"California Teen Driver Guidelines and CIS Driving School Information"

Instruction Permit Requirements To decrease motor vehicle collisions involving teens, a special “provisional” driver license (DL) and instruction permit are issued to minors. A minor is a person under 18 years old. To obtain a provisional instruction permit in California, you must:

1. Be at least 15 1/2 but under 18 years old.
2. Complete a Driver License or Identification Card Application (DL 44) form, which includes your social security number, if eligible.
3. Have your parents or guardians sign the DL 44. If both parents or guardians have custody, both must sign.
4. Present an acceptable birth date/legal presence document or identity document.
   • Refer to the California Driver Handbook or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website at www.dmv.ca.gov for additional information.
5. Provide a certificate of completion of driver education or enrollment in an integrated driver education/driver training program issued by the school providing the instruction.
   • If your driver education or driving training courses were taken in a state other than California, DMV may accept a To Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools (DL 33) form completed by the out-of-state school. You may obtain a DL 33 form at your local DMV field office, or by calling DMV at 1-800-777-0133.
   • EXCEPTION: If you are at least 17 ½ years old, you may obtain an instruction permit without completing driver education or driver training. However, to get a DL, you must provide proof that you have completed driver education and driver training or wait until you are 18 years old.
6. Pay the required application fee.
7. Pass a vision exam.
8. Have your photograph taken.
9. Give a fingerprint.
10. Pass a knowledge test. To pass the knowledge test, you may miss no more than 8 questions. If you fail, you must wait 7 days (1 week), not including the day the test was failed, before retaking the test.

Instruction Permit Restrictions Your instruction permit is not valid until you begin driver training; your instructor will sign the permit to validate it. You may use your instruction permit to practice with a licensed:

• Parent or guardian.
• California driver 25 years old or older.
• Certified driving instructor.

The person must have a valid DL in their possession and should be positioned to allow them to take control of the vehicle if needed. An instruction permit does not let you drive alone at any time—not even to a DMV office to take the driving test.

DL Requirements To obtain a DL in California, you must:

1. Be at least 16 years old.
2. Have held your instruction permit (in California or another state) for at least 6 months.
3. Provide proof of completion of driver education and driver training.
4. Provide a parent(s) or guardian(s) and instructor(s) signature(s) on your instruction permit verifying that you have completed 50 hours of driving practice (10 hours must be night driving). Refer to the Parent-Teen Training Guide, available at any DMV office or online at www.dmv.ca.gov, for more information.
5. Schedule a driving test online at www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling 1-800-777-0133 during normal business hours.
6. Pass the driving test. If you fail, you must wait 2 weeks, not including the day the test was failed, before taking the driving test again and pay a retest fee for each subsequent driving test. If you fail the drive test 3 times, you will be required to reapply and pay all applicable application fees.

DL Restrictions During the first 12 months, a minor cannot:

• Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Transport passengers under 20 years unless accompanied by a licensed:
  • Parent or guardian.
  • California driver 25 years old or older.
  • Certified driving instructor.

Local laws may further restrict or prohibit driving during specified hours. It is against the law for drivers under 18 years old to use a cellphone or other wireless electronic communication device while driving, including a hands-free device, unless making a call for emergency services or on private property.

Exceptions to Restrictions: When reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for you to drive, the law allows for certain exceptions.

For additional information or to start your driver education, visit CIS Driving School.