How to apply for a provisional permit if you are under 18

To apply for a provisional permit, you will need the following:

 Be at least 15 ½, but under 18 years of age

 Visit a DMV office (make an Appointment(s) for faster service)
 Complete the application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be submitted.
Copies obtained by xeroxing, faxing, or other methods will not be accepted.)
 Have your parents’ or guardians’ signatures on the application form DL 44
 Give a thumb print
 Have your picture taken
 Provide your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security
Administration while you are in the office.
 Verify your birth date and legal presence
 "Provide your true full name if your name no longer matches the name on your
birth date legal presence document."
 Submit the proper form(s) for driver education and/or driver training classes (See
below for details.)
 Pay the application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within
the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver
license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the
application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
 Pass a vision exam
 Pass a traffic laws and sign test. There are 46 questions on the test. A passing
score is at least 39 correct answers. You have three chances to pass the test. If
you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or
audio exams after 4:30 p.m.

Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements

If you are 15 ½ to 17 ½ years of age, you will need to provide proof that you:

 Completed driver education (Form DL 387 or OL 237) and are taking driver
training (DL 392 or OL 392)

OR

 Completed driver education and driver training (DL 387, DL 388, DL 388A, OL
237, or OL 238).

OR

 Are enrolled and participating in an approved integrated driver education/driver

training program (DL 400).
NOTE:If your driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than
California, DMV will accept either a

 “To Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools” form (DL 33)
form completed by the out-of state secondary school. Obtain a DL 33 form
from your local DMV office or by calling DMV at 1-800-777-0133. Send the
DL 33 form to your out-of-state secondary school to complete.
 letter from your out-of state secondary school on the out-of-state secondary
school's stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses you
have taken are equivalent to a California secondary school course described
in Section 10020 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

An out-of-state driving instructional permit is not acceptable proof of driver education

and driver training.

If you are over 17 ½ but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without
the driver education and driver training certificates however, you will not be able
to take the driving test until you turn 18.

Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit.

A parent, guardian, spouse or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California
driver license, must be with you when you drive. He or she must sit in a position close
enough to take control of the vehicle, if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at
any time.

Before being eligible to take your driving test you must:

 Be 16 years old

AND

 Have held your permit for a minimum of six months

AND

 Have completed driver education

AND

 Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training

AND
  Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult
must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice.
At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

To take your driving test, you will need to:

 Make a driving test Appointment(s) . (Driving tests are not given without an
appointment.) You may also call 1-800-777-0133 between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, to make a driving test appointment.
 Provide proof of financial responsibility

After you pass your driving test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days
until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Check your address before you
leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is
incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call 1-800-777-0133 to
check on the status. Have your interim license with you to provide information when
requested.

If you fail your driving test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again.
You have three chances to pass.

If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV
will accept either a To Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33
completed by the out-of state school, or a letter on the out-of state school’s stationery
signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to California’s
requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable proof.

Provisional Instruction Permit - Cumulative Credit

Your driver license application is valid for 12 months from the application date. If your
application will expire before you have held your provisional instruction permit for six
months, you must return to DMV and start a new application. You will need to pay the
application fee and fulfill all application requirements. Take your instruction permit with
you to DMV. You will be credited for the time you have held your instruction permit and
receive cumulative credit towards your subsequent provisional instruction permit to
meet the six-month requirement before taking your driving test.

You must keep the expired instruction permit with your new instruction permit until you
pass your driving test. The new instruction permit and the expired permit is the only
proof of credit that satisfies the six-month requirement. When a new application is
started, DMV does not retain the previous application information. If you lose your
expired instruction permit, without the necessary proof of a previous application, the full
six-month waiting period will be required before you will be allowed to take your driving
test.
Bring both your instruction permits with you when you take your driving test.

Parents’ or guardians’ signatures - accepting liability for a minor

A minor’s application for a driver license must have the signatures of:

 Both parents, if the parents are California residents and have joint custody, or
 Both parents, if divorced, with joint custody, or
 One parent, if that parent has custody, or
 Guardians of the minor, if neither parent is living or has custody, or
 The person(s) having actual full and complete custody, if no legal guardian is
appointed.

