Guide 04 · 8 min read
Hands-free and texting laws by state: where you can't hold your phone while driving
In 33 states and Washington, DC, you may not hold a phone while driving: calls, maps and music only hands-free. In 16 more, the law bans texting but still allows an adult driver to hold the phone for a call. Five states joined the hands-free list in 2025. Below: the rule in every state, when it took effect, and the exceptions that catch drivers out.
The short version
- Hands-free states (33 and DC): no holding or supporting a phone while driving. Mount it, use voice or the car's system.
- Texting-only states (16): no reading, writing or sending messages; an adult may still hold the phone for a call, except where a zone rule says otherwise.
- Everywhere: younger and newly licensed drivers often face stricter rules, and a phone in hand at a red light can still be a violation.
Hands-free states
Holding a phone while driving is banned for every driver in these states and in Washington, DC (year the current law took effect, where the state gives it):
- Alabama (2023)
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado (2025)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia (2004)
- Georgia (2018)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2020)
- Illinois
- Indiana (2020)
- Iowa (2025)
- Louisiana (2025)
- Maine (2019)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2020)
- Michigan (2023)
- Minnesota
- Missouri (2023)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (2015)
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio (2023)
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania (2025)
- Rhode Island (2018)
- South Carolina (2025)
- Tennessee (2019)
- Vermont
- Virginia (2021)
- Washington
- West Virginia
States that ban only texting
Texting while driving is banned for all drivers, but an adult may hold a phone for a call:
- Alaska
- Arkansas: hand-held use is also banned in school and work zones, and drivers under 21 must be hands-free.
- Florida: hand-held use is also banned in school and work zones.
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma: hand-held use is also banned in marked school and work zones since November 2025.
- South Dakota
- Texas: in a school crossing zone, a phone may only be used hands-free (§545.425).
- Utah: it also bans other hand use of the phone; voice calls are allowed.
- Wisconsin: hand-held use is also banned in work zones.
- Wyoming
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Colorado: hands-free for all drivers from January 1, 2025.
- Pennsylvania: Paul Miller's Law took effect June 5, 2025, with warnings only until June 2026.
- Iowa: hands-free from July 1, 2025, with a warning period through December 31, 2025.
- South Carolina: the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act took effect September 1, 2025, with warnings for the first 180 days.
- Louisiana: hands-free under Act 288 of 2025; tickets since January 1, 2026.
- Oklahoma: still texting-only, but holding a phone has been banned in marked school and work zones since November 2025.
Every state
| State | Rule | Since | Law | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Hands-free only | 2023 | Ala. Code §32-5A-350.1 | A secondary offense: police cite it only with another driving violation |
| Alaska | Texting banned | AS 28.35.161 | ||
| Arizona | Hands-free only | A.R.S. §28-914 | ||
| Arkansas | Texting banned | Ark. Code §27-51-1504 | Hand-held use is also banned in school and work zones, and drivers under 21 must be hands-free | |
| California | Hands-free only | Veh. Code §23123.5 | ||
| Colorado | Hands-free only | 2025 | C.R.S. §42-4-239 | |
| Connecticut | Hands-free only | Gen. Stat. §14-296aa | ||
| Delaware | Hands-free only | 21 Del. C. §4176C | ||
| District of Columbia | Hands-free only | 2004 | D.C. Code §50-1731.04 | |
| Florida | Texting banned | Fla. Stat. §316.305 | Hand-held use is also banned in school and work zones | |
| Georgia | Hands-free only | 2018 | O.C.G.A. §40-6-241 | |
