My wife and I disagree on this one.

Our 16 year old daughter has her learner's permit. If we are out of state, is she allowed to drive as long as one of us is with her, or are learner's permits only valid in the state of issue? (I know that nobody, even with a full license, under 18 can drive in NYC, but how about the rest of the country?)

Since all driving laws are under state jurisdiction, it will vary by state - and it is the state in which she is driving that will set the rules, not the state of issue. I just checked on the Massachusetts RMV site, and she could drive here with an out-of-state permit. But I have been told in other states she could not - do not have that verified by checking their RMV sites, though. Not something I would risk without being really clear about state law.

As gail pointed out, this is a state by state issue, that cannot be voted on by a show of hands--so to speak. This is a good example of a question where the opinions of fodorites count for naught. It must be checked out w/the state authority in question...

I bet AAA would know this answer

I think there's a separate issue here. Traffic laws differ state by state, as do traffic/road conditions (has she ever navigated a traffic circle?). And unless it's a road you/she's driven many times it's unfamiiar territory.

Do you really think it's appropriate for someone with only a learner's permit to drive under such circumstances - even if the state allows it?

More and more states are either increasing the age at which one can drive or putting other types of restrictions on lic of younger drivers (time of driving, who else can be in the car etc) since it is well known that their inexperience is the cause of massive # of accidents.

Why not make sure she can drive near home first - at least well enough to get a license - without subjecting everyone else to her inexperience?

Call the state that issued the permit. I asked this question before I left Motor Vehicles in CT with my sons permit, and the answer is NO. He is only allowed to drive in CT, not on the highway and with my husband or myself as passengers, no one else, even his brother.

A lot of people don't ask those questions, the person at the desk didn't even know the answer, she had to ask a supervisor.

nytraveler said: "Do you really think it's appropriate for someone with only a learner's permit to drive under such circumstances - even if the state allows it?"

Yes I do. I didn't get into specifics as they really weren't relevant to the question. However, since you brought it up...

My intent is not to have her practice on an Interstate dodging truckers at 75 mph or the Long Island Expwy during rush hour. We will be travelling where there are small, back-country roads. There is less traffic there than home. Under those circumstances, yes, I think it's appropriate, assuming it's legal.

Well - obviously our opinions differ then. My two step-daughters have relatively new lic - the younger less than a year - and we were much more careful with them than that.

I don;t know about where you live - but in New York a chimp with about 45 minutes training can pass a driver's test. We did a lot of extra driving with ours even after they got their lic - under all kinds of conditions - suburban, city, highway etc - until we were certain they could handle whatever would be thrown at them - before we let them out alone in my car.

(A friend of the 18 year old had a major accident last year - thank god going slowly and no one was hurt seriously - but the car was totaled. We wouldn't let her ride with him so she asked one of us to go for a drive with him. He's had his lic for 2 years - but has no clue. And when I began instructing him he really got his back up - so I suggested he take a professional driving course. He didn;t and has had a couple more accidents - so his parents finally wouldn;t buy him another car. It turns out no one ever taught him to drive - just sat next to him while he drove - apparently very badly.)

IMHO most state rules are way too lax on learner/younger drivers. But then I also think about 1/3 of the adults who are driving have no business on the road - they just don;t have the necessary skills/attitides/attention span.

I'm in PA, but grew up in NY (hence, my comment about the LIE.) I can't speak for the road test, as she hasn't taken it yet, but the written test must be tough. She was smart enough to be on Jeopardy (Kids' Tournament), but failed the written test for her permit the first time she took it!

I agree with you about the adults. It's even worse now with all the new distractions like cell phones, etc.

I agree with Barry. We live within 5 minutes of the NH border. Should our children pull over because we have gone into another state? The road and the area is the same. Is I-95 different when it changes from NC to SC? Children should have lots of time behind the wheel. The big question of whether we should raise the driving age is silly. We should spend much more time on teaching our kids to drive.

It isn't the state you should worry about but whether or not she will be insured on a lerners permit in another state.

I would call my insurance company first.

The State that has jursidiction is the State in which you are driving, not the State that issued the permit. You can sometimes find this information by looking at the DMV website of the State you plan on driving in. (I don't see how an insurance company would have a problem with this, so long as you are driving legally.)

When we moved from Oregon to Washington, our daughter had her Oregon learner's permit. She could continue to legally use her permit for six months before having to replace it.

I think it's great how on this board you can get so much information about how to raise kids. Not just information that you are looking for, but real hands-on advice on parenting.

Suzie, LOL....you can always count on unsolicited advice here...

I would ask - would you be renting a car or driving to your destination n your own car? For me (regardless of whatever other issues may be relevant) that would be the issue.

Suzie -

The advice isn't unsolicited. The OP asked a specific query about putting her 16 year old with only a lerner's permit on public roads in other states. If she's going to be driving on a road with me - I have a right to an opinion on it - just like everyone else.

more blah blah blah.

No need to justify your need to spew your parenting advice. The OP did not ask you for your opinion about the issue just what the other state laws might be. This board is famous for its parenting advice and some things will never change.

How does one learn to drive without actually driving?

mztery - I will be taking my car. I believe rentals cannot be driven by anyone under 25.

Rarely does a thread go by without someone editorializing about something. No big deal.

BTW, I checked Penndot's regs and they say the permit is valid for out of state driving as long as it's permitted by the other state, too.

The best source for answering you question is at DriveUSAonPermit.blogspot.com

Ha ha. Barry's daughter is now 27 years old. She got her official drivers license in 2008 and after five years as a city bus driver, became a NASCAR warm up driver three years ago.

But thanks!