GETTING STARTED

GETTING STARTED

Are you under 18?

If you are under 18, you must:

Complete Driver's Education

 

 

You must enroll and complete a Driver’s Education program. Once completed you must show proof of completion of a Driver’s Education program when you go to take the permit test. You may sign up for a Driver’s Training program before or after taking your permit test. In order to start driving you must enroll in a Driver’s Training program.

 

 

 

Pass the DMV permit test

 

 

 

This test is a 46 multiple choice question test issued at the DMV. You must be at least 15 1/2 years old to take this test. Driver's education will prepare you for this test. We also recommend you study the California driver’s handbook for this test. An appointment is not necessary but is recommended. In order to take this test, you will need to bring the following to the DMV:

• Completed DL44 - application for driving license

• Government issued birth certificate or passport

• Social Security Card

• Certificate of completion of Driver's education (blue or pink certificate)

While at the DMV you will need to pay the application fee, take an eye exam, a photo and give a thumb print

NOTE: Once you pass the permit test and issued the permit, it is NOT LEGAL TO DRIVE until it is validated by a licensed driving instructor. This is done on the first behind the wheel driving lesson.

 

 

You will need complete at least 56 hours of driving over the next six months

 

 

 

The DMV requires that you hold the permit for at least 6 months before you can take the drive test. There is a minimum of 56 required hours of driving experience before the drive test may be taken. Generally 50 hours are done with parents/guardians or a licensed adult 25 years of age or older. Ten of these 56 hours must be done at night. The State of California requires a minimum of 6 hours be completed with a licensed driving instructor. In some cases more hours may be needed.

 

 

 

Once completed you will be given a Certificate of Completion making you eligible to take the DMV drive test.

 

 

 

Taking and passing the DMV drive test

 

 

 

This is a behind the wheel test at the DMV. You must make an appointment for this test. You will need to take the following documents with you to the DMV for this test:

• Certificate of completion of Driver’s training (gold certificate)

• California provisional permit

• Valid and current registration for the car being used for the test

• Valid and current proof of insurance for the car being used for the test

 

 

The car used for the drive test will undergo a safety inspection by a DMV examiner. They will check brake lights, turn signals and the horn to make sure these items are in proper working condition. If for whatever reason one or more of these is not in proper working condition you will not be able to take the test and the test will need to be rescheduled.

 

 

 

The DMV drive test will consist of the following, but is not limited to: Turns, lane changes, lane and speed control, traffic checks and backing up along the curb.

 

 

 

You may miss up to 15 points on the DMV drive test. If you fail, you will need to wait two weeks before taking the driving test again. There is a $6 retest fee for each driving test that you retake. You will have 3 tries upon failing a third time you will need to start the process all over again.

 

 

 

Are you over 18?

 

 

 

If you are over 18, you must:

 

 

 

Pass the DMV permit test

 

 

 

This test is a 46 multiple choice question test issued at the DMV. We recommend you study the California driver’s handbook for this test. An appointment is not necessary but is recommended. In order to take this test, you will need to bring the following to the DMV:

• Completed DL44 - application for driving license
• Government issued birth certificate or passport
• Social Security Card

 

 

Taking and passing the DMV drive test

 

 

 

This is the behind the wheel test at the DMV. You must make an appointment for this test. You need to take the following documentation with you to the DMV for this test:

• California Permit
• Valid and current registration for the car being used for the test
• Valid and current proof of insurance for the car being used for the test

The car used for the drive test will undergo a safety inspection by a DMV examiner. They will check brake lights, turn signals and the horn to make sure these items are in proper working condition. If for whatever reason one or more of these is not in proper working condition you will not be able to take the test and the test will need to be rescheduled.

The DMV drive test will consist of the following, but is not limited to: Turns, lane changes, lane and speed control, traffic checks and backing up along the curb.

You may miss up to 15 points on the DMV drive test. If you fail you will need to retake the test. Since you are over 18 years old you will not need to wait two weeks before retesting. There is a $6 retest fee for each driving test that you retake. You will have 3 tries upon failing a third time you will need to start the process all over again.

NOTE: Driver’s training is not required for those over 18 years of age, but we do recommend that everyone do some behind the wheel training so that they will be familiar on what to expect on the DMV drive test