Graduated licensing restrictions for teens

Key points

1. A new resident with a valid license from another state must get a Nebraska license within 30 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Any new resident with a valid license from another state must obtain a Nebraska license within 30 days.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

2. Teen permit and POP drivers may not use any interactive wireless communication device while the vehicle is moving.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “No use of any type of interactive wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle while in motion.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

3. Everyone riding with a permit holder, including the driver, must wear a seat belt; a violation carries a $25 fine.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “All occupants riding with a permit holder, including the driver, must wear a seat belt. Violation carries a $25”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

4. A School Permit holder may only carry family members who live with them to the school they attend.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Holder of a School Permit (SCP) may only transport family members who reside with them to the school attended by the holder.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

5. For the first 6 months, a POP holder may carry only 1 passenger under 19 who is not immediate family.

   Source: Handbook p. 4

   “During the 4rst six months of the POP, the holder can only operate a motor vehicle with no more than one passenger who is not an immediate family member and who is under nineteen years of age.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4

6. A POP holder may not drive from midnight to 6 AM unless going to or from school activities or work.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Holder of a POP shall not drive from midnight to 6 AM unless to or from school activities or work.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

7. Drivers under 21 face zero tolerance for alcohol and other drugs.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   ““Zero tolerance” (alcohol and other drugs) laws for drivers under the age of 21.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

8. Drivers under 21 who get 6 or more points within 1 year must take a driver improvement course within 3 months.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Individuals under 21 accumulating six or more points within one year are required to take a driver improvement course within three months.”
   Nebraska Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Nebraska practice test

1. 1. How long does a new Nebraska resident with a valid out-of-state license have to obtain a Nebraska license?

   1. 10 days
   2. 30 days
   3. 60 days
   4. 90 days
   Show answer

   30 days. A new Nebraska resident who already holds a valid license from another state has 30 days to obtain a Nebraska license. The 10, 60, and 90 day options change the deadline and therefore would leave the driver outside the manual's stated window. A useful arrival-day cue is to start the countdown as soon as Nebraska becomes the driver's new residence, rather than waiting until the out-of-state credential nears expiration. The rule concerns obtaining the Nebraska license, so keeping the old credential valid does not extend the 30 day period.

2. 2. What does Nebraska prohibit while a motor vehicle is in motion under its graduated driver licensing restrictions?

   1. Any use of an interactive wireless communication device
   2. Listening to a radio broadcast
   3. Using a vehicle's climate controls before moving
   4. Speaking to a passenger
   Show answer

   Any use of an interactive wireless communication device. Nebraska's GDL restrictions prohibit use of any type of interactive wireless communication device while the motor vehicle is in motion. The rule is broader than texting alone, so narrowing it to a single message type would understate the restriction. Listening to the radio, adjusting controls before moving, and speaking with a passenger are not the described device prohibition. A permit holder should put the wireless device away before motion begins and wait until safely stopped for interactive use.

3. 3. Under Nebraska's GDL restrictions, who must wear a seat belt when riding with a permit holder?

   1. Only the permit holder
   2. Only passengers younger than 18
   3. All occupants, including the driver
   4. Only people in the front passenger seat
   Show answer

   All occupants, including the driver. Nebraska requires all occupants riding with a permit holder, including the driver, to wear a seat belt. The rule does not depend on age, front-seat location, or whether the permit holder is the person driving. That makes each narrower choice incomplete. Use a whole-vehicle check before starting: the driver and every passenger should be secured. The manual also identifies a $25 violation fine, which reinforces that this is an enforceable permit restriction rather than a suggestion for optional safety behavior.

Source: the Nebraska Driver's Manual, Section 1: Nebraska License to Drive. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.