What the driving log does
After the permit test comes the part nobody warns you about: dozens of hours of supervised driving that somebody has to keep track of. Traditionally that is a folded sheet of paper in the glovebox, and traditionally it gets lost.
PermitReady's driving log replaces the sheet of paper. Each drive is one entry:
- Date — including backdated entries, so a log started late can still be complete.
- Duration — hours and minutes.
- Conditions — highway, night, rain, city streets, parking, and heavy traffic. Tag as many as applied to that drive. Night matters most, because nearly every state sets a separate night-hours minimum.
- Notes — optional, and genuinely useful: "first time on the highway," "parallel parking practice," "rained the whole way home."
The app keeps a running total at the top, so you always know where you stand without adding anything up. Mistyped a drive? Edit it. Logged the same trip twice? Delete one. Nothing about the log is write-once.
Sharing with a parent
A tap sends a copy of your log to whoever was in the passenger seat: AirDrop when you are in the same room, Messages or Mail when you are not, or Files if you want it saved somewhere. It is a file, sent through the standard iOS share sheet, going directly to them.
If the parent also has PermitReady, they can import it and keep their own running record — with an import preview that shows exactly which drives will be added and never double-counts one you both logged. If they don't have the app, they just get a file they can read. Either way, no account, no sign-up, and no second phone required.
Why there is no account
Because there is no server. Your log is stored on your device using Apple's SwiftData, and it stays there unless you send it to someone. We cannot see it, cannot lose it, and cannot lock you out of it. There is no password to reset, no migration to survive, and no outage that takes your hours with it.
It also means the log has no idea where you drove. PermitReady never requests location permission and does not use GPS — you type in the drive, so the app only knows what you tell it. That is the trade: no automatic drive detection, in exchange for a log that works in a dead-signal canyon and asks nothing of your privacy. (Note that the free version does include Google AdMob, which does collect ad data — the privacy policy is explicit about exactly what that SDK does and does not see. It never sees your log.)
How many hours does your state require?
Most states require somewhere between 40 and 60 total supervised hours, with a night minimum that is commonly 10. But the spread is wider than people expect: Pennsylvania asks for 65, North Carolina for 60, Georgia for 40 with 6 at night, and Texas for as few as 10 if you complete a driver education course. New York wants 15 of its 50 hours at night; Virginia wants 15 of 45.
The calculator shows an approximate requirement for your state, subtracts what you have already logged, and tells you how many total and night hours are left. Requirements change, so treat the number as a planning figure and confirm it with your state agency.
For the full picture, the state-by-state hours guide lists total hours, night hours, daily caps, and reduced-hour options for all 50 states plus DC in one sortable table.
Prefer paper?
A printed log is a useful backup, a document a parent can sign, and in some states the required format. Our free printable driving log templates page has a one-click printable log sheet plus links to each state's official form — including the Massachusetts RMV log PDF and New York's form MV-262. It also flags which states mandate a specific format and which accept any accurate record.
Not sure whether a particular drive counts? What counts as a supervised driving hour works through highways, school runs, parking lots, driver's ed, and the hours people wrongly assume they can claim.
Your state's requirements
Each state page covers the permit test format and the licensing steps that follow, including supervised hours where the state publishes them:
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Washington, DC · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
What the driving log is — and isn't
It is a tracking aid. An accurate, timestamped, editable record of the drives you logged, with a running total and a condition breakdown, that you can read, share, and copy from.
It is not a state form. PermitReady does not generate a signed certification or affidavit, and no state has formally approved or rejected its log as a substitute for an official state form. Most states require a parent or guardian to sign an attestation of hours on a specific document — that document still comes from your state, and the log is what you fill it in from.
Always confirm with your state agency what log format they accept before you show up for a road test.
One more honest note: PermitReady does not log drives automatically. There is no telematics, no GPS, and no drive detection. If nobody in the car will remember to log the drive, an app that detects it for you is genuinely a better fit — we compare the trade-offs directly in PermitReady vs RoadReady. And PermitReady is iPhone and iPad only; there is no Android version.
Frequently asked questions
How many supervised driving hours does my state require?
It varies. Most states require between 40 and 60 total hours with a night minimum, commonly 10. Pennsylvania asks for 65, North Carolina for 60, and Texas as few as 10 with driver education. Use the calculator for an approximate figure, then confirm with your licensing agency.
Do I need an account or an internet connection?
Neither. There is no account, no sign-in, and no server. Your log is stored on your device and the whole app works offline.
How does my parent get a copy?
You send them a file — AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or Files. It goes directly to them and never passes through us. If they have the app, they can import it and keep their own running total, with a preview that prevents double-counting.
Does the app track where I drive?
No. PermitReady never requests location permission and does not use GPS. You type in each drive, so the app only knows what you tell it.
Can I add drives I took before I installed the app?
Yes. Entries can be backdated to any date, so you can rebuild an existing paper log or carry over hours from another app. Our switching guide walks through doing that accurately.
Will my DMV accept this log?
The log is a record you keep, not a state form. No state has approved or rejected it as a substitute for an official form, and most states want a parent-signed certification on their own document. Confirm the accepted format with your state agency.
Important Notice
- PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any DMV, RMV, BMV, DPS, or state agency.
- No state has formally approved or rejected PermitReady's driving log as a substitute for an official state form. Always confirm with your state agency what log format they accept.
- Hour requirements shown on this site are approximate and change. Verify current requirements with your state licensing agency before your road test.