How to apply for a provisional permit if you are under 18 - $31
To apply for a provisional permit, you will need the following:
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Be at least 15 ½, but under 18 years of age
Visit a DMV office (make an Appointment(s) for faster service)
Complete the application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be submitted. Copies obtained by
xeroxing, faxing, or other methods will not be accepted.)
Have your parents’ or guardians’ signatures on the application form DL 44
Give a thumb print
Have your picture taken
Provide your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you
are in the office.
Verify your birth date and legal presence
“Provide your true full name if your name no longer matches the name on your birth date legal
presence document.”
Submit the proper form(s) for driver education and/or driver training classes (See below for details.)
Pay the application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12–month period
and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the
12–month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
Pass a vision exam
Pass a traffic laws and sign test. There are 46 questions on the test. A passing score is at least 39
correct answers. You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before
taking it again.
Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or audio exams after 4:30
p.m.
Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements
If you are 15 ½ to 17 ½ years of age, you will need to provide a:
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Certificate of Completion of Driver Education.
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Certificate of Completion of Driver Education and Driver Training.
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Certificate of Enrollment In An Integrated (Classroom) Driver Education And Driver Training Program.
OR
OR
NOTE:If your driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept
either a
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“To Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools” form (DL 33) form completed by the out–of
state secondary school. Obtain a DL 33 form from your local DMV office or by calling DMV at 1–800–
777–0133. Send the DL 33 form to your out–of–state secondary school to complete.
letter from your out–of state secondary school on the out–of–state secondary school’s stationery
signed by a school official stating that the courses you have taken are equivalent to a California
secondary school course described in Section 10020 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
An out–of–state driving instructional permit is not acceptable proof of driver education and driver training.
If you are over 17 ½ but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without the driver education
and driver training certificates however, you will not be able to take the driving test until you turn 18.
Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit.
A parent, guardian, spouse or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California driver license, must be
with you when you drive. He or she must sit in a position close enough to take control of the vehicle, if
necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at any time.
Before being eligible to take your driving test you must:
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Be 16 years old
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Have held your permit for a minimum of six months
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Have completed driver education
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Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
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Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid
California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have
been done at night.
To take your driving test, you will need to:
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Make a driving test Appointment(s) . (Driving tests are not given without an appointment.) You may
also call 1–800–777–0133 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday, to make a driving
test appointment.
Provide proof of financial responsibility
After you pass your driving test you will be issued an interim license valid for 90 days until you receive your
new photo license in the mail. Check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if
you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call 1–800–
777–0133 to check on the status. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.
If you fail your driving test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three
chances to pass.
If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept either a To
Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33 completed by the out–of state school, or a letter
on the out–of state school’s stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to
California’s requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable proof.
Provisional Instruction Permit – Cumulative Credit
Your driver license application is valid for 12 months from the application date. If your application will expire
before you have held your provisional instruction permit for six months, you must return to DMV and start a new
application. You will need to pay the application fee and fulfill all application requirements. Take your instruction
permit with you to DMV. You will be credited for the time you have held your instruction permit and receive
cumulative credit towards your subsequent provisional instruction permit to meet the six–month requirement
before taking your driving test.
You must keep the expired instruction permit with your new instruction permit until you pass your driving test.
The new instruction permit and the expired permit is the only proof of credit that satisfies the six–month
requirement. When a new application is started, DMV does not retain the previous application information. If
you lose your expired instruction permit, without the necessary proof of a previous application, the full six–
month waiting period will be required before you will be allowed to take your driving test.
Bring both your instruction permits with you when you take your driving test.
Parents’ or guardians’ signatures – accepting liability for a minor
A minor’s application for a driver license must have the signatures of:
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Both parents, if the parents are California residents and have joint custody, or
Both parents, if divorced, with joint custody, or
One parent, if that parent has custody, or
Guardians of the minor, if neither parent is living or has custody, or
The person(s) having actual full and complete custody, if no legal guardian is appointed.
NOTE: Nonresident parents cannot sign the application form and cannot accept liability for a minor in
California. Nonresident military parents stationed and living in California can sign the application form and
accept liability for a minor.
When parents or guardians sign for a minor to get a driver license, they are stating that they will accept
financial responsibility for that minor. Financial responsibility in California requires that drivers and vehicle
owners carry the following minimum monetary limits:
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$15,000 for injury or death of 1 person per accident
$30,000 for injury or death of 2 or more persons per accident
$5,000 for any property damage per accident
Evidence of financial responsibility must be carried at all times in the vehicle. Most Californians maintain
financial responsibility through insurance companies, which provide the policy holder with an identification card
to be used as evidence of coverage. The card must state the insurance company’s name and address, the
period of coverage, and policy number.
Provisional driver license restrictions during the first year
Effective January 1, 2006, a new law will increase driving restrictions for persons under the age of
18 who:
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Are issued a provisional driver license (DL) on or after January 1, 2006, or
Already hold a provisional DL issued on or after January 1, 2005.
Provisional Driving Restrictions—You must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent,
guardian or other licensed driver 25 years of age or older or a licensed or certified driving instructor
when you:
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Transport passengers under 20 years of age at any time, for the first twelve months.
Drive between 11 pm and 5 am for the first twelve months.