| Hawaii | Hands-free only | HRS §291C-137 | It also applies when stopped at a red light | |
| Idaho | Hands-free only | 2020 | Idaho Code §49-1401A | |
| Illinois | Hands-free only | 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 | ||
| Indiana | Hands-free only | 2020 | ||
| Iowa | Hands-free only | 2025 | Iowa Code §321.276 | |
| Kansas | Texting banned | K.S.A. 8-15,111 | ||
| Kentucky | Texting banned | KRS 189.292 | ||
| Louisiana | Hands-free only | 2025 | R.S. 32:59 | Tickets since January 1, 2026 |
| Maine | Hands-free only | 2019 | 29-A M.R.S. §2121 | |
| Maryland | Hands-free only | Transp. §21-1124.2 | ||
| Massachusetts | Hands-free only | 2020 | G.L. c. 90 §13B | |
| Michigan | Hands-free only | 2023 | MCL 257.602b | |
| Minnesota | Hands-free only | Minn. Stat. §169.475 | ||
| Mississippi | Texting banned | Miss. Code §63-33-1 | ||
| Missouri | Hands-free only | 2023 | RSMo §304.822 | |
| Montana | Not confirmed | We could not confirm a statewide law on an official page | ||
| Nebraska | Texting banned | Neb. Rev. Stat. §60-6,179.01 | ||
| Nevada | Hands-free only | NRS 484B.165 | ||
| New Hampshire | Hands-free only | 2015 | RSA 265:79-c | |
| New Jersey | Hands-free only | N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3 | ||
| New Mexico | Texting banned | NMSA §66-7-374 | ||
| New York | Hands-free only | VTL §1225-c | ||
| North Carolina | Texting banned | G.S. 20-137.4A | ||
| North Dakota | Texting banned | NDCC §39-08-23 | ||
| Ohio | Hands-free only | 2023 | ORC §4511.204 | |
| Oklahoma | Texting banned | Hand-held use is also banned in marked school and work zones since November 2025 | ||
| Oregon | Hands-free only | ORS 811.507 | ||
| Pennsylvania | Hands-free only | 2025 | ||
| Rhode Island | Hands-free only | 2018 | ||
| South Carolina | Hands-free only | 2025 | S.C. Code §56-5-3890 | |
| South Dakota | Texting banned | SDCL §32-26-47.1 | ||
| Tennessee | Hands-free only | 2019 | ||
| Texas | Texting banned | 2017 | Transp. Code §545.4251 | In a school crossing zone, a phone may only be used hands-free (§545.425) |
| Utah | Texting banned | Utah Code §41-6a-1716 | It also bans other hand use of the phone; voice calls are allowed | |
| Vermont | Hands-free only | 23 V.S.A. §1095b | ||
| Virginia | Hands-free only | 2021 | Va. Code §46.2-818.2 | |
| Washington | Hands-free only | RCW 46.61.672 | ||
| West Virginia | Hands-free only | W. Va. Code §17C-14-15 | ||
| Wisconsin | Texting banned | Wis. Stat. §346.89 | Hand-held use is also banned in work zones | |
| Wyoming | Texting banned | W.S. §31-5-237 |
What this guide leaves out
Every rule here comes from the state's statute, DOT, state police or DMV, checked in October 2026. Montana is the exception: we could not confirm on an official page whether it has a statewide law, so its row says so. Rules for teen and permit drivers, commercial drivers and local city ordinances are not covered; neither are fines, which vary by state, by offense and by county.
Frequently asked questions
Which states are hands-free?
33 states and Washington, DC. The states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Can I use my phone's GPS while driving?
In a hands-free state, only without holding it: mounted, or through the car's screen. In a texting-only state the law targets messages, but some go further (Utah's bans other hand use of the phone too). Setting the route before you leave keeps you inside every state's rule.
Can I hold my phone at a red light?
Not safely in a hands-free state. Hawaii's law says outright that it applies when stopped at a red light, and the others ban holding the phone while driving, which a stop in traffic may not end. Park first if you need the phone in your hand.
Is Texas hands-free?
No. Texas bans reading, writing or sending messages while driving (Transportation Code §545.4251), and in school crossing zones a phone may only be used hands-free. Holding a phone for a call is otherwise allowed for adult drivers.
Is Florida hands-free?
