For students who are 15.5 – 17.5 years old, you’ll need to enroll in a two-hour driving lesson with a professional instructor once you have your permit. After this initial two hour lesson, the instructor will sign the back of your permit and you can start working on the 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice with your parents or guardians. Before getting your license, you’ll also need to complete two (2) additional two-hour lessons with a professional instructor.
If you are 17.5 years old or older, you aren’t required to take any professional driving lessons. Instead, if you’re 17.5 – 18 years old you can practice driving with a parent, guardian, spouse, or adult who is at least 25 years old or older and has a valid California driver license, so long as you're also holding your permit. You can then head to the DMV to take the driving test when you’re officially 18 years old.
If you’re 18 years old or older, you can practice with any adult who is at least 18 years old or older and has a valid California driver license, with your permit. You can head back to the DMV to take the driving test whenever you feel ready to ace the test!
