How to Get Your California Permit License

Complete driver's education

Required before applying if you're under 17½: 30 hours of classroom instruction (or an approved home-study/online course) plus 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor, split into three 2-hour lessons. Your provider issues completion certificates (OL 237 for education, OL 237A for training).

• Driver education completion certificate (OL 237)
• Driver training completion certificate (OL 237A)

Apply for your instruction permit

Submit a DL 44 application co-signed by a parent or guardian, along with proof of identity, proof of California residency, and your Social Security number. The application fee covers your permit, up to three knowledge test attempts, and one road test attempt — confirm the current amount on the CA DMV site, as it can change.

• Completed DL 44 application (parent/guardian co-signature)
• Proof of identity (birth certificate or passport)
• Proof of California residency (2 documents)
• Social Security number

Pass the vision exam and written knowledge test

Done in person at a DMV field office: vision screening, a photo, and the 46-question written knowledge test. You need at least 38 correct (83%) to pass.

Log 50 hours of supervised practice

At least 10 of the 50 hours must be at night. A parent, guardian, licensed driver 25 or older, or certified instructor must supervise and sign off on the log. You may only drive with one of these supervisors in the car while on the permit.

Hold the permit at least 6 months

California requires holding the instruction permit for a minimum of 6 full months before you're eligible to schedule the road test — this waiting period does not apply to applicants 18 or older.

Pass the road (drive) test

A DMV examiner rides along for roughly 15-25 minutes, scoring standard maneuvers like turns, lane changes, parking, and intersection handling.

Receive your provisional license

For the first 12 months, you can't drive unsupervised between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and can't carry passengers under 20 unless a parent, guardian, or licensed driver 25+ is also in the car.

Move to a full license

Once you turn 18, or after completing the 12-month provisional period (whichever comes first), the passenger and nighttime restrictions end and you hold a full, unrestricted California license.

Apply for your instruction permit

No driver's education course is required at this age. Submit a DL 44 application with proof of identity, proof of California residency, and your Social Security number, and pay the application fee (confirm the current amount on the CA DMV site).

• Completed DL 44 application
• Proof of identity (birth certificate or passport)
• Proof of California residency (2 documents)
• Social Security number

Pass the vision exam and written knowledge test

Done in person at a DMV field office: vision screening, a photo, and the 46-question written knowledge test. You need at least 38 correct (83%) to pass.

Practice with a supervising licensed driver

There's no mandatory logged-hours requirement or waiting period at this age, but you must always have a parent, guardian, spouse, or a licensed driver 25 or older in the car whenever you drive on the permit, and practicing until you genuinely feel ready is strongly recommended regardless.

Schedule and pass the road test

You can book the road test as soon as you feel ready — there's no minimum permit-holding period for applicants 18 or older. A DMV examiner rides along for roughly 15-25 minutes, scoring standard maneuvers.

Receive your full license

Adult applicants receive a full, unrestricted California driver's license immediately upon passing — there are no provisional-period restrictions at this age.