Getting Your Driver’s Permit Is Easy!
- Step 1-Take Our Driver’s Ed Course
- Step 2-Enroll in a Behind-The-Wheel Training Class
- Step 3-Get Your Permit at The DMV
- Step 4-Pass a Behind-The-Wheel Training Course
- Step 5-Practice! Practice! Practice!
- Step 6-Apply for your first-time Driver's License
- About CA's Graduated Driver Licensing Process
Step 1-
Take Our Driver’s Ed Course
You are required to pass a driver’s education course before you can earn your learner’s permit in California. Minimum age: 15 years.
- Pass the course. (Which you'll do. We guarantee it.)
- Once you pass the course, we'll send you your Certificate of Completion (Form OL 237).
- Bring your Certificate of Completion form with you to the DMV. This will prove you've passed the course and allow you to take your Driver’s Permit Test.
Step 2-
Enroll in a Behind-the-Wheel Training Class - but don't take the class yet!
You will need to complete a driver’s training program before you can apply for your learner’s permit. Minimum age: 15 years, 6 months.
- Sign up for Behind-the-Wheel Training. (This is a 6-hour course.)
- The Behind-the-Wheel School will issue you a Form OL 392.
Step 3-
Get Your Permit at the DMV
Be sure you have all your forms in order before you head to the DMV to take your driver’s permit test. (See FORMS YOU’LL NEED)
- Take the DMV Form DL 44, Behind-The-Wheel School's Form OL 392, and our Certificate of Completion (Form OL 237) to the DMV.
- Pass a written traffic law and sign test.
- There are 46 questions on the test. A passing score is at least 39 correct answers. You have 3 chances to pass the driver’s permit test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again. Bummer!
- Pass a vision exam
- Pay the fee! This fee entitles you to 3 exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver's license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.
- Get your picture taken
- Give a thumb print.
- You'll also need to bring:
- 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
- Documentation stating your full name. Documents that verify this are:
- 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).
As soon as you pass your written test, you will be issued a driver’s permit.
Step 4-
Pass a Behind-the-Wheel Training Course
- Complete at least 6 hours of professional driver training
- Legally, you must complete this course before moving on and practicing with your parent or legal guardian
Step 5-
Practice! Practice! Practice!
- You're done with the Professional Driving Instructor –now comes the hard part: driving 50 HOURS with your parents! (Word to the wise - stay calm, smile a lot, and try not to get too frustrated - even though every bone in your body will be aching to yell! But remember - this is no picnic for your parents, either.)
- 10 of these hours must be done at night.
- The 50 hours cannot be done in less than 6 months. (In other words, once you pass our Driver’s Ed online course and the Behind-the-Wheel training, you have to wait 6 months to apply for your new driver’s license.)
About CA's Graduated Driver Licensing Process
(All new drivers under 18 years of age fall under California's graduated driver licensing program.)
- Getting Your Provisional License: After you get your driver’s permit and have had it for 6 months, you can apply for your Provisional (Driver’s) License. To obtain a provisional first-time driver license, you must be at least 16 years old, but less than 18, and have your learner’s permit.
- Once You Have Your Provisional License: You must follow the rules listed below. Any violation and you could forfeit your new driver’s license.
- For the first year (or until you turn 18), unless a licensed driver age 25 or older is present, you can't have any passengers under 20 years old in the car. Exceptions can be made for family needs.
- For the first year (or until you turn 18), you cannot drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older. There are exceptions to the rule. If you have a statement from the appropriate school official, employer, doctor or parent/guardian stating why you should be allowed to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., you may be allowed to drive
- Any violation can result in either court-ordered community service or a fine. Tickets will be issued ONLY if an officer stops you for another violation.
- And REMEMBER to always maintain a clean driving record. One citation or at-fault crash will result in a DMV warning. Two or more violations will result a restricted or suspended license.
- When you reach 18 years of age and if you have no outstanding DMV or court-ordered restrictions, suspensions, or probation, then you can get your full license.
- And best of all, you don't have to go back to the DMV to get your full license. The DMV will automatically upgrade you!
How To Get License
Steps You Need To Take
Find everything you need to know about getting your license. From signing up to applying for your license. It's all right here in "Steps to Get Your License".
Got Questions?
Get the answers you need to questions you ask the most including details about the course, concerns about getting your license and info about our company.
Forms You’ll Need
Before you head out to apply for your license, make sure you're prepared. In this section, you'll find a list of the forms and documents you will probably need.
Start working on getting your license.
Take our award-winning Online Driver's Ed Course.
