Which States Have Hands-Free Driving Laws?
By now, 48 U.S. states have banned texting while driving a car. However, only 27 states also ban using a handheld device while operating a vehicle. Which states have hands-free driving laws? Refer to the chart below to see which states have banned both texting and using a handheld phone while driving.
Hands-free laws by U.S. state
As of August 2023:
| State | Ban on handheld devices while driving | Ban on all drivers texting while driving |
| Alabama | X | X |
| Alaska | – | X |
| Arizona | X | X |
| Arkansas | – | X |
| California | X | X |
| Colorado | – | X |
| Connecticut | X | X |
| Delaware | X | X |
| Florida | – | X |
| Georgia | X | X |
| Hawaii | X | X |
| Idaho | X | X |
| Illinois | X | X |
| Indiana | X | X |
| Iowa | – | X |
| Kansas | – | X |
| Kentucky | – | X |
| Louisiana | – | X |
| Maine | X | X |
| Maryland | X | X |
| Massachusetts | X | X |
| Michigan | X | X |
| Minnesota | X | X |
| Mississippi | – | X |
| Missouri | X | – (must be 21) |
| Montana | – | – |
| Nebraska | – | X |
| Nevada | X | X |
| New Hampshire | X | X |
| New Jersey | X | X |
| New Mexico | – | X |
| New York | X | X |
| North Carolina | – | X |
| North Dakota | – | X |
| Ohio | – | X |
| Oklahoma | – | X |
| Oregon | X | X |
| Pennsylvania | – | X |
| Rhode Island | X | X |
| South Carolina | – | X |
| South Dakota | – | X |
| Tennessee | X | X |
| Texas | – | X |
| Utah | – | X |
| Vermont | X | X |
| Virginia | X | X |
| Washington | X | X |
| West Virginia | X | X |
| Wisconsin | – | X |
| Wyoming | – | X |
Montana and Missouri are the only U.S. states to yet ban all drivers from texting while operating a car.
In Missouri, you must be 21 to text while driving in order to avoid a violation.
Montana is the only U.S. state yet to ban either using a handheld phone while driving or texting while driving.
The difference between hands-free driving laws might seem confusing. For example, holding your phone during a call while driving is allowed in 23 states. However, you can’t text message while driving in 48 states.
