Last Updated on May 11, 2022 by Fair Punishment Team

Currently, taking driving lessons? If you’re a learner driver that simply can’t wait to get out on the road, then you might currently be wondering whether or not you’ll be allowed to drive alone with a permit – especially if you’re keen to get some solo experience under your belt!

As we’re sure you’re already more than likely familiar with, whether or not you’ll be able to drive alone with a learner’s permit will greatly depend on what the rules are in your state. For the most part, if you’re the owner of a learner’s permit, you’re only going to be able to drive solo if you have a licensed driver in the car at the same time as you, although this isn’t always the case.

Whether your state allows solo driving or not, Gaining a learner’s permit and getting out on the road is the first step to taking on the road as a licensed driver – which is why it’s important to make sure that you’re aware of the important rules and regulations prior to firing up the engine. Read on for everything you need to know.

What Is A Learner’s Permit?

Before we jump any further into this article, we first think that it would be helpful to talk you through what a learner’s permit actually is, as this will help to give you a greater understanding of why it comes with set rules that you will need to follow. In a nutshell, a learner’s permit, which is also sometimes referred to as an instructional permit, is an approved U.S. document that grants individuals the ability to legally drive a car without having a driver’s license yet.

So, with that being said, even though a learners’ permit comes with the benefit of allowing the learner to drive a car without breaking the law so that they can take lessons and become proficient, but also provides learners with the ability to enjoy a range of privileges that those without a permit could not be able to utilize – including being able to drive a car alone! Although, do keep in mind that driving solo while with a learner’s driver, while not uncommon, is not permitted across every state in the US, which is why you are going to need to check prior to buckling up and setting off on a solo driving journey.

Wondering why this is? Well, given the fact that all states across the country allow individuals to obtain learner’s permits at different ages (with the most common being 14 and 16) it means that there are some states that are a little more strict than others. For the most part, after you have applied for a learner’s permit and you have been granted one successfully from your state, you will then need to hold your permit for a certain amount of time before being able to apply for a full driver’s license/full driving permit. During this timeframe, you will be expected to engage in driving lessons so that you can become a proficient driver, and these lessons will often be a mix of both professional and personal training.

Can I Drive By Myself With A Permit?

The truth is, when it comes to whether or not you can drive a car by yourself with a permit, the specific rules and regulations regarding this will be specific to the state that you are currently living in – as permit laws change from state to state. This means that in order to determine whether or not you’ll be able to drive your car by yourself, you’ll need to check in with your state’s laws first.

For example, while the state of Colorado allows learner drivers to drive solo after a certain period of time, California will only allow for learner drivers to drive with a permit while they are with an adult that is aged 25 years old or older. But they will allow exceptions during medical emergencies. Due to these differences from state to state, in order to determine whether or not you’re going to be able to drive freely with a learner permit, you’re first going to need to make sure that you have checked what the rules are in your particular state.

To follow, it’s very important that you make sure to double-check whether or not your state allows you to drive by yourself with a permit or whether you will need to have a licensed driver in the car to assist you. If you don’t check and accidentally find yourself breaking the law, then you could find yourself in some pretty hot water and get fined – which brings us to our next point!

How To Check Whether Your State Will Allow You To Drive Alone?

If you’re currently unsure about whether or not you will be allowed to drive alone if you’re going to need to have a fully licensed driver in the car with you to assist – the great news is that discovering your state’s laws regarding this will be as easy as can be. As soon as you apply for your learner’s permit, you will be provided with all of the important information needed to understand what it is that you will and won’t be able to do with your permit – including whether you will be allowed to drive alone or if you will need someone seated in the passenger seat.

Not only that, but if you’ve accidentally misplaced the information that will have been provided to you upon applying for the permit, all you will need to do is reach out to the DMV and they will be more than happy to assist you and clarify any confusion that you might have surrounding solo driving as a learner driver.