A California driver under 18 goes through six steps: driver's ed, the instruction permit, the start of professional training, six hours of that training, 50 hours of practice with an adult, and the drive test. The permit has to be held for at least six months before the test.
| Step | What it means | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Driver's education | Complete a driver education program. Your teen must be at least 15½ to apply for a permit. | Teen (an online course works) |
| 2. Instruction permit | Apply at the DMV and pass the vision and knowledge tests. A parent or guardian signs the application. If parents share joint custody, both sign. | Teen and parent |
| 3. Start training | The permit can't be used for driving until a driving instructor validates it at the first lesson. | Driving school |
| 4. Six hours of training | Six hours of professional behind-the-wheel training. | Driving school |
| 5. 50 hours of practice | With a California-licensed driver aged 25 or over. At least 10 of the hours must be at night. | Family |
| 6. Drive test | Your teen must be at least 16 and have held the permit for 6 months, with steps 4 and 5 done. | Teen |
Sources: California Driver's Handbook, section 2 and DMV: driver's licenses. DMV rules can change, so check the pages before each step.
One exception: a teen over 17½ can get a permit without driver's ed or training, but can't take the drive test until 18 (DMV: instruction permits).
A new permit doesn't let your teen practice with you straight away. The DMV says to wait until behind-the-wheel training starts with an instructor who validates the permit.
In practice, your teen can't start the 50 practice hours until the first lesson. Booking that lesson soon after the permit arrives keeps everything else on schedule.
Quick quiz
One to try with your teen before a practice drive.
The 50 hours are the family's job, and they're a separate requirement from the six professional hours. Whoever supervises has to be a California-licensed driver aged 25 or over, and at least 10 of the hours must be after dark.
Keep a simple log as you go: date, hours, day or night, and what you practiced. Mixing in the harder stuff helps too: freeways, rain, busy intersections and parking. In San Francisco, add hills: see how to drive San Francisco's hills.
For the first 12 months, a provisional driver can't do either of these unless a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver aged 25 or over, or a driving instructor is with them:
The law, California Vehicle Code §12814.6, lists a few other exceptions.
On test day your teen needs a car that's safe to drive, valid proof of insurance and registration, and a California-licensed driver aged 25 or over to come along (DMV Handbook, section 3). During the test itself, only the examiner rides with your teen. If the family car or schedule doesn't work, our sister company DMV Rental Car rents a test-ready car with a licensed driver aged 25 or over.
Steps 3 and 4. Teen Behind-the-Wheel Training covers the six required hours as three private 2-hour lessons for $600, with pickup at an approved address in San Francisco or listed San Mateo County cities.
Step 1. If your teen hasn't done driver's ed yet, our online course is $49.95, self-paced, and sold separately.
Step 2. To study for the knowledge test, our DMV practice tests are $24.99.
Your teen needs their original California instruction permit at every lesson.
Private 2-hour lessons in a dual-control automatic car, with pickup in San Francisco and listed San Mateo County cities.
Lessons from $200 for a 2-hour lesson. See all lessons and prices
