Alabama supervised driving: 50 hours — see the conditions below.

Everything an Alabama parent needs in one place — supervised-practice guidance, night-driving rules, permit age, and what the written test looks like — plus a free log that keeps practice organized.

What Alabama actually requires

Requirements summarized from the official Alabama driver handbook.

The Alabama graduated licensing path

  1. Learner Permit (Stage I) — from age 15

    Restrictions: Drive with licensed driver 21+ in front seat

  2. Restricted License (Stage II) — from age 16

    Restrictions: No driving midnight-6am; no more than one non-family passenger; no handheld devices

  3. Unrestricted License (Stage III) — from age 17

    Restrictions: None

Alabama laws your teen will be tested on

Alabama Seat Belt Law

Alabama law requires every occupant, regardless of age, to be restrained in both front and back seats. Children through age 15 must use the required size-appropriate child restraint or seat belt; violations result in a fine and points on the driver’s record.

Alabama Speed Limits

Never drive faster than is reasonable for current road, weather, vehicle, and physical conditions. Under normal conditions, obey statutory limits or limits posted on official regulatory signs; municipal speed limits are maximum speeds.

Alabama DUI & Distracted Driving

In Alabama, persons under 21 years of age may not operate or be in actual physical control of a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02% or more. The law also prohibits writing, sending or reading a text message, instant message or e-mail while operating a motor vehicle; fines are $25, $50 and $75 for first, second and third or subsequent offenses, plus a two-point violation for each offense.

Alabama School Bus & Pedestrian Rules

Stop when following or meeting a stopped school or church bus with flashing red lights and its stop arm extended, including on a four to six lane undivided highway; this is not required when meeting the bus on the opposing roadway of a divided highway having four or more lanes as described in the handbook. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and slow down and watch for children at school crossings.

Alabama Move Over & Emergency Scenes

When approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing emergency lights or a wrecker with flashing amber lights on a roadway with four or more lanes, leave the closest lane; if that is unsafe or impossible, slow to at least 15 miles per hour below the posted limit. On a two-lane road, move as far away as possible within your lane and slow to 15 miles per hour below a limit of 25 miles per hour or greater, or travel 10 miles per hour when the limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

Alabama Right-of-Way Rules

At roundabouts, yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic already circulating to your left; vehicles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way.

Alabama driving practice questions, answered

How many supervised driving hours does Alabama require?
Alabama requires 50 hours, or none if the teen completes an approved driver education course.
Does Alabama require night driving hours?
We haven't confirmed this from an official Alabama source yet — check with the Alabama licensing agency. The NextDriver log splits minutes into day and night using 12 a.m.–6 a.m. local time. Check Alabama's own definition of night driving.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Alabama?
A Alabama learner's permit can be issued starting at age 15.
How many questions are on the Alabama written test?
We haven't confirmed this from an official Alabama source yet — check with the Alabama licensing agency.
Does NextDriver Prep have Alabama practice questions?
Yes — 0 practice questions written from the official Alabama driver handbook, with explanations for every answer.
How should we track supervised driving?
Log each drive the same day it happens. NextDriver Prep's free log records date, duration, day/night split, and conditions, and totals progress toward Alabama's supervised-practice requirement.
Is the Alabama driving log free?
Yes. The supervised driving log is free forever, with no card required. The Family Plan adds lessons, coaching scripts, hazard training, and Kai the AI co-pilot.
Does NextDriver Prep submit our log to the state?
No. NextDriver Prep helps your family track and organize practice. The Alabama licensing agency decides permit and license eligibility.
What restrictions apply during the Learner Permit (Stage I) stage in Alabama?
Drive with licensed driver 21+ in front seat
What restrictions apply during the Restricted License (Stage II) stage in Alabama?
No driving midnight-6am; no more than one non-family passenger; no handheld devices
What restrictions apply during the Unrestricted License (Stage III) stage in Alabama?
None

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