Iowa's Teen Driving Laws: A Parent's Guide to the GDL Program

For a teenager in Iowa, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage. For parents, it marks the beginning of a new chapter of responsibility and concern. To address this, Iowa has a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program for all drivers under the age of 18.

These laws are not designed to be inconvenient; they are a data-driven safety system created to protect new, inexperienced drivers by limiting their exposure to the highest-risk driving scenarios. For these laws to be effective, both teens and parents must understand and enforce them as a team.

The Foundation: The Instruction Permit Phase (Age 14)

The journey begins with a learner's permit, which is all about supervised practice.

Driver's Education: To get a permit at age 14, a teen must be enrolled in or have completed a state-approved driver education course.
Mandatory 12-Month Holding Period: A teen must hold their instruction permit for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, conviction-free, before they are eligible to take their road test.
The 20-Hour Driving Log: During this 12-month period, a parent or legal guardian must supervise and certify that the teen has completed at least 20 hours of behind-the-wheel practice.
- Of these 20 hours, at least 2 hours must take place at night.
Supervision Rule: During the entire permit phase, the teen must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, immediate family member 21+, or a driver's ed instructor. This supervisor must always be in the front passenger seat.

The Intermediate License (Age 16)

After successfully completing the permit phase, a teen can take the road test to earn their intermediate license. This license comes with critical restrictions.

1. Nighttime Driving Curfew

A teen with an intermediate license CANNOT drive without supervision between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Exceptions: This curfew is waived if the teen is driving with a parent/guardian, an immediate family member 21+, or a designated adult 25+. It is also waived for travel to and from work or school-related extra-curricular activities.

2. Passenger Restrictions

This is one of the most important GDL rules.

For the first six months of holding an intermediate license, a teen driver CANNOT transport more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not a relative. "Relative" includes siblings and step-siblings.

3. The Mobile Device Ban

This rule is simple and strict. Drivers under the age of 18 are PROHIBITED from using any cell phone or other electronic communication or entertainment device while driving. The only exception is for reporting an emergency.

The Full License (Age 17)

At age 17, a teen can upgrade to a full, unrestricted license, provided they have held their intermediate license for at least 12 months, conviction-free.

The Parent's Crucial Role

The GDL laws provide the legal framework, but a parent's reinforcement is what truly creates a safe driver.

Know the Rules: Be an expert on the curfew and passenger restrictions so you can enforce them correctly.
Lead by Example: Your teen learned their driving habits from watching you. Put your phone away, obey the speed limit, and always wear your seat belt.
Create a Driving Contract: A written parent-teen agreement that outlines the rules and consequences can be a powerful tool for setting expectations beyond what the law requires.

By working together, parents and teens can navigate Iowa's GDL program, ensuring the path to driving freedom is a safe one that builds a lifetime of responsible habits.