It takes at least six months for a Californian under 18 to get a first driver’s license. These are the steps.
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1: Classroom or online instruction. To get a learner’s permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles, you need a certificate showing you’ve passed an approved driver education program. (This is not the behind-the-wheel training; that comes later.) This initial instruction, 30 hours total, can be taken in secondary school, through a driving school or by completing a sanctioned online course. The online courses cost about $20. Most driving schools offer a package deal for the driver ed course plus behind-the-wheel training.
2: Get a California Instruction Permit. At age 15½, a teen can get a permit by submitting an application (including parent’s signature) and the instruction certificate, showing proof of identification, passing the knowledge test and paying the $45 fee. This process can be started online; the applicant will have to go to a DMV office for the final steps, which include the vision exam. If you want a REAL ID, you’ll also need the supporting identification and residency documents.
3: Behind-the-wheel training from a certified instructor. Before driving with anyone else, an under-18 permit holder must complete a first behind-the-wheel session through a driving school or a secondary school’s driving course. Once that has been signed off on, the teen can start practicing with a parent or other adult in the car – but must also complete the full six hours with the licensed instructor. In the Bay Area, this usually is done in three sessions, costing about $600. Upon completion of the six hours, the driver will get a certificate that’s required for the license.
4: Six months of practice. The DMV wants a learning driver to get 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience in the six-month waiting period, with 10 of those hours at night. This can be with a parent or any licensed driver 25 or older.
5: Behind-the-wheel test. Six months from the date of the instruction permit’s issuing, the driver can take the behind-the-wheel test. They need to schedule that with the DMV and bring the certificate from the licensed instructor, plus the instruction permit signed by a parent indicating they’ve completed 50 hours of practice. The applicant provides the car for the test; it must pass the examiner’s safety inspection, and the driver must show proof of insurance and registration. The test takes about 20 minutes.
An under-18 driver who completes the above steps will get what’s called a provisional license, which has some restrictions for the first year.
Can I take the knowledge test online rather than at the DMV office?
Yes, the online test – “MVProctor” – is now available for minors. The option will be presented when you fill out an application online. It needs to be taken on a computer with a webcam (not a mobile device) and is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. A parent or guardian needs to give permission for anyone under 18.
How many questions do I have to get right?
The test for under-18 applicants is 46 questions, with a passing score of 80%, or 38 correct.
How many tries do I get for the knowledge test?
Three. Minors have to wait seven days before retaking the test. If you fail twice in the online test, you have to go to an office for the final try.
Is there a deadline for taking the driving test?
The learner’s permit is good for a year. If it expires before you take the behind-the-wheel test, you need to apply for a permit all over again and pay another fee, but you don’t have to wait another six months before you take the behind-the-wheel test.
What if I fail the driving test?
You get three tries. After failing a test, you have to wait 14 days and pay a $9 retest fee. If you fail three times, you have to start a new application, including paying a new fee.
Do I have to go through this if I’m 18?
In California, an adult who has never had a driver’s license has to get a learner’s permit before taking the behind-the-wheel test. But if you are over 17½ years when you get your learner’s permit, you don’t have to do the driver education course or the six hours with a certified instructor.
