Arkansas Intermediate License Rules: 11 p.m. Curfew, Passengers, Phone
What are the rules for an Arkansas intermediate license?
The Arkansas intermediate license is for drivers aged 16 and 17. Under the law, you may not drive from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. without an exception, carry more than one unrelated minor passenger without a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat, or use a phone except in an emergency. All passengers wear seat belts. At 18, a 12-month clean record leads to a regular license.
Where the Arkansas intermediate license facts come from
The ages, restriction codes, expiry and waivers come from the Arkansas DFA page on learner's and intermediate licenses. The restricted time and the steps come from the October 2026 Arkansas Driver License Study Guide of the Arkansas State Police. The night, passenger, phone, seat belt and six-month record rules come from Act 394 of 2009. The 12-month record rule, the renewal rules, the two-year term and the $12 fee come from Act 928 of 2025, and the parent rule comes from the DFA graduated licenses page. The DFA pages do not yet show the Act 928 term and fee. This guide is current 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 intermediate license limits at a glance
| Rule | Limit | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| Night driving | No driving from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. | A licensed driver 21 or older is with you; a trip to or from a school activity, church-related activity or job; or an emergency |
| Passengers | No more than one unrelated minor passenger | A licensed driver 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat |
| Seat belts | All passengers wear seat belts | None |
| Phone | No cell phone or other interactive wireless device, hands-free included | An emergency purpose |
| Restricted time | A licensed driver 21 or older rides with you | Ends six months from the permit date or at your 16th birthday |
Can you drive between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on an Arkansas intermediate license?
How many friends can ride with an Arkansas intermediate driver?
Without a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat, you may carry no more than one unrelated minor passenger. The law defines this as a passenger under 21 who is not your sibling, your step-sibling or a child who lives in your household. Your brothers and sisters do not count toward the limit, but two friends under 21 do. Try our free question on the intermediate passenger limit.
What is the phone rule for an Arkansas intermediate driver?
Under the law, an intermediate driver may not use a cell phone or other interactive wireless device while driving, except for an emergency purpose. This covers talking and texting, and drivers under 18 may not use hands-free devices either. Texting is banned at every age. Emergency purposes include a fear for your life, safety or property, and a report of a fire, a traffic accident, a serious road hazard, a medical emergency or a reckless or impaired driver. See how the rules change at 18 in our guide to the Arkansas cell phone law for drivers under 21.
How to get an Arkansas intermediate license
- 1Finish the permit steps
Hold a valid instruction permit that shows you passed the knowledge exam, the vision test and the skills test.
- 2Keep a clean record
Under the law, you need six months with no serious accident and no conviction for a serious traffic violation.
- 3Get a parent or guardian to sign
Under 18, a parent or guardian must accept financial responsibility before the license is issued. You also sign acknowledgments of the phone, passenger and night limits.
- 4Visit a Revenue Office
Go to any Arkansas Revenue Office to receive the license. DFA lists the intermediate fee as prorated. Act 928 of 2025 sets $12 for an intermediate license of up to two years.
When do the Arkansas intermediate license limits end?
Key takeaways
- The intermediate license is for ages 16 and 17. You need a valid instruction permit, six clean months and a Revenue Office visit.
- No driving from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. unless a licensed driver 21 or older is with you, you drive to or from a school activity, church-related activity or job, or you have an emergency.
- Carry no more than one unrelated minor passenger unless a licensed driver 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat. All passengers wear seat belts.
- Use no phone except for an emergency. Hands-free is not allowed under 18, and texting is banned at every age.
- Next step: practice on the free Arkansas Class D practice test.
Arkansas intermediate license: common questions
Can I drive home from work or a school game after 11 p.m. on an intermediate license?
Yes. Under the law, a trip to or from a job, a school activity or a church-related activity is an exception to the 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. limit, and you do not also need an adult in the car. The passenger limit still applies: no more than one unrelated minor passenger unless a licensed driver 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat.
Can I drive alone on an Arkansas intermediate license?
Yes, after the restricted time ends. Until then, a licensed driver who is at least 21 must ride with you. The restricted time is six months from the date your permit was issued or until your 16th birthday. DFA marks it as restriction code 3, and the restricted time is printed on the back of your license. If you already have six months when you turn 16, no restriction goes on the license.
What do the restriction codes on an Arkansas intermediate license mean?
DFA lists three restriction codes for teen licenses. Code 2 is "Act 394 of 2009", the law with the night, passenger and phone limits. Code 3 means a licensed adult 21 or older rides with you, for an intermediate driver without 6 months of driving experience. Code 5 means seat belts on all passengers.
Can I get an intermediate license if I am 18 or older in Arkansas?
A 2025 law, Act 928, lets the Office of Driver Services issue an intermediate license to drivers 16 or older, for up to two years. If you are 18 or older when it is issued, it ends once you have 12 months with no serious accident and no serious traffic conviction. The study guide still describes a Class D license at 18 or older, so ask DFA which license you get.
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