Applying for a Driver’s License

To get your driver’s license after you have your instruction permit, you need to:

• Practice driving with a California-licensed driver who is at least 18 years old (25 for minors). This person must sit close enough to take control of the vehicle if needed.
• Pass a behind-the-wheel drive test.

If you are under 18 years old, you will also need to:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have an instruction permit from California or another state for at least 6 months (or turn 18 years old) before scheduling your behind-the-wheel drive test.
• Prove that you completed both driver education and driver training.
• Practice driving for at least 50 hours with a California-licensed driver who is at least 25 years old. Ten hours must be at night.

See the Driver’s Licenses page at dmv.ca.gov/teendriver for the complete list of application steps, requirements, the Parent Teen Driving Contract, and Driving Performance Evaluation (DPE) Score Sheet.