How many practice hours do you need in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, a learner driver must log 50 hours of supervised driving practice—including 10 at night—before applying for a license.
New Mexico learner permit requirements
- Minimum permit age: 15
- Supervised practice required: 50 hours total, 10 at night
- Permit hold period: 6 months
- License eligibility age: 15½
- How hours are certified: 50-hour supervised driving log signed by a parent or guardian.
New Mexico requires 50 hours of supervised driving with at least 10 at night, on top of a required driver-education course for applicants under 18.
Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the New Mexico MVD before applying.
New Mexico's graduated licensing stages
Complete driver ed; drive with a licensed adult 21+; log 50 hours (10 at night).
Issued after 6 months with the permit; night and passenger limits apply.
Issued after 12 clean months on the provisional license.
Driving restrictions for new New Mexico drivers
Provisional license holders can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed adult 21+, or driving to or from work or school.
Provisional drivers may carry only one passenger under 21 who isn't immediate family.
Drivers with an instructional permit or provisional license may not use a handheld device while driving.
Log every New Mexico practice hour automatically
DriveMint tracks each supervised drive with GPS, separates day and night hours, and generates a DMV-ready report—so you can prove all 50 hours without a paper logbook.
New Mexico driving practice FAQs
How many driving hours do you need in New Mexico?+
New Mexico requires 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours at night, before a teen can apply for a license.
How young can you get a license in New Mexico?+
15½ for a provisional license, after driver education, a 6-month permit hold, and 50 logged hours of supervised driving.
How many night hours does New Mexico require?+
At least 10 of the 50 required hours must be completed at night.
Requirements in other states
Compare practice hours in all 50 states side by side, or read what actually counts as a night driving hour.