Driving Tests

Arkansas Cell Phone Law for Drivers Under 18 and Under 21

informational·how to guide·Published March 30, 2026

Can you use your phone while driving in Arkansas at 16, 18 or 21?

Texting while driving is banned at every age in Arkansas. Under 18, or with a learner's or intermediate license, you may use a phone only for an emergency, and the study guide says hands-free is not allowed. At 18 to 20, hands-free is allowed and a hand-held phone is for emergencies only. At 21 or older, the guide allows phone use, but not texting.

Where these Arkansas phone rules come from

The age rules come from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide and from Act 394 of 2009, which wrote the phone ban for learner's and intermediate licenses into Arkansas law. The fines and crash penalties come from Act 445 of 2023, called Ashton's and Abbie's Law. The point values come from the DFA violations and points table, and the GDL limits from the DFA graduated licenses page. All of this is as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

Arkansas phone rules by age and license

Arkansas phone rules by age and license
Driver	Hand-held phone	Hands-free device	Texting
Under 18, or a learner's or intermediate license	Emergency only	Not allowed (study guide)	Banned
Class D license, age 18 to 20	Emergency only	Allowed	Banned
Age 21 and older	Allowed (study guide), but not in a work zone with workers present	Allowed	Banned

What is the phone rule with a learner's or intermediate license?

Arkansas law says a driver with a learner's license or an intermediate license must not use a cell phone or other interactive wireless device while driving, except for an emergency purpose. That covers talking and texting. The study guide adds that under 18, cell phone use is not allowed and hands-free devices are not allowed either.
When you apply for either license, you sign a form that says you know the ban applies to you. The Graduated Driver License (GDL) program also limits night driving and the number of passengers; our guide to the Arkansas intermediate license explains those limits.

What counts as an emergency on a learner's or intermediate license?

You have reason to fear for your life, safety or property.
You reasonably believe that a crime may be committed against you, another person, or anyone's property.
You report a fire, a traffic accident, a serious road hazard or a medical emergency.
You report a hazardous materials emergency.
You report another driver who is driving recklessly, carelessly or unsafely, or who appears to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Can you use a phone at 18 to 20, or at 21 and older?

A Class D driver who is at least 18 but younger than 21 may use a hands-free phone or device while driving. A hand-held phone is only for emergencies. At 21 or older, the study guide says you may use a cell phone, but it also says it is never safe to talk and drive. Text messages are not allowed at any age, so hands-free never means typing a text at the wheel. National research found that distracted teens who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash.

Fines under the Arkansas Fewer Distractions Means Safer Driving Act

Fines under the Arkansas Fewer Distractions Means Safer Driving Act
Situation	Penalty under § 27-51-1607
First violation	Fine of $25 to $250
Each later violation	Fine of $50 to $500
Crash while you break the law	The court adds a fine of double the standard fine
Crash that causes serious physical injury or death of another person	Class A misdemeanor on conviction
Any of the above	The court may also order up to 100 hours of public work service

What changed with Ashton's and Abbie's Law in 2023?

Ashton's and Abbie's Law, approved on April 4, 2023, sets the crash penalties in the table above. The penalty section of the No Texting Law (§ 27-51-1506) now has the same crash penalties: an added fine of double the standard fine, a Class A misdemeanor when the crash seriously injures or kills another person, and up to 100 hours of public service work. After a crash, the officer must note on the accident form that the driver was using a wireless device. Serious physical injury is an injury that creates a substantial risk of death, or that causes protracted disfigurement or protracted impairment of health.

What happens if you use a phone in an Arkansas work zone?

When workers are present in a work zone, a citation for any moving violation costs double the fine. Moving violations include speeding, reckless driving and distracted driving, and doubled fines can be as high as $5,000. Mobile work zones count the same as stationary ones.
In a work zone, holding your phone to take a call, send a text, look up directions or scroll social media counts as a moving violation. If you cannot use a hands-free connection, do not use your phone. Under 18, the hands-free option does not apply.

Which Arkansas phone rule applies to you?

You are under 18, or you hold a learner's or intermediate license

Do not use a phone while you drive, hands-free included, unless it is an emergency. Park first for any call or message.

You are 18 to 20 and hold a Class D license

Use a hands-free device only if you must talk. Keep the phone out of your hand and never type a text.

You are 21 or older

Texting is still banned. The study guide allows phone use but warns that talking and driving is never safe, so pull over when you can.

You drive through a work zone with workers present

Put the phone down. A hand-held phone is a moving violation there, and fines double.

Do phone tickets add points to your Arkansas record?

In the DFA points table, texting while driving (M85) and a hand-held phone violation (M86) are each 0 points, and a cell phone warning for a minor (11C) is also 0 points. Inattentive or distracted driving (M82) is 3 points, so a distracted driving charge can add points that a texting charge does not. A court can still order fines and up to 100 hours of public work service, so 0 points does not mean no penalty. Check how Arkansas counts points in our guide to Arkansas driving points for new drivers.

Key takeaways

Texting while driving is banned at every age in Arkansas.
Under 18, or with a learner's or intermediate license, a phone is for emergencies only, and the study guide says hands-free is not allowed.
At 18 to 20, hands-free is allowed and a hand-held phone is for emergencies only.
Under the Fewer Distractions Means Safer Driving Act, fines are $25 to $250 for a first violation and $50 to $500 for each later one. A crash adds a fine of double the standard fine.
Next step: practice the phone and distracted driving questions on our free Arkansas Class D practice test.

Arkansas cell phone law: common questions

Does the phone ban end at 18 in Arkansas?

It depends on your license, not only your age. The law lets a driver with a learner's or intermediate license use a phone only for an emergency purpose. With a Class D license at 18 to 20, you may use a hands-free phone or device, but a hand-held phone is still for emergencies only. Texting stays banned at every age. Try our free question on a 19-year-old who wants to make a call.

Can I read a text while driving if I do not reply?

No. Text messages are not allowed at any age in Arkansas. Reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, and at 55 mph that is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Wait until you are parked. Our free question on a driver who wants to type a text while the car moves gives the same answer.

Can I take a call on a learner's license if my parent is in the car?

No. With a learner's license you must drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21, but the phone rule stays the same. The law lets you use a phone only for an emergency purpose, for example to report a crash, a fire, a medical emergency or a dangerous driver. Ask your passenger to take the call for you.

Can I use GPS on my phone while driving in Arkansas?

Under 18, or with a learner's or intermediate license, phone use is for emergencies only, so set your route before you start. At 18 to 20, a hand-held phone is for emergencies only. For any driver, holding a phone to look up directions in a work zone with workers present counts as a moving violation, and fines double there.