Not statewide. Florida bans texting while driving for all drivers, and using a phone in a hand-held manner in a school zone, a school crossing or a work zone.
Live on Live Roads USA
Sources
- Alabama: Act 2023-SB301 (hands-free) · Alabama Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Alaska: Driver manual · Alaska DMV · checked October 21, 2026
- Arizona: A.R.S. §28-914 · Arizona Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Arkansas: Distracted driving · Arkansas State Police · checked October 21, 2026
- California: Vehicle Code §23123.5 · California Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Colorado: SB24-065 · Colorado General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Connecticut: Gen. Stat. chapter 248 · Connecticut General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Delaware: 21 Del. C. chapter 41, subchapter IX · Delaware General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- District of Columbia: D.C. Code §50-1731.04 · Council of the District of Columbia · checked October 21, 2026
- Florida: Fla. Stat. §316.306 · Florida Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Georgia: Hands-Free Georgia · Georgia DDS · checked October 21, 2026
- Hawaii: HRS §291C-137 · Hawaii Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Idaho: Idaho Code §49-1401A (archived copy) · Idaho Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Illinois: 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 (archived copy) · Illinois General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Indiana: Hands-Free Indiana · INDOT · checked October 21, 2026
- Iowa: Hands-free, it's the law · Iowa Department of Public Safety · checked October 21, 2026
- Kansas: K.S.A. 8-15,111 · Kansas Revisor of Statutes · checked October 21, 2026
- Kentucky: KRS 189.292 · Kentucky General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Louisiana: R.S. 32:59 (archived copy) · Louisiana Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Maine: 29-A M.R.S. §2121 · Maine Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Maryland: Transp. §21-1124.2 · Maryland General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Massachusetts: Hands-free law (archived copy) · Commonwealth of Massachusetts · checked October 21, 2026
- Michigan: MCL 257.602b (archived copy) · Michigan Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. §169.475 · Minnesota Revisor of Statutes · checked October 21, 2026
- Mississippi: SB 2801 (2026), current law · Mississippi Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Missouri: RSMo §304.822 · Missouri Revisor of Statutes · checked October 21, 2026
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §60-6,179.01 (archived copy) · Nebraska Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Nevada: NRS chapter 484B (archived copy) · Nevada Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- New Hampshire: RSA 265:79-c (archived copy) · New Hampshire General Court · checked October 21, 2026
- New Jersey: Primary offense: hand-held phones · NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety · checked October 21, 2026
- New Mexico: SB 19 (2014) (archived copy) · New Mexico Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- New York: VTL §1225-c · New York State Senate · checked October 21, 2026
- North Carolina: G.S. 20-137.4A (archived copy) · NC General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- North Dakota: NDCC chapter 39-08 · North Dakota Legislative Branch · checked October 21, 2026
- Oklahoma: HB 2263 (2025) · Oklahoma Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Oregon: ORS chapter 811 (archived copy) · Oregon Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Pennsylvania: Paul Miller's Law · PennDOT · checked October 21, 2026
- Rhode Island: Hands-free law · Rhode Island DOT · checked October 21, 2026
- South Carolina: S.C. Code title 56, chapter 5 · South Carolina Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- South Dakota: SDCL 32-26-47.1 · South Dakota Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Tennessee: Driver manual · Tennessee Dept. of Safety · checked October 21, 2026
- Texas: Transportation Code chapter 545 (§545.4251, §545.425) · Texas Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Utah: Utah Code §41-6a-1716 · Utah Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Vermont: 23 V.S.A. §1095b · Vermont General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Virginia: Va. Code §46.2-818.2 · Virginia General Assembly · checked October 21, 2026
- Washington: RCW 46.61.672 · Washington Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- West Virginia: W. Va. Code §17C-14-15 · West Virginia Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. §346.89 (archived copy) · Wisconsin Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
- Wyoming: Wyoming Statutes title 31 · Wyoming Legislature · checked October 21, 2026
Published , last checked . For information only: this guide does not replace road signs, state law or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source before you rely on a date.