California DMV · Checked against dmv.ca.gov on October 9, 2026
How do I get a California driver's license if I'm under 18?
Get an instruction permit at 15½ or older. You need a driver education certificate, a parent or guardian's signature and a passed knowledge test. Then hold the permit for at least 6 months, finish 6 hours of professional driver training and 50 hours of supervised practice (10 of them at night), and take the drive test at 16 or older.
Step 1: The permit (ages 15½ to 17½)
Bring proof that you finished or enrolled in driver education, the application signed by a parent or guardian (both parents with joint custody), proof of identity and residency, and the fee. You take the vision exam and the knowledge test at the office; the pass mark is 80%. You need your own MyDMV account, your parent needs a separate one to approve the application, and a parent or guardian has to come to the appointment.
The permit doesn't work right away
It becomes valid only after your behind-the-wheel training has started and your instructor validates it. Until then you can't use it to practice on the road.
Step 2: Practice
Hold the permit for at least 6 months. Log 50 hours of supervised driving with a California-licensed adult who is 25 or older, including 10 hours at night, plus 6 hours with a professional driving instructor. DMV has a printable Supervised Driving Log for the 50 hours.
Step 3: The drive test (16 or older)
Book an appointment. Bring your permit, a licensed driver 25 or older, and an insured, registered car that passes the pre-drive safety check. If you fail, you wait 14 days before trying again. The application fee covers 3 attempts.
Your first year: provisional rules
For the first 12 months you can't drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and you can't carry passengers under 20 unless a parent, guardian or licensed driver 25 or older is in the car. Exceptions need a signed note for medical, school, work or family needs. You also can't drive for pay.
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FAQ
Can I skip driver ed if I'm almost 18?
From 17½ you can get a permit without the driver education and training certificates, but you can't take the drive test until you turn 18.
How long do I wait after failing the written test?
Under 18, wait 7 days, not counting the day you failed. DMV's Teen Roadmap says 8 days, so plan to retest on day 8 at the earliest.
What if my permit application expires before the 6 months are up?
Reapply. DMV says the time you already held the earlier permit still counts.