California Teenage Driving Laws: What Teens and Parents Need to Know
To ensure safe driving practices, California teenage driving laws include restrictions on instructional permits and rules for provisional licenses.
Written by R.E. Fulton
The state of
California
places certain restrictions on 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 24 years old in the vehicle, and minors with an instructional permit may not drive alone. But 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 of your own—it’s important to familiarize yourself with the state laws for young drivers. Rules for teen drivers in California
Section 9
of the California Driver Handbook lays out special rules for minors driving in California. A minor is anyone under 18 years old—which happens to be the highest risk category out of all California drivers. In fact, the collision rate per mile for teenage drivers in California is four times greater than the rate per mile for adult drivers. In other words, teen drivers drive fewer miles but have more accidents than drivers over 18 years of age.
Drivers under 18 must follow two different sets of rules in California based on whether they hold an instructional permit or a
provisional license
. We’ll go over both sets of rules so that you and your family know exactly how to stay safe and in compliance. With a learner’s permit
In California, the
driving age
starts at 15 ½ years of age. Once a teenager hits that mark, they’re eligible to apply for an instructional permit
with the consent of a parent or guardian. If the applicant is under 17 ½ years old, they’ll also need to prove that they’ve met the driver education requirements.
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, a legal guardian, or a spouse)
Driving with an adult isn’t just a way to ensure safety on the road—it’s also an important part of California’s licensing process! In order to get a driver’s license, a California teen needs to 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 keep a record of those hours so that you’re ready to submit proof to the DMV along with your license application!Did you find this article helpful?
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With a provisional driver’s license
At age 16, a teen is eligible to apply for a California driver’s license—as long as they’ve held their permit for at least six months. In addition to filling out the DMV’s application form, you’ll need to provide certain identifying documents 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! Remember, until you turn 18, your California license is essentially a provisional permit. Fail to follow the laws, and you could lose your license (and that violation will go on your driving record).
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. For instance, if you need to transport someone due to medical necessity, it’s permissible—but only with a signed note from a doctor. You may be able to drive late at night or with a young passenger for school-related activities, employment, or with an immediate family member—but, again, you’ll need a note signed by your school principal, your boss, or your parent/guardian.
In all cases, the signed note explaining the necessity of driving outside of the legal curfew must include:
- 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 keep the signed note with you at all times when driving outside of your license restrictions. If you get pulled over at 12 a.m. for driving as a minor, you’ll want to have that note ready to show to 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, you don’t need a note in order 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.
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Texting and driving
is a major concern for parents of teenage drivers—and with good reason! 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 (NHTSA)
. The rules around cell phone use for teenage drivers in California are extremely 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.
The only exception to
California’s ban on teen driver cell phone use
applies to emergency situations. 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 in order 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 within 12 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
- Four at-fault collisions or traffic violations while on probation: License suspension
- Conviction for alcohol or drug use between 13 and 21 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 full 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 don’t just have to contend with complicated restrictions on their driving privileges in California—they also 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, it’s essential to buy coverage for a teenage driver despite those high insurance costs—but there’s good news! As a licensed broker with over 55 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. On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance—and you can find savings in the app regardless of your age, your location, or your driving record. Check it out for yourself and see how much you can save!
