California restricts teenage drivers due to the high risks associated with new drivers. Drivers under 18 may not transport passengers under age 20 without an adult over 25 years old in the vehicle, and minors with an instructional permit may not drive alone.
Those are just a couple of the laws laid out by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for teenage drivers. If you’re a teen trying to get your license in California—or if you have teenage kids—it’s important to familiarize yourself with the state laws for young drivers.
Rules for teen drivers in California
Section 2 of the California Driver’s Handbook outlines special rules for minors driving in California. A minor is anyone under 18 years old—which happens to be the age group most likely to get into a car crash.
Drivers under 18 must follow two different sets of rules in California based on whether they hold a learner’s permit or a provisional license. We’ll review both sets of rules so that you and your family know exactly how to stay safe and compliant.
California learner’s permit
For California drivers under 18 years old who have never driven, obtaining a learner’s permit, also known as a provisional instruction permit, is the first step towards a driver’s license. In California, you can apply for a learner’s permit if you are at least 15 ½ and under 18 years old.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, to apply for a provisional instruction permit, you must fill out a Driver License or Identification Card Application form, provide identification documents, meet specific driver’s education requirements, and have permission from a parent or guardian.
If you are at least 17 ½ years old, you do not need to meet any driver education requirements. However, if you want to get your driver’s license before you are 18, you will still need to provide proof of driver training and driver’s education.
Once you’ve got your permit, the rules are pretty simple:
- Your permit is not valid until you begin driver training (e.g., a driver’s ed course)
- A minor with a permit may not drive alone under any circumstances (not even to the DMV)
- You must practice with an adult 25 years or older (e.g., a licensed driving instructor, a parent, or a legal guardian)
Driving with an adult isn’t just a way to ensure safety on the road—it’s also an essential part of California’s licensing process. To get a driver’s license, a California teen must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours of night driving. The California DMV provides a Supervised Driving Log form to record those hours so that you’re ready to submit proof to the DMV along with your license application.
California provisional driver’s license
After a learner’s permit, the next step to getting a California driver’s license is to get a provisional driver’s license. Teens can apply for a provisional driver’s license if they are at least 16 years old and have had their permit for at least six months. In addition to filling out the DMV’s application form, applicants must provide proof of identity and proof of residency and pass both a written knowledge test and a practical driving test.
Once a teenager holds a valid California driver’s license, their driving privileges open up—but not without some restrictions. Failure to follow the laws could cause minors to lose their license (and that violation will go on their driving record), which can affect their insurance rates and future driving opportunities.
For the first year of their license, teenage drivers cannot:
- Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. (i.e., no late-night drives)
- Transport any passengers under 20 years old unless accompanied by an adult 25 years or older, a licensed driving instructor, or a parent/guardian who is a licensed California driver.
There are a few exceptions to these provisional license restrictions, such as needing to drive because of:
- Medical necessity
- School-related activities
- Employment
- Needs for an immediate family member
You’ll need a note signed by your doctor, school principal, supervisor, or parent/guardian in all cases. The signed note explaining the necessity of driving outside of the legal curfew must include the following:
- An explanation of why driving is necessary (i.e., no other reasonable transport is available)
- A predicted end date (e.g., recovery date, end of the school play or football season)
You must always keep the signed note with you when driving outside of your license restrictions. If you get pulled over at midnight for driving as a minor, you’ll want to have that note ready to show law enforcement (along with your license, registration, and proof of insurance).
There’s one final exception to the above restrictions placed on minors with a provisional license. If you are an emancipated minor (and declared so when applying for your license), you don’t need a note to drive for work or other valid purposes. You do, however, need court documents showing that you’ve been legally emancipated—and you’re not exempt from any of the driver training requirements for a valid California driver’s license.
Is it legal to use a cell phone while driving in California?
Using a cell phone to text, make calls, or check social media behind the wheel is a serious form of distracted driving that leads to thousands of car accidents each year, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The rules around cell phone use for teenage drivers in California are simple: it’s illegal for any teen driver to use a cell phone (including a hands-free device) while driving for any purpose. Don’t text; don’t make or receive calls. Any violation of these laws will result in fines, starting with a $20 base fine totaling $162 after additional fees and assessments for a first-time offense.
The only exception to California’s ban on teen driver cell phone use applies to emergencies. If you’re a minor in California, you may use a cell phone to contact law enforcement, emergency services, the fire department, or a health care provider while driving. That said, it’s still a good idea to pull over before calling if possible.
Penalties for violating California teen driving laws
Once you hold a provisional license, it’s up to you to follow all traffic laws to keep your driving privileges. Teenage drivers holding a license are subject to the following penalties for certain violations:
- Failure to appear in court for a traffic ticket: License suspended until you appear in court
- One at-fault collision or traffic violation within 12 months: Warning letter from the DMV
- Two at-fault collisions or traffic violations within12 months: Driving privileges revoked for 30 days (except with a parent or passenger 25 years old or older)
- Three at-fault collisions or traffic violations within 12 months: License suspended for six months and probation for one year
- Additional at-fault collisions or traffic violations while on probation: License suspension
- Conviction for alcohol or drug use between 15 and 20 years old: License suspension for one year
If you’re subject to any of the penalties above, your suspension or probation period will continue for the entire term—even if you turn 18 before it’s up. You’ll also need to pay DMV fines, and you can expect your insurance rate to go up, especially if you’ve got multiple violations.
How to find affordable car insurance for teenage drivers in California
Teen drivers have to contend with complicated restrictions on their driving privileges in California and face some of the highest auto insurance rates of any group. Because insurance companies see new drivers as a high-risk category, they charge more for drivers under 25 years old than for older, more experienced drivers.
Thanks to California’s proof of financial responsibility laws, buying coverage for a teenage driver is essential despite those high insurance costs. As a licensed broker with over 50 partner companies, Jerry can help you find the absolute cheapest car insurance quotes for teen drivers. Sign-up is free, and the whole shopping process takes under a minute.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
Kayda Norman is an insurance writer and editor with more than 12 years of content experience. She previously worked at NerdWallet as an insurance writer and content management specialist. She has covered a wide range of insurance topics such as high-risk drivers, auto insurance rate factors, and credit-based insurance scores. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today.
