Florida 17 Year Old Curfew Laws: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Driving Rules (2026)

In Florida, the driving curfew for a 17 year old with a Restricted (Intermediate) license is 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. A 17-year-old cannot legally drive between those hours, with exceptions only for work, a school event, a medical emergency, or a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat. Florida sets no stay-out curfew for 17-year-olds who are on foot or riding as passengers; the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. window is a driving curfew, and it is strictly enforced.

The curfew is only half of what changed for Florida teens. Since August 1, 2025, teens under 18 must complete the new 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course before applying for a learner's permit, and a 17-year-old must hold that permit for 12 months violation-free before moving up to the Restricted license that carries the curfew. This guide covers the exact 2026 hours for 16 and 17 year olds, every curfew exception, the three-stage GDL path, and the exact steps to get licensed.

What Are the Three Stages of Florida's GDL Program for 17-Year-Olds?

Florida's Graduated Driver License (GDL) program has three stages for drivers under 18: the Learner's License (ages 15-17), the Restricted License (ages 16-17), and the Full License (age 18+). Each stage has specific curfew, supervision, and passenger restrictions designed to reduce crash risks for new drivers. A 17-year-old who started driving at 15 is usually in stage 2 by now, which is where the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rule applies.

• Stage 1: Learner's License (Permit)
  • Age: 15-17 (must hold for 12 months violation-free).
  • Supervision: Licensed driver 21+ in the front seat at all times.
  • Time Restriction: First 3 months: daylight only. After 3 months: until 10 p.m.
• Stage 2: Restricted (Intermediate) License
  • Age: 16-17 (must have held permit for 12 months).
  • Time Restriction (Curfew): Age 16: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. | Age 17: 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
  • Passenger Limit: No legal limit, but FLHSMV recommends no more than 1 non-family minor.
• Stage 3: Full License
  • Age: 18+ (all restrictions lift automatically).

Still working on stage 1? Our guide to who you can drive with when you have a permit explains the supervision rules for every permit holder.

The 2026 Curfew and Night Driving Rules for 17-Year-Olds

A 17-year-old on a restricted license can drive until 1 a.m. and cannot drive again until 5 a.m. There is no legal stay-out curfew for pedestrians, but the driving curfew is strictly enforced with exceptions only for work, school events, medical emergencies, or a licensed adult 21 or older in the front seat. The hours also shift by age, which trips up families with drivers a year apart: a 16-year-old must be off the road two hours earlier than a 17-year-old.

For the younger age group, see our full guide to the Florida 16 year old driving curfew. For every license stage side by side, our Florida driving curfew overview covers learner, restricted, and full license hours in one place.

Curfew Exceptions: What Qualifies and What Does Not

Florida keeps the exception list short, and anything not on it does not count. If a stopped 17-year-old cannot point to one of the four situations below between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., the curfew violation stands.

How Do the New DETS Rules Affect 17-Year-Olds Getting a License?

As of August 1, 2025, teens aged 14-17 must complete the 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course instead of the old 4-hour TLSAE course. The DETS course is required before applying for a learner's permit, so it is the mandatory first step for every 17-year-old who is not licensed yet.

1. Complete the DETS Course: Enroll at DetsCourse.com, LowestPriceTrafficSchool.com, or SafeDriver.com. The price is $29.95 plus applicable fees with no hidden fees. The course is 100% online and takes 6 hours. You can start at age 14.5.
2. Pass the Class E Knowledge Exam: Take the official Online Learner's Permit Test from home via authorized providers like DetsCourse.com for $29.95 plus applicable fees. Alternatively, take the test in person at a DMV or Tax Collector's office.
3. Gather Required Documents: Bring your DETS completion certificate, parental consent form (HSMV 71142), proof of identity, proof of Social Security number, and two proofs of Florida residential address to the DMV.
4. Log Supervised Driving Hours: Complete 50 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving (including 10 hours at night) before advancing to a Restricted License.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your License Application

Mistake 1: Confusing the Old TLSAE Course With the New DETS Requirement

Many teens and parents still think the 4-hour TLSAE course is the only requirement for teens. Since August 1, 2025, all first-time drivers under 18 must complete the 6-hour DETS course. If you are 18 or older, you still take the 4-hour Drug and Alcohol Course (TLSAE) at DrugAndAlcoholCourse.com. Signing up for the wrong course costs a wasted fee and a wasted DMV trip, because TLSAE does not count toward the DETS requirement for a driver under 18.

