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Nebraska Teen Driving Laws

Teen Driving, Licensing & Insurance Requirements

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The State of Nebraska Graduated Licensing System

Nebraska 's graduated licensing system gives teen drivers the opportunity to gradually progress through the licensing phases while minimizing high risk situations and increasing adult supervision. Progression through the graduated system is based on age, training, education and performance.

The Nebraska School Learner's Permit – LPE

To qualify for Nebraska 's School Learner Permit you must be a minimum of 14 years of age, and less than 16 years of age. The School Learner Permit is designed to allow teen drivers to practice driving so they can qualify for a Nebraska School Permit. Prior to receiving a School Learner Permit, the teen driver must pass a vision screening and written tests. The School Learner's Permit is valid for a period of 3 months and can be renewed. Teen drivers that hold a School Learner's Permit may only drive while accompanied by a licensed driver that is a minimum of 21 years of age.

The Nebraska School Permit - SCP

To qualify for a Nebraska School Permit you must be between of 14 years and 2 months of age and less than 16 years and 3 months of age. In addition, you must have held a School Learner Permit or LPD for a minimum of 2 months to qualify.

Prior to applying for a School Permit the following must be completed:

Complete a State of Nebraska Approved Driver Safety Course

Pass a Written Exam given by the Driver Safety Course Instructor

Pass a Driving Test given by the Driver Safety Course Instructor

Provide a 50 Hour Certification Form Signed by Parent or Legal Guardian

Both the driver test and the written exam may be waived if a Written and Drive Test Waiver is presented to the Driver License Examiner. The waiver form is supplied by the driving instructor after the teen driver has completed their State of Nebraska approved safety course.

A School Permit can be issued if the teen driver lives 1 ½ miles or more from the school they attend and either resides outside a city of 5,000 or more or attends a school outside a city of 5,000 or more. A teen driver holding a school permit may operate a motor vehicle unsupervised to and from where they attend school and between schools of enrollment over the most direct and accessible route by the nearest highway from their place of residence to transport such person or any family member who resides with such person to attend duly scheduled courses of instructions and extracurricular or school sanctioned activities at the school they attend or any time when accompanied by a licensed driver who is a minimum of 21 years of age.

The Nebraska Learner Permit - LPD

You must be a minimum of 15 years of age to receive a Nebraska Learner Permit; however you may take the exam no sooner than 60 days before your 15 th birthday. Learner permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is a minimum of 21 years of age. Applicants for the learner permit must pass a vision screening and written exams. The written exams may be waived if the applicant has been issued a School Learner Permit, a School Permit or a previous Nebraska Learner Permit if it has not been expired for more than 1 year. The Learner Permit is valid for 1 year and may be renewed.

The Nebraska Provisional Operator Permit – POP

You must be a minimum of 16 years of age to receive the Provisional Operator's Permit; however you may take the exam no sooner than 60 days before your 16 th birthday. The applicant must have held a LPE, LPD or SCP for a minimum of 6 months and not accumulated 3 or more points on their driving record within the most recent 6 months prior to application for the Provisional Operator Permit. The Provisional Operator Permit expires on the holders 18 th birthday.

Prior to applying for the Provisional Operator Permit the following must be completed:

Complete a State of Nebraska Approved Driver Safety Course

Pass a Written Exam given by the Driver Safety Course Instructor

Pass a Driving Test given by the Driver Safety Course Instructor

Provide a 50 Hour Certification Form Signed by Parent or Legal Guardian

10 out of the 50 Hours must have been Nighttime Driving

The Provisional Operator Permit holder may drive unsupervised from 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM. The holder of the Provisional Operator Permit may drive from 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM if they are driving from home to employment or a school sanctioned activity. The POP holder may drive at any time if they are accompanied by a licensed driver who is a minimum of 21 years of age.

For the first 6 months that a teen driver holds the POP, they may not drive with more than 1 passenger that is under the age of 19 who is not an immediate family member.

Teen drivers under the age of 18 that have held a Provisional Operator Permit for a minimum of 12 months and have not received 3 or more points on their driving record over the previous year are eligible for a State of Nebraska Operator License . The written exam and driving test may be waived.

All Passengers in a vehicle being operated by the holder of a POP or SCP must wear safety belts or be restrained in a car seat.

Teen drivers that hold a School Learner's Permit, School Permit, Learner's Permit or a Provisional Operator's Permit may not use any type of cell-phone or wireless communication device while driving. This includes text messaging, personal digital assistants, laptop computers or audio / video devices that sends or receives messages.

State of Nebraska Insurance Requirements

The State of Nebraska has a financial responsibility law that mandates liability insurance for all vehicles registered in the State. Proof of financial responsibility must be carried in the vehicle at all times and presented to the designated County Official when registering your vehicle. A Certificate of Insurance must be in its original form (No Photocopies) and must contain the following information: