In Connecticut you must be at least 16 to get a learner's permit. As of 2026, use this guide as a starting point and confirm details with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles at portal.ct.gov/dmv and the official Connecticut driver's manual. The state's Department of Public Health also publishes a summary of the graduated driver licensing law.
Age and holding periods
Connecticut's holding period depends on how you learn. According to the state summary, students in a driving school course must hold the permit at least 120 days, while home-taught drivers must hold it at least 180 days. After you earn a license, a further 90-day period brings extra limits for new young drivers, so read the current passenger rules before you hand over the keys to friends.
We do not state the number of test questions or the passing score. Check the DMV for current test details.
Practice hours and supervision
The state summary lists 30 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training, along with a short course for parents or guardians. Ask your driving school which hours count toward which requirement.
- The supervisor must be a licensed driving instructor, a licensed parent, or a licensed driver at least 20 years old.
- A supervising driver who is not a parent or instructor must have held a license for four years.
- The state summary says passengers are limited to the instructor or parent supervising.
Connecticut's 20-year-old supervisor age is lower than the 21 used in many states. Do not assume your notes from another state apply.
Rules after you are licensed
Once a 16 or 17 year old has a license, the state describes a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Exceptions exist, so check the DMV page for work, school and other allowed trips.
How to prepare
- Read the Connecticut driver's manual in short sessions.
- Memorize the holding periods: 120 days with driving school, 180 without.
- Learn the supervisor rules, because the details are easy to get wrong.
- Take practice questions and review each wrong answer.
- Repeat weak topics a few days later.
What to bring
Connecticut asks for identity documents and, for minors, parental involvement. Because the required list changes, check the DMV website for the current documents and how to schedule before you go.
DMVZone practice questions are for study only. They are not the real test questions, but they help you practice the topics the test covers.