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Indiana driving lesson · Getting Your Credential

Practicing with a permit

A 3-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Getting Your Credential
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
9

With a permit you never drive alone. Who may ride with you depends on your age and on whether you are enrolled in driver education. In every case, your supervisor sits in the front passenger seat.

Who may supervise your practice driving

Who may supervise your practice driving
Your situationAllowed supervisor
Under 16, in driver educationLicensed instructor or BMV-recognized rehab specialist
Under 16, in driver educationRelative 25+ with valid license, or licensed spouse 21+
Under 18, not in driver educationRelative 25+ with valid license, or licensed spouse 21+
Under 18, not in driver educationLicensed driver training instructor or rehab specialist
Under 18, in DCS careRelative 25+, or licensed driver 25+ approved by DCS
18 or olderLicensed driver 25+, or licensed spouse 21+
Handbook p. 9 ↗
25

Minimum age of a supervising licensed driver who is not your spouse

Handbook p. 9 ↗
21

Minimum age of a licensed spouse who supervises

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Valid driving privileges

Privileges that are not expired, suspended, or revoked. Every supervising driver must have them.

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Know the rule

A supervising relative must be related to you by blood, marriage, or legal status.

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Know the rule

The supervising driver, instructor, or rehabilitation specialist must sit in the front passenger seat.

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Know the rule

An instructor must be licensed and working under the direction of a driver training school. A rehab specialist must be certified, recognized by the BMV, and employed through a driver rehabilitation program.

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Know the rule

If you are 18 or older, you may practice only with a licensed driver at least 25 years old with valid privileges, or with your licensed spouse who is at least 21.

Handbook p. 9 ↗

Put it into practice

You're 17 and not in driver ed. Your 23-year-old cousin offers to ride along. Not allowed: a supervising relative must be at least 25. Your 45-year-old aunt with a valid license can supervise from the front passenger seat.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If you're under 18 and not enrolled in driver education, who may supervise your practice driving?
  1. Any licensed friend who is at least 21
  2. A licensed sibling who is 18
  3. Any licensed adult over 18, related or not
  4. A related licensed driver at least 25 years old

Answer: A related licensed driver at least 25 years old

The licensed driver must be at least 25 years old and related to you by blood, marriage, or legal status.

Handbook p. 9 ↗
Besides a qualifying relative, who else may supervise a permit holder under 18?
  1. Their spouse, if licensed and at least 21
  2. Their neighbor, if licensed and over 30 years old
  3. A coworker with a spotless driving record
  4. Any licensed driver who is at least 18

Answer: Their spouse, if licensed and at least 21

You may also choose to practice driving with your spouse, who must be licensed and at least 21 years of age.

Handbook p. 9 ↗
Where must the supervising licensed driver sit while a permit holder practices driving?
  1. In the back seat behind the driver
  2. In the vehicle's front passenger seat
  3. In the back seat behind the passenger
  4. In any seat with a working seat belt

Answer: In the vehicle's front passenger seat

The licensed driver or instructor must be seated in the vehicle's front passenger seat.

Handbook p. 9 ↗
A driver training instructor supervising a permit holder under 16 in driver education must meet which requirement?
  1. Be related to the student by blood or marriage
  2. Be licensed and sit in the front passenger seat
  3. Be at least 25 and may sit in any seat
  4. Sit in the back seat to observe the student

Answer: Be licensed and sit in the front passenger seat

Under-16 students in driver education may drive with a licensed driver training instructor, who must be seated in the front passenger seat.

Handbook p. 9 ↗
An 18-year-old permit holder may practice driving alone once they turn 18.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

If you are 18 or older, you may only practice driving accompanied by a licensed driver at least 25, or your spouse if at least 21.

Handbook p. 9 ↗
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