Driving Tests

Do You Need Driver's Ed in Oregon? Driver Ed vs 100 Hours

informational·how to guide·Published September 24, 2026

Does my teen need driver ed in Oregon, and what changes with 100 hours?

No, driver ed is optional in Oregon. A teen under 18 needs a permit for at least six months and 50 supervised hours plus an ODOT-approved driver ed course, or 100 supervised hours with no course. With a passed course, DMV may waive the drive test. Without it, the teen must pass one. The supervisor must be 21 or older with a license for at least three years.

Where these Oregon rules come from

The two paths come from Oregon law, ORS 807.065, with course and waiver details in ORS 336.802 and 807.072. The license steps come from the Oregon DMV Get a Driver License - Under 18 page. The waiver and scholarship details come from the ODOT Transportation Safety Office parent and teen page. Other sources: the DMV Learn to Drive, permit, Class C testing business and drive test pages, the 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, the ODOT guide How to Guide Your Teen Driver and the Practice Driving Log. Rules as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Oregon DMV (oregon.gov/odot/dmv) before you drive.

Driver ed path and 100-hour path side by side

Driver ed path and 100-hour path side by side
What you compare	Path 1: course + 50 hours	Path 2: 100 hours, no course
Supervised driving	At least 50 hours	At least 100 hours (the 50 hours plus 50 more)
Driver ed course	An ODOT-approved traffic safety education course, passed	None
Drive test	DMV may waive it if the teen passes the course before 18	Required, at a DMV field office or a Class C testing business
Permit time	At least six months	At least six months
Supervisor	21 or older, licensed for at least three years	21 or older, licensed for at least three years

What does an approved driver ed course give you?

An ODOT-approved course takes the place of the second 50 hours, so the teen needs 50 supervised hours, not 100. The teen learns safe driving skills from a trained instructor. If the teen passes before 18, DMV may also waive the drive test. ODOT data show that teens who complete a driver education course are much less likely to get a traffic citation or conviction, or to be in a fatal or serious injury collision.

How does the drive test waiver work after driver ed?

The waiver is for teens who are under 18 when they pass the course. The provider enters the completion through DMV2U, so for courses passed on or after October 14, 2024, DMV gets the record electronically. The waiver is valid for two years from the date of issue. Check with your provider that your teen qualifies. If no drive test is needed, make a DMV appointment to get the license.

Which path fits your teen?

You want a trained instructor and a possible drive test waiver

Choose Path 1. Pick an ODOT-approved course, ask the provider about the waiver, and still log 50 supervised hours.

You can supervise a lot of practice and prefer no course

Choose Path 2. Log 100 hours with a qualified supervisor and plan for a drive test.

Your teen turns 18 before passing the course

Plan for a drive test. The waiver is only for teens who are under 18 when they pass. Ask DMV about your teen's case.

What changes if you choose 100 hours?

The teen needs 50 more supervised hours, so 100 in all. That is more than 30 minutes of practice every day for six months. The supervisor must be 21 or older and sit beside the teen. The hours count only when the supervisor has held a license for at least three years. Any licensed driver who meets these rules can supervise, not only a parent. The teen must also pass a drive test. Our free Oregon practice hours question checks the 100-hour rule.

How does the drive test work for the 100-hour path?

Drive tests are by appointment only, at a DMV field office or at a Class C testing business. At DMV the fee is $45, the test takes about 20 minutes, and DMV tells you to schedule at least three to four weeks ahead. A testing business sets its own fees and days, and some require you to use a company-owned vehicle. Only the teen and the examiner may be in the vehicle. After a failed test, the teen must wait until the next business day to test again. The Oregon drive test guide gives the full test steps.

How to get a provisional driver license in Oregon

1
Get an instruction permit
Teens 15, 16 and 17 get a Provisional Instruction Permit. Hold it for at least six months before the license.
2
Choose a path and log the hours
Log 50 supervised hours with the course, or 100 hours without it, in the DMV Practice Driving Log. The qualified supervising driver question checks who counts as a supervisor.
3
Pass the course, if you take Path 1
Take an ODOT-approved course. The provider reports the completion to DMV.
4
Book the drive test, if your teen needs one
Book online with DMV or with a Class C testing business. Your teen must pass the test before DMV issues the license.
5
Apply for the license at DMV
Your teen must be 16 or 17. Bring proof of the supervised hours. The license is a provisional driver license. Read the provisional license limits before your teen drives alone.

How to get help to pay for driver ed in Oregon

Teens of families who qualify for meal assistance can get up to $75 in scholarship toward an ODOT-approved course. Any teen age 15 to 17 without a license can qualify, also a teen who does not go to a public school. The family shows the provider documents that prove it qualifies, and the provider explains how to use the scholarship. The Student Driver Training Fund also helps pay for driver training during the permit phase. It gets $6 of the fee each time an Oregonian gets or renews a driver license.

Key takeaways

Driver ed is optional in Oregon. A teen under 18 needs 50 supervised hours plus an approved course, or 100 supervised hours without it.
The supervisor must be 21 or older and licensed for at least three years, or the hours do not count.
A passed approved course may waive the drive test if the teen is under 18 when passing. Without the course, plan for a $45 DMV drive test or a test at a Class C testing business.
Families that qualify for meal assistance can get up to $75 toward an approved course.
Next step: practice the Oregon road rules on our free Oregon practice test.

Oregon driver ed and 100 hours: common questions

Does driver ed replace all the practice hours in Oregon?

No. The course replaces only the second 50 hours. A teen who passes an ODOT-approved course still needs at least 50 supervised hours with a driver who is 21 or older and has held a license for at least three years. DMV must receive proof that the teen completed the course, and the teen shows proof of the 50 hours at a DMV field office.

How do I find an approved driver ed course in Oregon?

Oregon DMV and the ODOT Transportation Safety Office list approved providers through WhyDriveWithEd. When you contact a provider, ask for its ODOT TSO-Approved Driver Ed course. Also ask whether your teen qualifies for the waiver and for the $75 scholarship.

How old does my teen have to be to get a driver license in Oregon?

A teen must be 16 or 17 to get a provisional driver license, and must have held an instruction permit for at least six months. A teen can get the permit at 15. The permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue, so plan the supervised hours and the course in that time.

Does Oregon driver ed include behind-the-wheel driving?

Yes. By Oregon law, the course has classroom instruction and on-street driving or simulated driving in a driving simulator. A student may start on-street driving instruction only after enrolling in or completing the classroom part. A trained instructor teaches the course. The teen still logs 50 supervised hours with a qualified supervisor.