What Are The Steps To Get California Driver's License Under 18?

If you or your parents are new to the driver's license process in California, you may feel a little confused or even overwhelmed. Not to fear! We'll break down each step you need to take to obtain your driver's license in California and help ease some of the stress and confusion that comes with the application process.

Step 1: Driver's Ed Course

Your first step is to complete a Driver's Education course in California. If you are under 17 1/2 years old, you are required to complete and pass a 30-hour driver's education course, which may be taken online or in a classroom setting. Note, you must be at least 15 years old to start this course. For your convenience, Coastline Academy offers an online Driver's Ed course, which is DMV-certified. Once you successfully finish your Driver's Education course and pass the final exam, you will be sent your certificate of completion (pink certificate), which you will need for your next steps.

Step 2: Written Test

After you've passed Driver's Ed, the next step is to head to your local California DMV office to take the written knowledge test. The test will consist of 48 questions on a wide variety of topics, all of which are covered during your Driver's Ed course. To pass this test, you cannot get more than eight questions wrong. To help prepare for the written test, Coastline Academy offers free practice tests that you can take as many times as you want.

Step 3: Provisional Instructor Permit

Once you have passed the written test, it's then time to get your learner's permit. You will mostly likely receive your permit during same visit to the DMV office as when you take your written test. Be sure to bring all the documents and fees required to the DMV so you can get your permit without any issues! Remember to check the details of your permit before you leave the DMV

Step 4: Driving Lessons and Driving Practice

With your permit in hand, the next step to getting your driver's license in California is to take six hours of professional driving lessons, which will need to be completed in 2-hour blocks. Coastline Academy offers driving lessons throughout the state of California! Book your lesson here!

Once you have completed your first driving lesson with your instructor, they will sign your permit. This signature officially validates your permit and allows you to practice driving with a parent, guardian or other adult who is at least 25 years old and has a valid driver's license. In addition to these six hours of lessons, you will need to complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent, guardian or adult at least 25 years old with a valid driver's license. Of these 50 hours, 10 of them must be completed at night.

Step 5: Driving Test

In order to be eligible for your Road Test, you must complete all the criteria above and have held your permit for at least six months. Once you have met both of these conditions, you will be able to schedule your behind-the-wheel driving test with the California DMV! Once it's time for your test, don't forget to being all the necessary documents to the DMV office with you.

Step 6: Driver's License!

Once you pass the driving test, the California DMV will issue you an interim California driver's license, which is valid for 90 days. Your provisional driver's license will be mailed to you within those 90 days. With this provisional license, you will be able to drive alone without supervision, but will have to adhere to certain restrictions for the first 12 months:

• You are not allowed to drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• You are not allowed to have any passengers in the car under the age of 20, unless you have a licensed driver over 25 with you.

There are exceptions to these restrictions, which include a medical emergency or immediate need of a family member and school or work-related necessities. As long as you maintain a clean driving record during this time, you will be upgraded from the provisional driver's license once you turn 18 years old and issued a full driver's license, even if your 18th birthday comes before those 12 months are completed.

We know you're anxious to drive! But the California licensing process is designed to ensure safe drivers are getting behind the wheel in California. If you have any questions during this process, always feel free to ask your instructor or reach out to our friendly Support Team!