If you’re under 17½, in order to get your California learners permit / instruction permit and ultimately your California drivers license, you must take a DMV-approved 30-hour California drivers education course and earn a Certificate of Completion.

With DriversEd.com, you can take your CA drivers education course all online and receive an official Certificate of Completion. DriversEd.com is a DMV-approved online provider of the required 30-hour California drivers education course.

To earn the California provisional instruction permit and eventually the California drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a knowledge test on traffic laws and signs. 70% of test-takers fail on their first try and end up returning to the DMV.

A proven way to increase your chances of passing your learners permit test is with up-to-date online California permit practice tests. Randomly generated questions test your driving knowledge and prepare you for the real deal.

Fifty online practice permit tests come free with our California drivers education course.

Your next step will be to sign up for at least six hours of driving lessons with a licensed driving instructor.

If you’re under 17½ years old, you must show proof of enrollment in drivers training before you can apply for your learners permit. You will begin these driving lessons once you get your learners permit.

Looking for a licensed driving school? Find a professional driving school near you.

When you’re ready to take your written permit test, save time by scheduling your test appointment at your local DMV location by calling 1-800-777-0133 or going to the CA DMV website.

To be eligible for the CA instruction permit, you must:

1. Be at least 15½ years old.
2. If you’re under 17½, show proof of enrollment in drivers training using Form OL 392 signed by a licensed driving instructor.
3. Submit a completed application form DL 44 – available at the DMV office. A parent or guardian must sign this application if you’re under 18.
4. Provide your Social Security number.
5. Give proof of your birth date and legal residence (originals or certified copies only). View acceptable documents.
6. Submit a Certificate of Completion from a DMV-approved California drivers education course if you’re under 17½.
7. Give your thumb print.
8. Pay the $27 application fee. This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12 month period and pays for both your provisional instruction permit and your drivers license. If all requirements are not met within the 12 month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.
9. Pass a vision exam.
10. Pass a traffic laws and sign test. There are 46 questions on the test. You’ll have to answer at least 39 questions correctly. You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait seven days before taking the test again.

Once you pass the test, you will be issued a provisional instruction permit.

Once you have your California provisional instruction permit, you’ll need to practice driving under supervision. A parent, guardian, spouse or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California drivers license, must be with you at all times when you drive.

To get your license before you turn 18, you’ll need to practice driving for at least 6 months before you take the driving test. You must also complete the following:

When you’re ready to take the driving test, make an appointment with your local DMV by calling 1-800-777-0133 or visiting the CA DMV website.

After you pass your driving test, you'll be issued an Interim license that is valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo provisional license in the mail. Double check your address before you leave the DMV and tell the DMV representative if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call 800-777-0133 to check the status.

If you fail your driving test, you’ll have to wait two weeks before you can take the test again. Remember, you have three chances to pass.

Provisional Driving Restrictions for One Year
If you are under 18 and were issued a provisional drivers license (DL) on or after January 1, 2006 or already held a provisional DL issued on or after January 1, 2005, then for one year after receiving your provisional drivers license, you must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, licensed driver 25 years of age or older, or a certified driving instructor when you:

Effective July 1, 2008, a new law will ban the use of cell-phones (with or without hands-free devices), laptops, pagers, and other electronic devices by anyone under 18 who is driving.