Minors
From the California DMV Drivers Handbook, a minor is a person under 18 years of age. Minors must have their applications (for a driver license or any change of driver license class) signed their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). If both parents/ guardians have joint custody, both must sign.
To get a permit you must:
- Be at least 151/2 years of age, but under 18 years of age.
- Complete the Driver License or Identification Card Application (DL 44) form.
- Have your parent(s) or guardian(s) sign the DL 44 form.
- Pass a traffic laws and road signs test. If you fail the test, you must wait one week before retaking the test.
- If you are 151/2–171/2 years of age, you will need to provide proof that you:
- Completed driver education (Certificate of Completion of Driver Education) OR
- Are enrolled and participating in an approved integrated driver education/driver training program (Certificate of Enrollment in an Integrated [Classroom] Driver Education and Driver Training Program).
For more information, refer to the Provisional Licensing (FFDL 19) Fast Facts brochure at www.dmv.ca.gov.
The provisional permit is not valid until you start your behind-the- wheel driver training with an instructor or reach age 171/2.
If you have a permit and plan to drive outside of California, check licensing requirements in that state or country.
NOTE: If you are at least 171/2 years of age, you may obtain a permit without completing driver education or driver training. How- ever, you cannot get a driver license before you are 18 years old, or you must provide proof of driver education and driver training completion.
Minors Permit Restrictions
Your permit is not valid until you begin driver training; your instruc- tor will sign the permit to validate it. You must practice with a licensed California driver: parent, guardian, driving instructor, spouse, or an adult 25 years of age or older. The person must sit close enough to you to take control of the vehicle at any time. A provisional permit does not allow you to drive alone – not even to a DMV office to take a driving test.
Minors Drivers License Requirements
You must:
- Be at least 16 years old.
- Prove that you have finished
both driver education and driver training.
- Have had a California instruction permit or an instruction permit from another state for at least six months.
- Provide parent(s) or guardian(s) signature(s) on your instruction permit stating that you have completed 50 hours of supervised driving practice (10 hours must be night driving)
- Pass the behind-the-wheel driving test. You have three chances to pass the driving test while your permit is valid. If you fail
the behind-the-wheel driving test, you must pay a retest fee for a second or subsequent test and wait two weeks before you are retested.
Once you have your provisional driver license, you may drive alone, as long as you do not have any collisions or traffic violations.
When you become 18 years old, the "provisional" part of your driver license ends. You may keep your provisional photo license or pay a fee for a duplicate driver license without the word "provisional."
During the first 12 months after you are licensed, you cannot drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and you cannot transport passengers under 20 years of age, unless you are ac- companied by a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 years of age or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor.
