Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 17:00     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.


Only after they've had their license for one year.

For the first year, it's max one passenger under the age of 21, period.

After one year, but under age 18, you can carry up to 3 under-21 passengers to/from a school event.

I actually think that is a bit excessive - I think a 17.5 year old should be able to carry a couple of friends even if it's not to a school event - but we follow them anyway. I don't want to teach my kids to pick and choose which laws to follow based on what is convenient for them.


I did not realize this! So a 17.5 year old is not allowed to drive two friends to a social event???


Kids can get their driver's license at 16 and 3 months so if they got the license on time, it would be 17 years and 3 months.

Yes, according to the law not more than 1 unrelated person until you've had the license a year.


And even after one year, you can only carry more than one unrelated person to/from a school event.

To drive two friends to/from a social (non-school-related) event, you have to 18, regardless of how long you've had your license.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 16:56     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.


Only after they've had their license for one year.

For the first year, it's max one passenger under the age of 21, period.

After one year, but under age 18, you can carry up to 3 under-21 passengers to/from a school event.

I actually think that is a bit excessive - I think a 17.5 year old should be able to carry a couple of friends even if it's not to a school event - but we follow them anyway. I don't want to teach my kids to pick and choose which laws to follow based on what is convenient for them.


I did not realize this! So a 17.5 year old is not allowed to drive two friends to a social event???


Correct.
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/licenses-ids/learners/restrictions

Restrictions on the Number of Passengers
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:

Travel to and from a school-sponsored activity;
A licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat; or
In case of an emergency.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 15:52     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.


Only after they've had their license for one year.

For the first year, it's max one passenger under the age of 21, period.

After one year, but under age 18, you can carry up to 3 under-21 passengers to/from a school event.

I actually think that is a bit excessive - I think a 17.5 year old should be able to carry a couple of friends even if it's not to a school event - but we follow them anyway. I don't want to teach my kids to pick and choose which laws to follow based on what is convenient for them.


I did not realize this! So a 17.5 year old is not allowed to drive two friends to a social event???


Kids can get their driver's license at 16 and 3 months so if they got the license on time, it would be 17 years and 3 months.

Yes, according to the law not more than 1 unrelated person until you've had the license a year.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 15:24     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.


Only after they've had their license for one year.

For the first year, it's max one passenger under the age of 21, period.

After one year, but under age 18, you can carry up to 3 under-21 passengers to/from a school event.

I actually think that is a bit excessive - I think a 17.5 year old should be able to carry a couple of friends even if it's not to a school event - but we follow them anyway. I don't want to teach my kids to pick and choose which laws to follow based on what is convenient for them.


I did not realize this! So a 17.5 year old is not allowed to drive two friends to a social event???
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 15:16     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.


Only after they've had their license for one year.

For the first year, it's max one passenger under the age of 21, period.

After one year, but under age 18, you can carry up to 3 under-21 passengers to/from a school event.

I actually think that is a bit excessive - I think a 17.5 year old should be able to carry a couple of friends even if it's not to a school event - but we follow them anyway. I don't want to teach my kids to pick and choose which laws to follow based on what is convenient for them.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 18:14     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Also, FWIW, VA allows more non-related kids in the car if they are going to/from school or school-related events.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 18:07     Subject: New driver restrictions
Maryland and yes we made her wait. A lot of her friends did not. A couple of times she got a ride with a friend who did not have their license long and we were not happy.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 17:25     Subject: New driver restrictions
My child is at boarding school. Will get permit at 16 to start driving with parents. Will get license at 18, summer before senior year. Not in a hurry. Can ride a bike to summer job on safe roads.

Not a fan of how young licenses are given in the US. Happy to let that brain keep maturing.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 17:19     Subject: New driver restrictions
We enforce it. I've seen with my own young driver that she is more distracted with just one friend in the car (even with me in the passenger seat). She seems fine driving around younger sibling--who would love to tell us if there was any distractedness or sloppy driving, lol!
There are a few exceptions to the rule but we find just one friend max or preferably, just the one sibling is plenty. Helps them adhere to other restrictions such as curfew, night driving, etc. which may vary family to family.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 15:53     Subject: New driver restrictions
Most aren't following the rule and police aren't enforcing it as it's a secondary offense
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 15:46     Subject: New driver restrictions
We’re in a different jurisdiction with slightly different rules but we are following them without exception. Actually we’re extending the rules.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 14:10     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:My experience with a teen driver is many people do not follow this rule, which sucks. We enforce it with our teen.


Agree. We enforced it, but I will say I think a year is excessive in Virginia. You're over 17 years old before it's lifted. Six months would be more reasonable. There were a few times DC asked for an exemption and once I gave it to them, but was clear that they had to be okay with the risk of losing their license if caught. They decided not to do it.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 13:59     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My experience with a teen driver is many people do not follow this rule, which sucks. We enforce it with our teen.


Yeah. And many, many teens are driving around without a permit, license, and insurance.


THIS!!! I have a kid who turned 16 in December and has to wait until April for his license. I'm blown away by the idiot parents that let their teens drive anyway! My neighbor got hit by a teen driving alone on only a permit!!
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 16:48     Subject: Re:New driver restrictions
Anonymous wrote:We’re in MD and the restrictions are different but yes we made our kids follow them without exception. As I told them, the restrictions are their safety and every rule was made thoughtfully by people who know more about transportation safety than I do. So I am not going to second guess their wisdom.


Also MD and we followed the restrictions.