Pennsylvania (PA) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

The state of Pennsylvania understands the dangers and decisions teen drivers must face every day. Because of this, the state began its Graduated Driver’s License program (GDL) more than a decade ago. While the Pennsylvania GDL program provides knowledge and practice through a graduated system of licensing, it is also a tool to weed out teen drivers that might not be ready to handle the responsibilities associated with operating a motor vehicle. Since implementing the program in 1999, Pennsylvania has seen its teen driver population drop by nearly 50% from 154,000 drivers to 87,000. Stricter teen licensing requirements in Pennsylvania helps keep reckless or inexperienced teen drivers off the road, and in turn, it saves lives.

Continue reading to learn more about Pennsylvania teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

Pennsylvania Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

You must be at least 16 years of age to begin the Pennsylvania Graduated Driver License program. It begins with the junior learner permit. You musty hold the junior learner permit for 6 months before graduating to the next level. You must use the 6 months to build your driving skills. Under the supervision of a licensed adult, age 21 or older, you must complete 50 hours of behind-the-wheel-driving. The learner permit is valid for one year.

To apply for the learner permit you must provide:

•    Proof of Pennsylvania residency
•    Proof of identity
•    Proof of date of birth
•    Social security card
•    Signature of a parent or guardian on the consent form

You must also pass a vision screening and knowledge test. Once you have satisfied all of the requirements of the junior learner permit phase, you are read to graduate to the junior driver license phase. After passing the road test and filling out the necessary application, you will be issued a junior driver license. Your license will carry restrictions until you become eligible to apply for a full unrestricted license.

In order to obtain a full unrestricted license you must:

•    Be 18 years of age or have the consent of a parent or guardian if under age 18
•    Have a clean driving and accident record for at least one year prior to application
•    Pass a Pennsylvania Department of Education approved driver education and training course

Continue to the next section to learn about junior driver license restrictions.

Pennsylvania Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

•    During the learner permit phase:
•    A licensed parent or adult over age 21 must occupy the passenger seat beside you at all times
•    You may not drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
•    The number of passengers in the car must not exceed the number of seatbelts

If you accumulate any violations during the permit phase, you could lose your permit. If you accumulate 6 points or more, your permit will be suspended for a mandatory 90 days.

Under the conditions of the junior driver license, you may not drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian or a licensed adult age 21 or older. Exceptions will be made for:

•    Driving to and from work
•    Driving to and from school
•    Driving to and from volunteer or charitable activities

In addition, the number of passengers in the car must not exceed the number of seatbelts. If you accumulate any violations during the junior license phase, you could lose your license. If you accumulate 6 points or more, your license will be suspended for a mandatory 90 days.

Pennsylvania Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of Pennsylvania, teen drivers with provisional licenses are prohibited from text messaging while driving. And beginning November 1, 2009, cell phone use by provisional license holders will be prohibited altogether. Violating Pennsylvania’s cell phone law will be a secondary offense that carries a $100 fine and a possible delay in licensing for teens that have accumulated too many violations on their driving records.

Pennsylvania Teen DUI Laws

In the state of Pennsylvania, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a Pennsylvania teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, your driving privileges will be suspended or your licensing may be delayed. Depending on the seriousness of your DUI conviction, you may have to pay fines totaling up to $300, and you could end up on probation. A restricted license may be granted in extreme cases only.

Pennsylvania Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

Whether you are an adult or a teen, in the state of Pennsylvania you must carry minimum auto liability insurance minimum auto liability coverage in the amount of $15,000 bodily injury liability per injured person, $30,000 bodily injury per accident, $5,000 property damage liability coverage, and $5,000 personal injury protection (PIP). Because the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, Pennsylvania auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.