Quick facts TL;DR · 5 bullets
✓ A minor applies for an instruction permit at 15½; a parent or guardian signs the application and accepts financial responsibility.
✓ Driver education is required for applicants 15½ to 17½ — a Certificate of Completion or enrollment in an integrated program — plus 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training.
✓ The under-18 knowledge test has 46 questions; 38 correct are needed to pass, with a 7-day wait before a retake.
✓ A teen holds the permit at least 6 months and logs 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night) before the drive test.
✓ A permit holder can never drive alone; the provisional license that follows limits night driving and passengers for the first 12 months.
Permit age 15½ with driver education
Parent/guardian Signs & accepts financial responsibility
Knowledge test 46 Q · 38 to pass under 18
Permit hold 6 months minimum
Practice hours 50 (10 at night)
Drive alone? Never on a permit
For drivers under 18, a California driver’s license runs through a longer, supervised path than the adult one. It starts with an instruction permit at 15½, requires driver education, and builds in a six-month waiting period and 50 hours of logged practice before the behind-the-wheel test. This guide covers the under-18 path specifically; drivers 18 or older follow the shorter adult permit path.
How the teen permit works
An instruction permit is a learning credential, not a license — it lets a minor practice driving while supervised, so every requirement is built around building experience safely before the drive test.
- Driver education is the entry point. A minor 15½ to 17½ needs a driver education Certificate of Completion (or enrollment in an integrated driver education/training program) before the permit is issued.
- A parent or guardian signs. The signature on the application accepts financial responsibility for the teen’s driving.
- The knowledge test is age-specific. The under-18 test is 46 questions, and 38 correct are needed to pass. A vision check is done the same day.
- Supervision is constant. A permit holder can’t drive alone at any time. A California-licensed driver 25 or older — or a licensed parent, guardian, or driving instructor — has to be in the front passenger seat.
Once the permit is in hand, the clock starts on the six-month hold, the 50 practice hours, and the 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training that all have to be done before the drive test.
Provisional license limits
Passing the drive test before 18 produces a provisional license, not a full one. For the first 12 months, provisional limits apply (Vehicle Code §12814.6):
- No driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- No carrying passengers under 20
- Both limits are lifted when a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor rides along
The restrictions end automatically when the driver turns 18 — there’s nothing to renew or reapply for. Exceptions exist for documented work, school, medical, or family needs when a signed note explaining the necessity is carried.
How to apply — step by step
The under-18 path, in order. The drive test is always the last step and always in person.
1
Create MyDMV accounts
Both the teen and a parent or guardian set up a MyDMV account — the application (an eDL 44) is started online before the office visit.
2
Complete driver education
Applicants 15½–17½ finish a DMV-licensed driver education course (Certificate of Completion) or enroll in an integrated driver education/training program before the permit is issued.
3
Apply and pass the knowledge test
A parent or guardian signs to accept financial responsibility. At the office you pass a vision check and the 46-question knowledge test — 38 correct to pass. Prep with our free practice tests; a failed test can be retaken after 7 days.
4
Practice and train
Hold the permit at least 6 months, complete 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training, and log 50 hours of supervised driving — 10 of them at night — with a California-licensed driver 25 or older.
5
Take the drive test
After the 6-month hold and 50 logged hours, schedule the in-person behind-the-wheel drive test. Passing it converts the permit to a provisional license.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in California?
A minor can apply for an instruction permit at 15½, provided they have started or completed driver education. The permit itself doesn't allow solo driving — it's for supervised practice toward the drive test.
Does my teen need driver education for the permit?
Yes. Applicants aged 15½ to 17½ need a driver education Certificate of Completion, or proof of enrollment in an integrated driver education/training program, before the permit is issued. Adults skip this — see the adult permit path.
How many questions are on the under-18 permit test?
The under-18 knowledge test has 46 questions, and 38 correct answers are needed to pass. A failed test can be retaken after a 7-day wait, for up to three attempts before reapplying.
How long must a teen hold the permit before the drive test?
At least 6 months. During that time the teen logs 50 hours of supervised practice (10 at night) and completes 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training.
Can a permit holder drive alone?
No — a teen on an instruction permit can never drive unsupervised. A California-licensed driver 25 or older (or a licensed parent, guardian, or driving instructor) must be in the front passenger seat at all times.
What are the provisional license restrictions?
For the first 12 months, a provisional (under-18) license holder can't drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or carry passengers under 20, unless a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor is in the car. The limits lift automatically at 18 (Vehicle Code §12814.6).
How long is the permit application valid?
The application and fee are valid for 12 months. All requirements — driver education, the tests, the 6-month hold, and the practice hours — must be met within that window, or the applicant reapplies and pays again.
Related guides
Other guides readers of this page also use.
Adult permit (18 and older) No driver ed, no 6-month wait The behind-the-wheel drive test What to bring, how to schedule, retakes The knowledge test Question counts, retakes, languages First-license documents Identity, SSN, residency
About this guide
Published by
DMVCA· an independent California DMV information publisher
Fact-checking
Fact-checked against primary sources — the California Vehicle Code, DMV publications, and government sources — and cited on the page.
Update cadence
Reviewed quarterly and after any federal or state policy change.
Sources. California DMV — Instruction permits · California DMV — Teen drivers · California Vehicle Code §12814.6 (provisional licenses) · California Driver's Handbook
Last verified July 16, 2026 · reviewed quarterly and after any policy change.