If you are under 21 years old or have never had a driver license, New Jersey requires that you complete a period of supervised driving before getting a basic driver license.

New Jersey GDL drivers are subject to the following restrictions:

• May not operate a motor vehicle after 11:01 p.m. and before 5:00 a.m. WHY? Because 16 and 17-year old drivers are 3 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash at night than during the day.
• Seatbelts must be worn at all times
• May not use a hand-held or hands-free interactive, wireless communication device.  WHY? Studies have shown that among teen drivers, use of a device while driving, even for 1-2 seconds, causes a 3-6x increase in crash risk.
• Unless over age 21, GDL drivers may only drive with the following passengers:
  • Special Permit Holders:
    -Supervising driver who is over 21 and licensed to drive for at least three (3) years
    -Parent(s), guardian(s) or dependant(s)
    -One additional passenger unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Examination Permit Holders
    -Supervising driver who is over 21 and licensed to drive for at least three (3) years
    -Parent(s), guardian(s) or dependant(s)
    -One additional passenger unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
  • Probationary (formerly Provisional) License Holder
    -Parent(s), guardian(s) or dependant(s)
    -One additional passenger unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • WHY? Passengers significantly increase a teen driver’s crash risk – one passenger increases risk by 50%, and three passengers increase risk by 400%.
• Failure to abide by any GDL restriction during operation of a vehicle by a learner’s permit, an examination permit or probationary license holder, who is subject to the GDL requirements, is a violation subject to a $100 fine. See N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.8

The GDL is a three-stage licensing process that is designed to give new drivers increased, step-by-step

instruction and driving experience on the road to obtaining a basic driver license.