Driving Tests

New Jersey Probationary License Rules: 11:01 p.m. Curfew and One Passenger

informational·how to guide·Published June 15, 2026

What are the New Jersey probationary license rules?

If you are under 21 with a New Jersey probationary license, you may not drive from 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. without a work or religious letter. You may carry your dependents plus one more passenger, unless a parent or guardian is in the car. No phone use, even hands-free. You must show two red decals on your plates. The standard period is 12 months.

Where these New Jersey rules come from

The rules come from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) young adult license page, the MVC Graduated Driver License (GDL) page and the New Jersey Driver Manual (2026). The MVC first-license page and the Share the Keys guide give some details too. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (nj.gov/mvc) before you drive.

Who can get a New Jersey probationary license?

To get the probationary license, you must be at least 17 years old, pass the road test and finish at least six months of supervised driving with no suspensions or postponements (three months at 21 or older). If you are under 21 and your permit was issued on or after February 1, 2025, your supervised driving must include at least 50 practice hours, 10 of them in darkness. A parent, guardian or supervising driver fills in form BA-CSD (Certification of Supervised Driving). Bring it to the road test appointment (2026 manual) and to the visit where you get the license (MVC pages). The guide to the 50 hours of supervised driving has the full rules.

Probationary license limits at a glance (under 21)

Probationary license limits at a glance (under 21)
Rule	What you must do
Driving hours	No driving from 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., unless you have a work or religious exemption
Passengers	Your dependents plus one more person, unless a parent or guardian is in the car
Phones	No hand-held or hands-free phone or other electronic device
Seat belts	You and all passengers must wear them
Decals	Two red reflective decals, on the upper left corner of the front and rear plates
Penalty	A $100 fine for a GDL violation

Can I drive after 11:01 p.m. for work or religion?

Yes, with proof. A probationary license holder under 21 may not drive between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The only exemptions are a need to drive in those hours for work or for religion. Carry a legible letter from your employer or religious official on official letterhead. It must have the signature of the official and his or her name, title, address and phone number. For example, if your shift ends after 11:01 p.m., you need this letter in the car to drive home. The question on the restricted driving hours lets you practice this rule.

Who can ride with a New Jersey probationary driver?

No parent or guardian is in the car

You may carry your dependents plus one more person. A dependent is your own child, not your brother or sister.

A parent or guardian is in the car

The one-passenger limit does not apply. You and all passengers must still wear seat belts.

You are 21 or older

The passenger limit does not apply to you.

Phone and decal rules for probationary drivers

You may not use a hand-held or hands-free phone, or any other interactive wireless device.
All permit or probationary drivers under 21 must show a red reflective decal on each license plate (Kyleigh's Law). Put one on the upper left corner of each plate, front and rear. Decals cost $4 per pair at local motor vehicle agencies, and anyone can buy them. Drivers of the car who are not subject to Kyleigh's Law should remove the decals first. The guide to GDL decals has more about them.
The manual says that a GDL violation can lead to a $100 fine or a suspension of your driving privilege.

How long do I hold the probationary license?

The standard probationary period is 12 months, unless the MVC extends it. For all of those 12 months, you must obey the limits above. You can get the license at 17 at the earliest, so you are at least 18 when the 12 months end. Age 18 is the minimum age for the basic license.

How to upgrade to a basic New Jersey license

1
Finish one year
Complete at least one year of unsupervised driving while you obey the probationary limits.
2
Upgrade online or at a Licensing Center
The MVC pages say to upgrade your probationary license to a basic license online. The Driver Manual says to visit an MVC Licensing Center. Check the MVC website for the option open to you.
3
Pay the fee
The manual says the upgrade fee is prorated and usually is $19.50 for a standard license or $29.00 for a REAL ID.
4
Do not wait too long
If you do not upgrade within 3.5 years, you must make an appointment at a Licensing Center to renew your probationary license.

What if I do not upgrade after 12 months?

The probationary limits stay in place until you upgrade, and police can cite you for breaking them. So a 19-year-old who did not upgrade still has the curfew, the passenger limit and the decals. The question on when you can get a basic license lets you practice the one-year rule with an example.

Do the probationary rules apply at 21 or older?

The hour, passenger and decal limits do not apply to a probationary license holder who is 21 or older. The Adult Road in the manual is for people who are at least 21. It has three months of supervised practice instead of six, then a probationary license, then at least one year of unsupervised driving before the basic license. If you got your permit under 21 and apply for your license after you turn 21, you still must submit the 50-hour certification.

Key takeaways

Under 21, you may not drive from 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. A letter from your employer or religious official gives an exemption.
You may carry your dependents plus one more passenger, unless a parent or guardian is in the car.
No hand-held or hands-free phone, seat belts for all, and red decals on both plates. A GDL violation carries a $100 fine.
Hold the license for 12 months, then upgrade to a basic license online or at a Licensing Center. The hour, passenger and decal limits do not apply at 21 or older.
Next step: practice the traffic laws and signs on the free New Jersey basic auto learner permit practice test.

New Jersey probationary license: common questions

Can I get my probationary license on the day of my road test?

Yes, if your road test location issues licenses. Otherwise, go to any MVC Licensing Center with your stamped permit and your documents. You do not need an appointment for this visit. Under 21, also bring the completed BA-CSD form for your 50 hours.

Can I drive after 11 p.m. if my parent is in the car?

No. A parent or guardian in the car lifts the passenger limit, not the driving hours. The only exemptions to the 11:01 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. rule are for work and religion, and you must carry a signed letter on official letterhead. At 21 or older, the hours rule does not apply.

Can my brother or sister ride with me on a probationary license?

Yes, but a brother or sister counts as your one additional passenger, because only your own child is a dependent. With no parent or guardian in the car, you cannot carry a brother and a friend, or two brothers or sisters, at the same time.

Is the 12-month license period the same as the two-year probationary period?

No. The 12 months is how long you hold the probationary license before you upgrade. The two-year probationary driver period starts when you get your first permit. In that period, two or more moving violations that total four or more points mean that you must enroll in the Probationary Driver Program.

Can I plea bargain a ticket on a probationary license?

Not to an offense with no points. The Share the Keys guide for teen drivers says a probationary driver may not plea bargain any point-carrying offense to a non-point-carrying offense.