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

For a teenager in Mississippi, 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, Mississippi has a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program for all drivers under the age of 17.

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 Learner's Permit Phase (Age 15)

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

Mandatory One-Year Holding Period: A teen must hold their learner's permit for a minimum of one full year, conviction-free, before they are eligible to take their road test.
Supervision Rule: During the entire permit phase, the teen must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and is seated in the front passenger seat.
School Attendance: To get and keep a permit, a teen must be enrolled in school.

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 a critical restriction.

Nighttime Driving Curfew

A teen with an intermediate license CANNOT drive unsupervised between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
The curfew is extended to 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Exception: This curfew is waived if the teen is driving to or from work.

What about passenger restrictions? Unlike many other states, Mississippi's GDL law does not have specific passenger restrictions for intermediate license holders. However, this makes the parent's role even more important. It is highly recommended that parents set their own "house rules" limiting the number of teen passengers, as statistics show that the risk of a fatal crash increases dramatically with each additional teen in the car.

The Full Unrestricted License (Age 16 ½)

At age 16 and six months, if a teen has held their intermediate license for at least six months, the GDL curfew is lifted, and they can obtain a full, unrestricted license.

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 so you can enforce it 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, especially regarding passengers.

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