Driving Tests

NJ 50 Hours of Supervised Driving: Who Needs It and the BA-CSD Form

informational·how to guide·Published June 19, 2026

Who must do 50 hours of supervised driving in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, a permit holder under 21 whose special learner permit or examination permit was issued on or after Feb. 1, 2025 must complete at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving, 10 of them in darkness. A parent, guardian or supervising driver signs form BA-CSD. Bring the signed form to your road test appointment and when you get your license.

Where the New Jersey 50-hour rules come from

The rules come from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) news release of Jan. 31, 2025, the Certification of Supervised Driving (form BA-CSD) and the MVC first driver license page. The New Jersey Driver Manual (2026) and the Share the Keys guide add detail on supervising drivers and logs. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (nj.gov/mvc) before you drive.

Do you need the 50 hours?

You got a special learner permit or an examination permit before you turned 21, on or after Feb. 1, 2025

Yes. You need at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving, with 10 of them in darkness, and a signed form BA-CSD.

Your permit was issued before Feb. 1, 2025

No. The 50-hour rule does not apply to a permit issued before that date.

You were 21 or older when the permit was issued

No. The 50-hour rule does not apply to an applicant who was 21 or older when the permit was issued.

You got the permit under 21 and now apply for the license at 21 or older

Yes. You must still hand in the certification of 50 supervised hours.

Who gets which permit, and how many hours are at night?

Under 21, both permit routes need the same 50 hours, with 10 in darkness. At 16, you can get a special learner permit if you are enrolled in a behind-the-wheel course at a high school or a licensed driving school. The MVC validates it for practice only after 6 hours of lessons with a licensed instructor in a dual-controlled car. At 17 or older, you can get an examination permit at an MVC Licensing Center, with no school or instructor. A 16-year-old cannot get the license until age 17. This free question on how many hours a 17-year-old permit holder needs tests the minimum.

Who can supervise your practice hours?

Your supervising driver sits in the front seat and must be at least 21, hold a valid New Jersey driver license and have at least three years of driving experience. If you are under 21, the practice car must also display the red GDL decals on its license plates. The New Jersey learner's permit guide covers the other permit limits. This free question on who may sit next to a 16-year-old permit holder tests the supervising driver rule.

How to use form BA-CSD, step by step

1
Track your hours as you drive
Use the driving log in the Share the Keys Teen Driver Guide, as the MVC recommends. Mark which drives are at night.
2
Reach 50 hours, with 10 in darkness
The total must be at least 50 hours. The night hours are part of the 50, not extra.
3
Download form BA-CSD
Get the Certification of Supervised Driving from the MVC website. Print it.
4
Ask the signer to sign by hand
A parent, guardian or supervising driver signs it. The form says to print and sign by hand before you visit an Agency.
5
Bring the form to the road test and the license visit
Keep it with your other documents. Take it to your road test appointment, and show it when you get your probationary license.

Who signs form BA-CSD, and what do they promise?

The signer certifies that they are the parent or guardian of the applicant, or that they are at least 21 and hold a valid New Jersey driver license, and that they supervised the practice hours. They also certify that every supervised hour was with a person at least 21 who holds a valid New Jersey license for the type of vehicle used. A false certification has a cost: the applicant's driving privileges are suspended for six months. Sign only for hours that really happened.

When do you hand in the form?

MVC pages say you present the form at the time of licensure, with your other required documents. The New Jersey Driver Manual (2026) also says a completed BA-CSD form is required at the time of a road test appointment. So bring it to both. Practice for at least six months before the road test (three months if you are 21 or older), and check the start date of that period with the MVC. The New Jersey road test guide covers the test itself.

New Jersey 50-hour rule at a glance

New Jersey 50-hour rule at a glance
Item	What New Jersey requires
Practice hours	At least 50 hours of supervised driving
Night hours	10 of the 50, in darkness
Who it covers	Permit holders under 21 with a permit issued on or after Feb. 1, 2025
Proof	Signed form BA-CSD, printed and signed by hand
Supervising driver	At least 21, valid New Jersey license, three years of driving experience
Who signs	Parent, guardian or supervising driver
When to bring it	To the road test appointment and at licensure

Is a driving log accepted instead of the form?

No. Only the signed form BA-CSD meets the supervised practice requirement. The Share the Keys guide has its own Driving Hours Certification Form, but the MVC does not accept it for this purpose. Use the log only to track your hours. When it shows at least 50 hours, with 10 in darkness, ask your signer to complete form BA-CSD.

Key takeaways

Permit holders under 21 with a permit issued on or after Feb. 1, 2025 must drive at least 50 hours with supervision, 10 of them in darkness.
A parent, guardian or supervising driver signs form BA-CSD by hand. A false form means a six-month suspension of the applicant's driving privileges.
Bring the signed form to the road test appointment and to licensure. A driving log or the Share the Keys form does not replace it.
Next step: practice the rules on the free New Jersey basic auto learner permit practice test.

New Jersey supervised driving: common questions

Do I need all 50 hours before my road test?

Yes. The New Jersey Driver Manual (2026) says permit holders under 21 need at least six months of supervised practice, with at least 50 hours and 10 in darkness, before a road test appointment. It also says a completed form BA-CSD is required at the road test appointment, so finish the hours and get the form signed first.

When can I drive my 10 night hours on a permit?

Plan them for the evening, after dark and before 11:01 p.m. A permit holder under 21 may not drive between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Your supervising driver must sit in the front seat for night drives too, and must be at least 21 with a valid New Jersey license.

Can I fill in form BA-CSD on my computer?

Print the form first. The form says to print it and sign it by hand before you visit an Agency. Your parent, guardian or supervising driver then writes their name, signs and dates the paper copy. Bring that signed copy with you to the MVC.

Can my older brother or sister supervise my practice driving?

Yes, if they are at least 21, hold a valid New Jersey driver license and have at least three years of driving experience. The same person can sign the form if they supervised the hours.

How long do I have to finish the 50 hours?

Your permit gives you 2 years to finish all the steps and get your probationary license. If you do not finish in time, you must get a new permit. Under 21, you also need at least six months of supervised driving before the road test, so start the 50 hours early.