Oregon Provisional License (Teen Driver)

Oregon's provisional driver's license is the second stage of the state's graduated licensing system. It's issued to drivers 16 and 17 years old who have completed the instruction-permit period, finished the supervised-hour requirement, and passed a behind-the-wheel drive test. The provisional license carries unique passenger and curfew restrictions for at least the first year, all designed to keep new drivers out of the highest-risk situations while they build experience.

Who qualifies

To apply for an Oregon provisional license, a teen must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have held an Oregon instruction permit for at least 6 months with no traffic-violation convictions in the past 6 months.
• Have completed an ODOT-approved driver education course plus 50 supervised hours, OR completed 100 supervised hours without a course.
• Have at least 10 hours of the supervised driving in nighttime conditions.
• Pass the behind-the-wheel drive test.
• Have a parent or guardian sign the application.

Drive test

Oregon's drive test for provisional applicants is the same exam adults take for a regular license. The route runs about 20 minutes and is graded on a 100-point scale; the examiner can deduct up to 20 points before failing the applicant. Common point deductions: rolling stops at stop signs, missed head checks during lane changes, hesitation at four-way stops, and failure to turn into the nearest open lane.

Many Oregon DMV offices use approved third-party testing companies, especially in rural counties. The certificate from a third-party tester is accepted at any Oregon DMV office.

Provisional restrictions in the first year

For the first 6 months a teen holds the provisional license:

• No passengers under age 20 other than immediate family members.
• No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. except for documented work, school, or supervised reasons.

For months 7-12:

• No more than three passengers under 20 (other than family).
• The midnight-to-5-a.m. curfew remains in effect.

The curfew lifts only when the teen turns 18 or has held the provisional license for at least one year without a serious violation.

Cell-phone ban

Oregon prohibits all use of mobile electronic devices by drivers under 18 — including hands-free systems. There is no exception for navigation or music apps; the only allowed use is to make a 911 call. A first violation is a Class C traffic violation; a second within 12 months elevates to Class B with a higher fine. The ban is enforced regardless of whether the teen is alone or with a supervising adult.

Seat-belt and impairment rules

Every occupant in a vehicle driven by a provisional licensee must be belted. Oregon also enforces a strict zero-tolerance impairment rule for drivers under 21: any measurable BAC results in immediate license suspension under Oregon DUII law. A first underage offense brings a 90-day suspension; a second brings a 1-year suspension running until the driver turns 21, whichever is longer.

Provisional violations

Conviction of a moving violation during the provisional period extends the 6-month holding requirement at each stage. Two convictions during the provisional period trigger a mandatory 30-day suspension; a third triggers a 6-month suspension and a meeting with an ODOT review officer. Provisional drivers who accumulate enough violations to be classified as "problem drivers" can have their license suspended even after turning 18.

Graduating to a full license

Oregon does not require a separate test to lift the provisional restrictions. The restrictions automatically expire when the driver turns 18, or 12 months after issuance if the driver is already 17 at issuance and stays violation-free. A new card is mailed reflecting the change, and the driver continues on the standard 8-year renewal cycle going forward.

Parents shopping for Oregon teen car insurance should expect rates to remain elevated through age 25, and should ask carriers about good-student and driver-education discounts.