To determine if these restrictions apply to you, look at the date on your driver license. The date printed just to
the left of your photograph is the date these restrictions begin. The new restrictions apply for 12 months
following this date. For example: If the date on your license is May 7, 2005, you will have the above
restrictions through May 7, 2006. Violation of either restriction can result in a fine and/or community service.
Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you turn 18 years of age, the
provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will
expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.
Exceptions to Restrictions
When reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for you to drive, the law grants the
following exceptions for minors to drive between 11 pm and 5 am or to transport an immediate family member
unaccompanied and unsupervised.
The law allows the following exceptions when reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for
you to drive. A signed note must be kept in your possession for any of these exceptions explaining the
necessity and the date when the driving necessity will end (except emancipated minors).
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Medical necessity when reasonable transportation alternatives are inadequate. The note must be
signed by your physician, and contain the diagnosis and probable date of recovery.
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Schooling or school–authorized activity. The note must be signed by your school principal, dean, or
his/her designee.
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Employment necessity and the need to operate a vehicle as part of your employment. The note must
be signed by your employer verifying employment.
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Your necessity or the necessity of an immediate family member. The note must be signed by your
parent or legal guardian.
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If you are an emancipated minor, no documentation is needed. However, you must have already
declared yourself emancipated and provided DMV with Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu
of your guarantors’ signatures.
Birth date verification and legal presence requirements
The issue of identification reliability, integrity, and confidentiality is of prime concern to all citizens. Eligibility for
government services, issuance of various licenses, assessment of taxes, the right to vote, etc., are all
determined through evaluations based on identification documents. It is critical that identification documents be
authenticated and accurate in identifying each individual. The California driver license and ID card have been
declared as primary identification documents in this state by the California legislature.
State law requires every applicant for an original California identification (ID) card and driver license to show
verification of birth date and proof of legal presence within the United States to help safeguard the accuracy
and integrity of departmental documents.
If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth date/legal presence document, see "True Full
Name" and "How to Change Your Name" for more information.
Only the original or a certified copy of one of the following documents is acceptable:
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US Birth Certificate (certified copy from state or local vital statistics office)
US Certificate of Birth Abroad or Report of Birth Abroad
Federal Proof of Indian Blood Degree
USCIS American Indian Card
Birth Certificate or passport issued from a US Territory
US Passport or US Passport Card
US Military Identification Cards (Active or reserve duty, dependent of a military member, retired
member, discharged from service, medical/religious personnel)
Common Access Card (only if designated as Active military or Active Reserve or Active Selected
Reserve)
Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Northern Mariana Card
USCIS US Citizen ID Card
Permanent Resident Card
Temporary Resident Identification Card
Canadian Passport/Birth Certificate
Non–resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card
Valid foreign passport with a valid Record of Arrival/Departure (form I–94)
"Processed for I–551" stamped in a valid foreign passport
Permanent Resident Re–entry Permit
Refugee travel document
Certified court order or judgment issued from a court of competent jurisdiction. Must contain name,
birth date, place of birth, legal presence status, and judge’s signature.
Certification from California Department of Corrections or California Youth Authority
Employment Authorization Card
Valid I–94 stamped "Refugee," "Parole or Parolee," "Asylee," or Section 207, Section 208, Section
209, Section 212d(2), HP or PIP
Valid I–94 with attached photo stamped "Processed for I–551 temporary evidence of lawful admission
for permanent residence"
Notice of Action (I–797 Approved Petition) – must indicate approved extension of stay or change in
status that grants temporary or permanent residency, or indicates that an original, duplicate or renewal
Resident Alien card is forthcoming.
Immigration judge’s order granting asylum
Mexican Border Crossing Card with valid I–94
U.S. Border Crossing Identification card with valid I–94
Social security number (SSN) requirement
The Social Security Act allows any state to use the SSN to establish the identification of an individual. The
California Vehicle Code requires the collection of the social security number.
All applicants must submit to DMV their social security number. Evidence of your social security number is
required only on applications for an original commercial driver license and any request to correct a SSN that is
already on the driver record data base, regardless of the class. The SSN is considered confidential and will not
appear on the photo license or be encoded on the magnetic stripe. Any documents that the department is
authorized to release to the public will have the SSN masked. The SSN is electronically verified with Social
Security Administration while you are in the DMV office for all DL/ID card transactions, if it has not already been
verified.
The only documents acceptable for SSN verification are originals of the following:
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Social Security Card (cannot be laminated)
Medicare card
U.S. Armed Forces Identification Cards:
Active–DD 2
Retired–DD 2
Reserved–DD 2
Dependent–DD 173
Military separation document–DD 214
Exception to the SSN requirement:
If you are legally present in the US, but ineligible for an SSN, you are exempt from SSN requirements.
However, you must still provide an acceptable birth date/legal presence document for any DL/ID card
application OR provide a valid SSN.
True Full Name
Your true full name appears on your BD/LP document. If you change your name, then you must provide one of
the following documents to verify your name change:
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Adoption documents that contain the legal name as a result of the adoption.
A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name
change.
Marriage certificate (issued from a local or state Office of Vital Statistics).
A certificate, declaration, or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic
partnership.
Dissolution of marriage document that contains the legal name as a result of the court action.
This document must be issued by a government agency within the United States or a foreign jurisdiction that is
authorized to issue such documents. The document must be a legible and unaltered original or certified copy
with a government seal, stamp or other official imprint. You will need to surrender your current driver license
and/or ID card.
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Information about birth date and legal presence documents.
Information on how to change your name.