a licensed driver 21 or older is with you. Driving to or from work or a school-sponsored activity, farm work and emergencies are allowed.
• Passengers: for the first six months or until you turn 18, whichever comes first, only immediate family, unless a licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat, or it's farm work or an emergency.
• Phones: under 18, only for a medical emergency, reporting a hazard or crime, or talking with a parent or guardian.

What the parent who signs is agreeing to

The parent or guardian who signs for a minor takes on financial responsibility for their driving. If they withdraw their signature, the license becomes invalid, and the teen has to wait until 18, pay again and retake the written test.