Driving Tests

North Dakota Restricted License at 15: Curfew, Phone and Vehicle Rules

informational·how to guide·Published June 6, 2026

Can a 15-year-old drive alone in North Dakota?

Yes, with a restricted Class D license. A North Dakota resident who is at least 15 can get one after holding an instruction permit for 12 months, finishing driver education, logging 50 hours of supervised driving and passing a road test. The license covers only cars of a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle. No driving from the later of sunset or 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Where the North Dakota restricted license facts come from

The age, vehicle, curfew, phone, passenger and penalty rules come from the North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 39-06 (sections 39-06-17, 39-06-04 and 39-06-01.1). The road test fee and the age 14 and 15 rules come from the NDDOT learner's permit page. The NDDOT driver license, driver record and traffic safety laws pages give the age 15 rule, the appointment rule, the six-point cancellation and the phone penalty. The 50-hour log, driver education certificate and road test steps come from the North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual (2025-2027). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (dot.nd.gov) before you drive.

North Dakota restricted Class D license: the rules at a glance

North Dakota restricted Class D license: the rules at a glance
Rule	What North Dakota requires
Minimum age	15, with a written recommendation from a parent or guardian
Vehicles	A car of your parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle
Curfew	No driving from the later of sunset or 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Phone	No talking, composing, reading or sending while the vehicle moves
Passengers	No more than the vehicle maker's suggested passenger capacity
License in hand	Carry the license each time you drive
Ends	At 16 the license becomes unrestricted

How to get a restricted license at 15 in North Dakota

1
Hold an instruction permit
Get a Class D instruction permit first (NDDOT calls it a learner's permit). Under 16, you must hold the permit for at least 12 months before you can get a Class D license.
2
Finish driver education
Get the driver education Certificate of Training. You need 30 hours of classroom and six hours of behind-the-wheel training through the Department of Public Instruction, or six hours of behind-the-wheel training at a commercial driver training school that NDDOT approves.
3
Log 50 hours of supervised driving
The 50 hours are on top of driver education. The log must include night driving, gravel, dirt or aggregate roads, rural and urban driving, and winter driving.
4
Book a road test
Driver license testing needs an appointment at a North Dakota driver license site. The road test fee is $5. Bring current registration and proof of insurance for the test vehicle. For the road test only, you may use a vehicle that is not your parent's or guardian's. The road test may be waived with an approved driving school Certificate of Course Completion. Ask NDDOT how the waiver works at 15, because a parent must sign at the road test.
5
Go with a parent or guardian
A parent or guardian must come to the road test, sign that the 50 hours are done, and sign an authorization that the child needs to drive without an adult. The parent or guardian must also recommend the license in writing.

Which vehicles can you drive on a restricted license?

The license covers only the automobile of your parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle. The car of a neighbor or a friend is not on that list, so you may not drive it on this license. See the free question about driving a neighbor's car on a restricted license.
The parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle is responsible at all times for all damages from your negligent driving.

What is the curfew for a 15-year-old in North Dakota?

You may not drive between the later of sunset or 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Check the sunset time for that day. If the sun sets at 9:40 p.m., the curfew starts at 9:40 p.m. If the sun sets at 5 p.m., the curfew starts at 9 p.m. Try the free question on a 15-year-old who wants to drive at 10:30 p.m..

When can you drive after curfew?

A parent, legal guardian or someone 18 or older sits in the front seat

You may drive during curfew hours.

A 17-year-old friend sits in the front seat

The friend does not count. The front-seat person must be a parent, a legal guardian or 18 or older.

You drive directly to or from work

You may drive during curfew hours.

You drive directly to or from an official school activity or a religious activity

You may drive during curfew hours.

You drive alone to a friend's house or a store

You may not drive. The curfew applies.

Phone and passenger rules on a restricted license

You may not use an electronic communication device to talk, compose, read or send a message while the vehicle is in motion. The exceptions are to get emergency help, to stop a crime about to happen, or when you reasonably believe a life or safety is in danger. NDDOT says the phone law carries a $20 fine and 4 points for 14- and 15-year-olds.
You may not carry more passengers than the vehicle maker's suggested passenger capacity. Carry your license each time you drive.

What happens if you break the restricted license rules

The NDDOT director may suspend or revoke the license, and you have the right to a hearing.
A driver under 18 who collects six or more points has the permit or license canceled.
After a cancellation, you start over as if you never had a permit or license.
For more on points for young drivers, see our guide to North Dakota teen driver points.

When does the restriction end?

At 16, the restricted Class D license becomes an unrestricted license. The phone ban still applies to all licensed drivers under 18. If you are still at the permit stage, read how the North Dakota instruction permit rules work first.

Key takeaways

A North Dakota resident who is at least 15 can get a restricted Class D license with a parent's or guardian's written recommendation.
You need an instruction permit for 12 months, driver education, 50 supervised hours and a road test with a parent or guardian.
Drive only a car of a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle.
No driving from the later of sunset or 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., except with a parent, legal guardian or someone 18 or older in front, or directly to or from work, an official school activity or a religious activity.
Next step: practice on the free North Dakota Class D practice test.

North Dakota restricted license at 15: common questions

Can a 15-year-old drive with friends in the car?

Yes, within limits. The number of passengers may not be more than the vehicle maker's suggested passenger capacity, and the car must belong to a family member on the list. During curfew hours, a parent, a legal guardian or someone 18 or older must sit in the front seat, unless the trip goes directly to or from work, an official school activity or a religious activity.

Can a 15-year-old drive to school alone?

Yes, if the car belongs to a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle. You must carry your license and keep the phone down while the car moves. A trip directly to or from an official school activity is also allowed during curfew hours.

Who pays if a 15-year-old with a restricted license causes a crash?

North Dakota law makes the parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle responsible at all times for all damages from the minor's negligent driving. Ask your insurance company how your policy covers a 15-year-old driver before the teen drives alone.

Can a 15-year-old drive a farm truck in North Dakota?

Only in one case. The restricted license does not cover a commercial truck, a bus or a taxi. It does let the holder drive a farm motor vehicle with a gross weight of 50,000 pounds to carry farm products, farm machinery or farm supplies to or from a farm, within 150 miles of the driver's farm.