How many practice hours do you need in Indiana?
In Indiana, a learner driver must log 50 hours of supervised driving practice—including 10 at night—before applying for a license.
Indiana learner permit requirements
- Minimum permit age: 15 (with driver ed)
- Supervised practice required: 50 hours total, 10 at night (what counts as night driving)
- Permit hold period: 180 days
- License eligibility age: 16 (with driver ed)
- How hours are certified: 50-hour log certified by a parent, guardian, or licensed adult 25+. DriveMint fills in the State Form 54706 Log of Supervised Driving Practice from your logged drives (see every state form).
Indiana requires 50 hours of supervised driving with at least 10 at night. Teens enrolled in driver education can get a permit at 15 and a probationary license at 16; without driver ed the permit minimum is 16 and the license minimum is 16 years 270 days.
When can you drive with a permit in Indiana?
Indiana sets no hours for the learner's permit itself. Its under-18 curfew (11 p.m. on school nights, 1 a.m. on weekends) covers permit holders too, but it doesn't apply while a licensed driver 25 or older sits in the front seat, and that's who most permit practice is with.
With a licensed relative 25+, a spouse 21+, or a driving instructor in the front seat.
Allowed with a licensed relative 25+ or spouse 21+ beside you; the curfew doesn't apply with them.
Alone. No passengers except close family unless a licensed driver 25+ is in the front seat.
Only for work, a school-sanctioned activity, or a religious event, or with a licensed driver 25+ in the front seat.
Alone.
Alone until 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday or 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Later only with the same exceptions.
- The 10 p.m. limit in the first 180 days applies to every new driver under 21, not just teens.
- If your permit has a daylight-only restriction, you still need the 50 hours but not the 10 night hours.
- Drivers under 21 can't use a phone while driving except to call 911.
In December, sunset in Indianapolis comes around 5:20 p.m., so the 10 night hours fit into early-evening drives.
Checked against Indiana Code 9-24-7-4, 9-24-11-3.5 and 9-24-11-3.6 in October 2026. Limits after the road test are under restrictions for new drivers.
Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the Indiana BMV before applying.
Indiana's graduated licensing stages
Drive with a licensed relative 25+, a spouse 21+, or a driving instructor; log 50 hours (10 at night) over 180 days.
Night and passenger limits apply for the first 180 days.
Probationary restrictions are removed.
Driving restrictions for new Indiana drivers
For the first 180 days, probationary drivers under 21 can't drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Every driver under 18, permit holders included, can't drive after 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday or between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Both limits allow driving for work, a school-sanctioned activity, or a religious event, or with a licensed driver 25+ (or a spouse 21+) in the front seat.
For the first 180 days with a probationary license, you may not carry passengers other than your children, siblings, spouse, parents or guardian, or grandparents unless a licensed driver 25+ (or a spouse 21+) is in the front seat.
Drivers under 21 may not use a communications device while driving except to call 911.
Log every Indiana practice hour automatically
DriveMint tracks each supervised drive, separates day and night hours, and generates a PDF you can print or show at the DMV. Prove all 50 hours without a paper logbook falling apart in the glove box.
New to DriveMint? Watch the one-minute video guides, from setup to a signed log.
Indiana driving practice FAQs
How many driving hours do you need in Indiana?+
Indiana requires 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours at night, before a teen can apply for a license.
What time can you drive with a permit in Indiana?+
Indiana's learner's permit has no time limit of its own. The state's curfew for all drivers under 18 (no driving after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday) doesn't apply when a licensed driver 25 or older, or a spouse 21 or older, is in the front seat. Since permit holders under 18 usually practice with a licensed relative 25 or older, they can drive at any hour. After the road test, the first 180 days of the probationary license bar driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.; after that, the under-18 curfew applies. Both limits allow driving for work, a school-sanctioned activity, or a religious event, or with a licensed driver 25 or older in the front seat.
How many hours of driving does Indiana require?+
50 hours of supervised practice with at least 10 at night, logged during the learner's permit period.
Can you get an Indiana permit at 15?+
Yes, but only if you're enrolled in an approved driver-education course. Without driver ed, the minimum permit age is 16.
Requirements in other states
Compare practice hours in all 50 states side by side, or read what actually counts as a night driving hour.