Adjustments in Novice Driver Licensing Processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for the Future of Novice Driver Training - Fact Sheet

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Gelato

Health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic led many U.S. states to temporarily revise novice driver licensing and graduated driver licensing (GDL) requirements. Changes included waiving or modifying in-person road tests, extending license expiration and permit timelines, and expanding online driver education and renewals. As emergency conditions eased, some states reverted to pre-pandemic practices while others made permanent policy shifts. The fact sheet details road test waiver approaches in multiple states, including Wisconsin’s pilot program, eligibility criteria, outcomes, and stakeholder reactions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Road Test Waivers

Wisconsin

INJURY PREVENTION AND SAFETY Fact Sheet Adjustments in Novice Driver Licensing Processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for the Future of Novice Driver Training Health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many states to temporarily adjust driver licensing processes and requirements; for novice drivers in some states, this meant waiving road tests, reducing permit holding periods, and/or offering online driver education. When these changes were no longer necessary for health and safety reasons, some states reverted to pre-COVID practices, while others made permanent changes to their driver licensing policies. The fact that these adjustments to decades-old processes were made at all indicates that state leaders can alter longstanding GDL processes based on evolving needs, technological capabilities, and new data about effectiveness and best practices. Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic was declared an emergency by the World Health Organization and the United States Department of Health and Human Services in January of 2020. 1 In the months that followed, states began issuing their own emergency declarations and orders designed to protect the public health and slow the spread of disease, such as stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and social distancing requirements. 2 Nearly every part of daily life changed drastically – students switched to online learning, non-essential businesses like bars and restaurants closed to the public, and high-risk individuals were isolated from their loved ones. Despite this massive disruption to everyday life, some essential services, many provided by public entities, were still needed (e.g., waste management and police and fire services) . Due to health and safety concerns, state and local government agencies had to change how they prioritized and delivered these kinds of services – and driver services were no exception. To limit in-person visits at motor vehicle bureaus, 49 states and the District of Columbia (D.C. ) extended driver’s license expiration dates (with some also extending learner permits), and 45 states and D. C. began allowing online license renewals. Guiding teenagers through graduated driver licensing (GDL) 1 programs during the pandemic proved particularly challenging, because most states require some combination of in-person driver education classes, in-car supervised driving hours with an instructor, and in-person road tests before a minor can operate a vehicle independently. As a result, 1 According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): “GDL is a three-phase system for beginning drivers, consisting of a learner permit, an intermediate license, and a full license. A learner permit allows driving only while supervised by a fully licensed driver. An intermediate license allows unsupervised driving under certain restrictions. These usually include limits on driving at night or with teenage passengers. The learner permit and the intermediate license each must be held for a specified minimum period of time.” See Graduated Driver Licensing, NHTSA (last visited March 6, at least five states chose to suspend requirements for in-person road tests, and most states that require driver education classes allowed novice drivers to attend the classes online. Some COVID-era changes proved to be popular and remain in effect today. Forty-six states and D.C. still allow drivers who meet certain qualifications (e.g., under the age of 65 and no license violations) to renew their licenses online, some states adopted permanent changes to their GDL processes, and others returned to pre-COVID practices. This report discusses changes that were made to GDL programs in five states during the pandemic, including stakeholder reactions, whether the changes remained in place after the pandemic, and why. Road Test Waivers At least five states temporarily waived their in-person driving skills/road test requirements for GDL applicant

FAQs

What adjustments did states make to novice driver licensing during the COVID-19 pandemic?

States temporarily altered licensing and GDL processes, including waiving or modifying in-person road tests, extending license and permit expiration dates, and allowing online driver education and renewals.

How did states handle changes after COVID-era emergency conditions?

Some states returned to pre-COVID practices, while others kept certain changes in place permanently based on evolving needs and evidence about effectiveness and best practices.

What was Wisconsin’s road test waiver pilot program, and who could apply?

Wisconsin introduced a pilot in 2020 waiving road tests for eligible 16- and 17-year-olds who met requirements such as staying violation-free, completing required education and behind-the-wheel training, and having at least 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent or sponsor.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Gelato