Louisiana Teen License (Intermediate License)

Louisiana's Intermediate License is the middle stage of the state's graduated driver license (GDL) program. It allows a 16-year-old to drive without a licensed adult in the car for the first time, but with strict nighttime and passenger restrictions designed to lower crash risk during the highest-risk year on the road.

Eligibility

A Louisiana teen can apply for an Intermediate License after meeting all of the following:

• At least 16 years old on the date of application.
• Has held a Louisiana Temporary Instructional Permit for at least 180 days (six months).
• Has completed a state-licensed driver education course (30 hours classroom + 8 hours behind-the-wheel) and holds the certificate of completion.
• Has logged at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours after dark, certified on a notarized parental affidavit.
• Has no convictions for moving violations, alcohol or drug-related offenses, or curfew violations during the permit period.
• Maintains satisfactory school attendance — Louisiana withholds licenses from students who have dropped out before age 18.

Documents and testing

The applicant and a parent or legal guardian must visit a Louisiana OMV field office in person. Required documents include the same identity, Social Security, and residency proofs collected for the permit, plus the driver education certificate and the notarized 50-hour affidavit. A vision screening is administered on-site, and the applicant takes the OMV road-skills test if not previously waived through a state-approved driver education behind-the-wheel program. Some private driving schools are authorized to administer the road test as part of their curriculum, in which case the OMV will accept the school's signed certificate in lieu of the road test.

Fees

The Intermediate License fee runs about $32.25, plus the standard $6 office handling fee. The license is issued for the standard four-year cycle that applies to drivers under 25 in Louisiana.

Restrictions during the intermediate stage

Louisiana law applies several restrictions to drivers under 17 who hold an Intermediate License:

• Nighttime curfew: No driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older, traveling to or from work with a written employer note, or responding to a verifiable emergency.
• Passenger limit: No more than one non-family passenger under age 21 in the vehicle between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a licensed adult 21+ is present.
• Cell phone ban: Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone or wireless device while driving — even hands-free — except to call 911.
• Seatbelt rule: Every occupant must be belted; the driver is responsible for any unbelted minor in the vehicle.
• Zero-tolerance BAC: The under-21 limit of 0.02% applies — see Louisiana DWI laws.

Penalties for restriction violations

A first violation of the GDL passenger or curfew rule is typically a moving violation that goes on the driving record. A second violation can extend the intermediate stage, delay full licensing, and trigger a court appearance. An alcohol-related violation under the zero-tolerance rule produces an automatic 180-day administrative suspension on the first offense and a one-year suspension on the second.

Graduating to an unrestricted Class E license

The Intermediate License automatically converts to a full unrestricted Class E license at age 17, provided the driver has remained conviction-free during the intermediate stage. The OMV does not require a new road test or a new written exam at conversion — the new card is issued through a license replacement transaction. If the driver picked up a moving violation or curfew violation during the intermediate stage, the OMV may extend the restricted period until they have a clean six-month window.

Insurance considerations

Insurance for newly licensed teens runs sharply higher than adult rates everywhere, but Louisiana premiums are among the highest in the country. Most families add the teen as a listed driver on a parent's policy rather than buying a separate one — see the Louisiana car insurance page for typical rate ranges and how Louisiana's UM/UIM offer-and-reject rule affects coverage decisions for households with younger drivers.