Quick answer: To get a California learner’s permit, be at least 15 ½ years old, complete a driver training course, and pass the DMV permit exam. You’ll need documents like a birth certificate, a parent or guardian’s signature, and payment for fees.
Getting a California Learners Permit
Do your friends already have their learner’s permits? Are you eager to join them and start driving? Good news—it’s easier than you think! If you’re at least 15 ½ years old in California, you’re eligible to get your learner’s permit and start your driving journey.
How to Get Your California Learners Permit
There are a few basic requirements you need to meet before you apply for your State of California learners permit.
- Be 15 ½ years old.
- Complete a driver training course.
- Take the permit exam at the DMV.
There are a few different choices you and your parents can make when it comes to driver education classes. Once you are 15, you may take your California drivers ed course either online, or you may take the courses in person. Either way, the school must be approved by the state of California. Once you have successfully completed your driver training program, you will receive a certificate from your Drivers Ed school. You will need this when you decide to apply for your permit.
Applying for Your California State Learners Permit
Now that you are ready to get your California State learners permit, you will need to get a few things together for the Department of Motor Vehicles.
What you will need for your exam:
- Glasses or contacts for the eye exam
- Birth certificate and other documents
- A parent or guardian’s signature
- Your thumb for a thumbprint
- Payment for exam fees
If you are worried about what the permit exam has on it, do not stress. All of the answers to the California Permit Exam are found in the California Driver Handbook. If for some reason you do not pass your exam the first time, don’t get too upset. You will have two more chances to take the exam before you need to reapply for your permit, with a new payment.
Restrictions and Requirements with Your California Learners Permit
You have taken your driver training course and passed your learners permit exam. Hooray! However, there are still a few restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your permit.
With your permit you may practice driving with a parent, guardian, driving instructor or an adult 25 years of age or older. You may not drive your friends around in the car, especially not by yourself.
It is important to keep track of the hours you spend behind the wheel driving. You must complete at least 50 hours of behind the wheel driving with a legal guardian before you can take the test for your provisional license. 10 of those hours must be at night.
This may also be a good time for you and your parents to sit down and discuss a Teen Driving Contract. This will help you both to understand what is expected of you and of them when it comes to you driving.
The next step for you will be getting your provisional license. Once you have had your permit for six months, and have completed your fifty hours of behind the wheel training, you may sign up to take your provisional license test at the DMV.
So there you have it! Start working toward your learners permit now.