NOTE: Nonresident parents cannot sign the application form and cannot accept liability
for a minor in California. Nonresident military parents stationed and living in California
can sign the application form and accept liability for a minor.

When parents or guardians sign for a minor to get a driver license, they are stating that
they will accept financial responsibility for that minor. Financial responsibility in
California requires that drivers and vehicle owners carry the following minimum
monetary limits:

 $15,000 for injury or death of 1 person per accident

 $30,000 for injury or death of 2 or more persons per accident
 $5,000 for any property damage per accident

Evidence of financial responsibility must be carried at all times in the vehicle. Most
Californians maintain financial responsibility through insurance companies, which
provide the policy holder with an identification card to be used as evidence of coverage.
The card must state the insurance company’s name and address, the period of
coverage, and policy number.

Driver Education and Driver Training Information

You may take driver education (classroom training) or driver training (behind-the-wheel)
in a public or private high school, or in a state licensed, professional driving school.

Driver Education and Driver Training courses must be conducted as prescribed by the
Department of Education. Driver Education must consist of at least 30 hours or 2 1/2
semester periods of professional classroom instruction. Driver training must consist of at
least six hours of behind-the-wheel professional instruction.
Professional schools and instructors in California are licensed by the DMV. Schools
must carry liability insurance, be bonded, and maintain complete records for DMV
inspection. Their teaching cars are subject to inspection every 6 months. Instructors
must pass qualifying examinations every three years, or show proof of continuing
education in traffic safety.

NOTE:If your driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than
California, DMV will accept either a

 “To Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools” form (DL 33)
form completed by the out-of state secondary school. Obtain a DL 33 form
from your local DMV office or by calling DMV at 1-800-777-0133. Send the
DL 33 form to your out-of-state secondary school to complete.
 letter from your out-of state secondary school on the out-of-state secondary
school's stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses you
have taken are equivalent to a California secondary school course described
in Section 10020 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

An out-of-state driving instructional permit is not acceptable proof of driver education

and driver training.

Provisional driver license restrictions during the first year

Effective January 1, 2006, a new law will increase driving restrictions for persons under the age of
18 who:

 Are issued a provisional driver license (DL) on or after January 1, 2006, or

 Already hold a provisional DL issued on or after January 1, 2005.

Provisional Driving Restrictions—You must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent,

guardian or other licensed driver 25 years of age or older or a licensed or certified driving
instructor when you:

 Transport passengers under 20 years of age at any time, for the first twelve
months.
 Drive between 11 pm and 5 am for the first twelve months.

To determine if these restrictions apply to you, look at the date on your driver license.
The date printed just to the left of your photograph is the date these restrictions begin.
The new restrictions apply for 12 months following this date. For example: If the date
on your license is May 7, 2005, you will have the above restrictions through May 7,
2006. Violation of either restriction can result in a fine and/or community service.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you turn 18
years of age, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an
adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you
applied.

Exceptions to Restrictions

When reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for you to drive, the
law grants the following exceptions for minors to drive between 11 pm and 5 am or to
transport an immediate family member unaccompanied and unsupervised.

The law allows the following exceptions when reasonable transportation is not available
and it is necessary for you to drive. A signed note must be kept in your possession for
any of these exceptions explaining the necessity and the date when the driving
necessity will end (except emancipated minors).

 Medical necessity when reasonable transportation alternatives are inadequate.

The note must be signed by your physician, and contain the diagnosis and
probable date of recovery.
 Schooling or school-authorized activity. The note must be signed by your school
principal, dean, or his/her designee.
 Employment necessity and the need to operate a vehicle as part of your
employment. The note must be signed by your employer verifying employment.
 Your necessity or the necessity of an immediate family member. The note must
be signed by your parent or legal guardian.
 If you are an emancipated minor, no documentation is needed. However, you
must have already declared yourself emancipated and provided DMV with Proof
of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of your guarantors’ signatures.