NJ's 50-Hour Supervised Driving Rule, Explained
If your teen is under 21 and got their NJ permit on or after February 1, 2025, they must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours in darkness, before the road test. A parent, guardian or supervising driver certifies the hours on MVC Form BA-CSD; you don't turn in a log.
Updated October 14, 2026 · Checked against NJ MVC sources · Reviewed by Jason Friedman, founder of DriveSafer
The rule at a glance
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Who | Permit holders under 21 whose permit was issued on or after Feb 1, 2025 |
| Hours | At least 50, including 10 in darkness |
| Minimum practice time | 6 months of supervised driving |
| Supervising driver | At least 21, valid NJ license, 3+ years of driving experience, in the front seat |
| Proof | Form BA-CSD, signed by a parent, guardian or supervising driver |
| When | Required at the road test appointment; presented at licensing |
| False certification | 6-month suspension |
Who it applies to
The rule covers permit holders under 21 whose permit was issued on or after February 1, 2025. Drivers who start at 21 or older follow different rules: at least 3 months of supervised practice before the road test.
Do you have to keep a log?
You don't submit a log to the MVC. The MVC encourages families to keep one (its Share the Keys guide includes a sample log), but Form BA-CSD is the only certification it accepts. The certification form printed in the Share the Keys guide isn't accepted.
Who can supervise
The supervising driver must be at least 21, hold a valid NJ driver license and have at least 3 years of driving experience, and must sit in the front seat. Form BA-CSD can be signed by a parent, guardian or supervising driver.
Planning the 50 hours
Six months is about 26 weeks, so about 2 hours of driving a week gets you to 50. Mix in highways, rain and night drives so the 10 night hours aren't left to the last month.
How many hours do we still need?
Enter what you've logged so far and we'll do the math.