Mistake 2: Not Understanding the Curfew Exceptions

Some 17-year-olds assume there are no exceptions to the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. driving curfew, and others assume every late-night drive qualifies. Florida law allows driving during those hours if you are driving to or from work, for a school event, for a medical emergency, or if a licensed adult 21 or older is in the front seat. A late food run with friends does not qualify, even with a clean driving record.

Mistake 3: Driving With Multiple Friends Without Understanding the Risk

While Florida law does not set a specific passenger limit for 17-year-olds with a Restricted License, the FLHSMV strongly recommends no more than one non-family passenger under 18. Crash data shows that the risk of a fatal crash doubles with two or more non-family passengers under 21. Keeping the car to one friend lowers that risk and helps a new driver avoid distracted driving citations that would break the clean record the license path depends on.

Conclusion: Your Essential 2026 License Checklist

• Complete the DETS course at DetsCourse.com for $29.95 plus applicable fees before applying for your learner's permit.
• Hold your learner's permit for 12 months violation-free before advancing to a Restricted License.
• Respect the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for 17-year-olds with a Restricted License, and plan work and school drives around it.
• Log 50 supervised driving hours (10 at night) before your road test.
• Keep passengers to one non-family friend to reduce crash risk and avoid distracted driving citations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the curfew for a 17 year old in Florida?

A 17-year-old in Florida with a Restricted (Intermediate) license cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The only exceptions are driving to or from work, driving to or from a school event, handling a medical emergency, or having a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat. Florida sets no stay-out curfew for 17-year-olds who are not driving.

What is the curfew for 17 year olds?

The Florida curfew for 17 year olds holding a Restricted (Intermediate) license runs from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. At 16, the window is tighter: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Both curfews lift automatically at 18, when the driver qualifies for a Full License with no time restrictions.

Can a 17 year old drive friends in Florida?

Yes, with limits. Florida law sets no strict passenger cap for a 17-year-old with a Restricted (Intermediate) License, but the FLHSMV strongly recommends no more than one non-family passenger under 18, and crash data shows the risk of a fatal crash doubles with two or more non-family passengers under 21. A 17-year-old on a Learner's License must always have a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat, and between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. driving is allowed only for work, school events, or medical emergencies, or with that licensed adult along.

What time can a 17 year old drive at night in Florida?

A 17-year-old with a Restricted (Intermediate) License can drive until 1 a.m. and cannot drive again until 5 a.m. Night driving is even more limited during the learner stage: daylight only for the first 3 months, then until 10 p.m. with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat.

What happens if a 17 year old is caught driving past curfew in Florida?

The driving curfew is strictly enforced, so a 17-year-old stopped on the road between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. can be cited for a violation. That matters beyond the citation itself: the license path depends on a clean 12-month, violation-free record to advance from the learner stage, so a curfew violation can cost a teen months. If the stop happens while driving to or from work, a school event, or a medical emergency, or with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat, the exception applies.

What course do teens need to get a Florida license now?

Since August 1, 2025, first-time drivers under 18 must complete the 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course before applying for a learner's permit. The course is 100% online, takes 6 hours, costs $29.95 plus applicable fees at DetsCourse.com, and teens can start at age 14.5. Drivers 18 and older still take the 4-hour Drug and Alcohol Course (TLSAE) instead.

Citations

• https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/driver-improvement-schools/driver-education-traffic-safety-dets/
• https://www.einpresswire.com/article/841638875/florida-s-largest-online-driver-s-ed-provider-teens-don-t-need-50-hours-to-get-a-learner-s-permit