California Learners Permit
Your step-by-step path from permit to first drive test
A California learners permit, which DMV calls an instruction permit, lets you practice driving with a licensed driver before you take the drive test. Teens can apply at 15½ with driver education and a parent’s signature. Adults 18 and older who have never held a license apply the same way, without driver education.
By California DMV Appointments Editorial TeamUpdated November 2026Source: California DMV (dmv.ca.gov)
3 must-haves for teens
- Age 15½ and under 18
- Driver education certificate of completion or enrollment
- Parent signature on the DL 44 application
Can I Apply Yet?
Enter your birth date to see when each step of the permit path opens for you.
- Learners permitOpens at 15½—
- Drive test and licenseFrom 16, after 6 months with a permit—
- Permit without driver edFrom 17½; drive test waits until 18—
- Adult rules applyAt 18: no driver ed, no 6-month wait—
When Can You Take the Drive Test With Your Permit?
Add your birth date and the day your permit was issued. The planner works out your earliest drive test date, when your application runs out, how your practice log is going, and what to bring to the test.
Teen tip: book the drive test early. Appointments can fill up, and your application only lasts 12 months.
Nothing you type leaves this page. Dates are estimates; DMV confirms eligibility at your appointment.
Based on your age and the 6-month permit rule.
About 12 months after you applied for the permit.
Teens log at least 50 hours, including 10 at night, with a licensed driver 25 or older.
- Your instruction permit
- Both permits, if you had to reapply
- Driver education and driver training certificates
- Proof of insurance for the test car
What Are the Permit Requirements in California by Age?
The same DL 44 application, knowledge test and vision exam apply to everyone. What changes with age is driver education, the parent’s signature and how long you wait before the drive test.
| Requirement | 15½ to 17½ | 17½ to 18 | 18 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver education | Certificate of completion or enrollment | Optional; without it, no drive test until 18 | Not required |
| Parent signature | Required, plus financial responsibility | Required, plus financial responsibility | Not required |
| Tests at the office | Vision exam and the knowledge test, with a passing score of 80% | ||
| Who rides with you | California-licensed driver 25 or older | California-licensed driver 25 or older | California-licensed driver 18 or older |
| Practice log | 50 hours, 10 of them at night | 50 hours, 10 at night, if testing before 18 | No set number of hours |
| Before the drive test | Hold the permit 6 months and be 16+ | 6 months with driver ed, or wait until 18 | Book once you feel ready |
Tap the chart to open it full size.
What Do You Need to Apply for a Learner’s Permit?
Start the application online, then bring these to the DMV office. Want your card to work for domestic flights later? Choose REAL ID and check our California REAL ID document checklist.
DL 44 application
Fill out the Driver’s License or ID Card Application online before your visit. If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian signs it. With joint custody, both parents sign.
Proof of identity
An accepted identity document, original or certified copy. DMV’s lists cover REAL ID, standard (federal non-compliant) and AB 60 applicants.
Proof of residency
California residency documents. A REAL ID needs two different ones.
Social Security number
If you have one, DMV asks for it on the application and at the office.
Driver ed certificate
For applicants 15½ to 17½. Took driver ed in another state? An official from that school completes form DL 33. An out-of-state permit doesn’t count as proof.
$46 application fee
The Class C application fee is nonrefundable. It stays valid for 12 months and covers the permit and the license that follows.
How Do You Get a Permit in California?
It takes one office visit after the online application. See how to book your written test appointment, and pick a nearby office from our DMV locations guide.
Book and arrive early
Schedule an appointment and bring your documents. Knowledge tests must start before 4:30 p.m.
Pay the fee
Hand in your application and pay the nonrefundable fee.
Vision exam
DMV checks your eyesight at the counter.
Photo
Your picture is taken for the permit and the future license.
Knowledge test
Multiple choice, based on the handbook. Pass with 80% and you leave with your permit.
Test rules, retakes and scoring are on our California DMV written test guide. To prepare, read the California DMV handbook and try our free DMV practice test.
Who Can You Drive With on a Learners Permit?
A permit never lets you drive alone. These are the rules from DMV’s handbook for practice driving.
Teens wait for the instructor. You can’t use the permit until behind-the-wheel training starts and your instructor validates it.
Teens practice with someone 25 or older who holds a California driver’s license.
Log 50 hours, 10 at night, before a teen drive test.
Adults practice with someone 18 or older who has a California license and sits close enough to take control.
The teen path at a glance, from the application at 15½ to the drive test at 16 or older.
How Long Is a California Permit Application Good For?
Your application and fee are valid for 12 months, and a teen has to hold the permit for six of them. Plan the drive test early so the clock doesn’t run out.
Application and fee
If the 12 months end before you finish the six-month permit period, reapply at a DMV office.
Bring both
After reapplying, take both permits to your drive test so DMV credits the time you’ve already held one.
Knowledge test
Each application gives you three attempts at the knowledge test. After that, you start a new application.
Ready for the road test?
Drive tests always need an appointment. Our California DMV driving test appointment guide walks through booking and the pre-drive check.
What comes after the permit?
Teens get a provisional license with first-year limits. Our California driver’s license guide explains those rules and the card itself.
California Learners Permit FAQs
How old do you have to be to get a learners permit in California?
You can apply at 15½. Teens under 17½ also need a driver education certificate of completion or enrollment, and a parent or guardian must sign the application.
Do I need a permit if I’m over 18?
Yes, if you’ve never had a license in any state or country. You get an instruction permit first, then take the drive test.
How much does a California learners permit cost?
The Class C application fee is $46. It’s nonrefundable, stays valid for 12 months, and covers the permit and the license that follows.
How long do you have to hold a permit before the driving test?
Teens must hold the permit for at least six months and be 16 or older. Adults 18 and older can book the drive test once they’re ready.
Who can I drive with on a learners permit?
Teens drive with a California-licensed driver who is 25 or older. Adults drive with a California-licensed driver who is 18 or older and can take control of the car.
Can I get a permit without driver’s ed in California?
Yes, from age 17½. Without driver education you can get the permit, but you can’t take the drive test until you turn 18.
How many practice hours does a teen need?
At least 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 hours at night, along with driver training from an instructor.
What happens if my permit application expires?
The application and fee are valid for 12 months. If they expire before you finish the six-month permit period, reapply at a DMV office and bring both permits to your drive test.