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Improv Traffic School is defensive driving made easy!
Getting a teen driver license in California
To reduce teen auto crashes and related death and injuries, the state of California adopted the Graduated Driver's License (GDL) law in 1997.
Under this rule, new teen drivers must:
- Complete this online driver education course (which you'll do. We guarantee it.)
- Practice DMV questions at the end of the course.
- Once you done with course, we'll send you your Certificate of Driver Ed Completion (Form OL 237).
- Take Certificate of Driver Ed Completion Form OL237 and your birth certificate with you when you go to DMV to take your permit test.
- Make sure sure that the driving school you choose is licensed by CA DMV. Click here for a list.
- Make an appointment with DMV.
- Bring the DMV Application Form DL 44, Behind-The-Wheel School's Form OL 392 and our Certificate of Driver Ed Completion (Form OL 237) to the DMV. The DMV does not offer the form DL 44 online because it requires original signatures.
- Pass DMV written traffic law test (46 questions on the test. You need to answer 39 correctly.) You will have three chances to pass. If you fail, you can't retake the test for seven days.
- DMV will also test your eyesight, so if you wear glasses or contacts make sure to bring it with you.
- Pay the DMV fee. This will cover three attempts to pass your DMV written and driving tests.
- Get your picture taken.
- Give a thumb print.
- You'll also need to bring proof of birth evidenced by at least one of these documents:
- Your original or certified copy of your birth certificate, OR an acceptable document showing date of birth/legal presence. Some examples of these documents include the following:
- U.S. birth certificate
- Proof of Indian Blood Degree
- U.S. passport
- Official U.S. Armed Forces Identification Card
- Naturalization certificate
- Permanent Resident Card
- Passport from another country or Mexican Border Crossing Card (with a valid I-94 form)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Adoption documents that contain your full legal name after adoption
- Name change documents that show your full legal name prior to and after the name change
- Marriage certificate
- A registration/declaration document or certificate that verifies a domestic partnership
- Certificate of dissolution of marriage or other document that proves this, which states your legal name after court action was taken
- Your Social Security Number (which will be verified with the Social Security Administration, so no shenanigans.)
Complete 50 hours of driving practice with an adult (25 years or older).
Hold a provisional learner's permit for six months.
Pass the driver test at a DMV location and get your provisional license.
Age Requirements
Depending on your age you will need to take different steps to obtain your license.
California Driver Handbook
To read the handbook online, bookmark the California Driver Handbook.
Adult-Supervised Driving
Six hours of required driver's training with licensed driving school, is a bare minimum that is required by law. A new teen driver is also required to practice driving for an additional 50 hours with a parent or guardian over the age of 25. Out of 50 hours that are required by California law, 10 hours of this driving practice must be at night.
CA DMV has published a Parent-Teen Training Guide filled with training suggestions, skill building exercises and self-testing.
Since your teen is required to have a learners permit for six months prior to taking their driver license test, they should have plenty of opportunities to practice. Think of this as an opportunity to have a personal driver for the next six months. Fair trade considering you were driving them for last 16 years.
