Driving Tests

Louisiana Intermediate License Rules: Curfew, Passengers and Age 17

informational·how to guide·Published September 16, 2026

What can I do with a Louisiana intermediate license at 16, and when do the limits end?

With a Louisiana intermediate license at 16, you may drive alone from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or sibling 18 or older must ride with you. From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., you may carry one passenger under 21 who is not family. OMV policy says these limits end at 17.

Where these rules come from

This guide follows R.S. 32:407, the Louisiana law on the intermediate license, and the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) page on upgrading to a Class E intermediate license. It also uses OMV policy 1.00, OMV policy 2.00 (fees), the OMV Student/Parent page, the OMV graduated license sheet and R.S. 32:59 (as of 2026). When an OMV page words a rule differently from the law, this guide follows the law. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.

What is a Louisiana intermediate license?

The intermediate license is the second stage of the Louisiana Graduated Licensing Program for Class E (personal vehicle) drivers, after the learner's permit. It lets a teen drive without a supervisor, with limits at night and on passengers. The word "Intermediate" is printed on the license, and Louisiana licenses for drivers under 21 have a highly visible distinctive color.

How to get an intermediate license

1
Be at least 16 years old and hold the Class E learner's permit for at least 180 days. If you turn 17 first, you do not need to wait the full 180 days.
2
Keep a clean record in the permit stage: no at-fault crash, and no conviction for a moving violation, a seat belt or curfew violation, or a drug or alcohol offense.
3
Complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older. At least 15 of the hours must be at night.
4
Ask your parent or guardian to sign a statement that you did the 50 hours and kept a clean record. With joint custody, only the domiciliary parent may sign.
5
Pass the road skills test with a score of 80 or better. Bring a vehicle that is licensed, inspected and insured when OMV gives the test.
6
Show 20/40 vision in one or both eyes.

Where to take the road skills test

If you took the course at a private driving school after August 1, 2014, you go back to that school or to another third-party tester. If you took it at a secondary school after that date, OMV may give the test. A third-party tester gives you a certificate to hand to OMV. The road skills test guide explains what the examiner checks.

Moving to Louisiana at 16

A 16-year-old who moves to Louisiana from another state can get an intermediate license without the Louisiana learner's permit stage. The teen needs proof of an equivalent driver education course and proof of a learner's license from the old state held for 180 days, unless the teen turns 17 first. The teen must also meet all other Louisiana license requirements.

Intermediate license driving hours at a glance

Intermediate license driving hours at a glance
Hours	What the rules say
5 a.m. to 6 p.m.	You may drive alone and carry passengers.
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.	You may drive alone. You may carry one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family, unless a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older rides along.
11 p.m. to 5 a.m.	You may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian, licensed adult 21 or older, or licensed sibling 18 or older. The same passenger limit applies.

Curfew: who can ride with you from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The law bars a driver under 17 from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult at least 21, or a licensed sibling at least 18 rides along. When one of these people is in the car, other immediate family members may ride too. A licensed friend under 21 does not qualify. The question on the hours an intermediate license holder may drive tests this rule.

Passenger limit: one non-family passenger under 21

From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., an intermediate license holder may not carry more than one passenger who is under 21 and not immediate family. The limit does not apply when a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older rides along. With a driver education instructor in the car, one or more fellow driver education students may ride. The question on the passenger limit tests this rule.

Can I drive tonight? Check the hour and the people in the car

It is between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and no licensed parent, guardian, adult 21+ or sibling 18+ is with you

Do not drive. This is the curfew.

It is between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., and you want to carry two friends who are under 21 and not family

Not allowed unless a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older rides along.

It is between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

You may drive alone and carry passengers. Every occupant needs a seat belt.

Seat belts and phones

You must not put the vehicle in motion until every occupant wears a properly fastened seat belt or other restraint, unless the seat belt law exempts that person. A seat belt conviction also breaks your clean record. For phones, R.S. 32:59 applies to all drivers. It bans using a hand-held wireless device while driving unless the vehicle is lawfully stationary, and it allows hands-free calls.

When do the intermediate license limits end?

Under OMV policy 1.00, the curfew and passenger limits stop once the holder turns 17. The full Class E license is a separate step. The law allows it after 12 consecutive months on the intermediate license with no at-fault crash and no conviction for a moving violation or a seat belt, curfew, drug or alcohol offense. The change from an intermediate to a full license is its own OMV transaction, at the duplicate fee.

What happens if the clean record breaks: the 30 to 180 day extension

You are under 18, and your license is suspended or a court puts you on probation for a driving violation

OMV may extend the intermediate license by 30 to 180 days after the suspension or probation ends.

You have an at-fault crash, or a moving, seat belt, curfew, drug or alcohol conviction, in your 12 intermediate months

OMV may extend the intermediate license by 30 to 180 days from the date you could have applied for the full license.

OMV extends your intermediate license

Before the license is reinstated, take an approved driver education or pre-licensing course again. You may appeal at an administrative hearing. The teen driver penalties guide covers other consequences.

Key takeaways

From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. you may drive only with a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or sibling 18 or older.
From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. you may carry one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family, unless a parent, guardian or adult 21+ rides along.
To upgrade you need 180 days with the permit (unless you turn 17 first), 50 practice hours with 15 at night, a clean record and a road skills score of 80 or better.
The limits end at 17 under OMV policy. A full license needs 12 clean months, and a broken record can bring a 30 to 180 day extension.
Next step: check what you know about these rules on the free Louisiana Class E practice test. It is in English only.

Louisiana intermediate license: common questions

Can I drive at night with an intermediate license in Louisiana?

Yes, until 11 p.m. without a supervisor. After 6 p.m., you may carry only one non-family passenger under 21. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or sibling 18 or older must be in the car until you turn 17.

Can my 18-year-old friend supervise me after 11 p.m.?

No. For the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. hours, the law accepts only a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult 21 or older, or a licensed sibling 18 or older. A friend must be licensed and at least 21.

Can my younger brother or sister ride with me after 6 p.m.?

Yes. The limit from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. counts only passengers under 21 who are not immediate family, so your brothers and sisters do not count toward it. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., you still need a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or sibling 18 or older in the car.

How much does it cost to change my learner's permit to an intermediate license?

The OMV charges the duplicate license fee for this change when your card is not expired and not within 180 days of renewal. As of 2026, a Class E duplicate costs $13.00 to $21.00 (U.S. dollars) for a 4-year card and $17.00 to $25.00 for a 6-year card. The service fee is $0 to $8.00.

How long must I hold my learner's permit before I can upgrade?

At least 180 days, unless you turn 17 first. During that time you need a clean record: no at-fault crash and no conviction for a moving, seat belt, curfew, drug or alcohol violation. Your parent or guardian signs a statement about this record and about your 50 supervised hours.