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In California, teenagers cannot opt for driver’s licenses, but they can undergo the process, with at least 15 years, requesting an instruction permit before the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Instruction permits are provisional documents that represent a young driver’s first step toward obtaining a valid unrestricted driver’s license in the state . As they are aimed at minors who are learning to drive, these permits have certain legal conditions and, in addition, they have a different application process than a standard driver’s license:
1. Have at least 15 years and a half of age at the time of the formal application.
2. Any minor who undertakes this type of request before the DMV must have a application signed by their parent or legal guardian (according to the case).
3. Report to a DMV office to provide full name and social security number (SSN), which will be verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
4. Present original / certified copy of the birth certificate or valid passport in the United States that is in force. In the case of applicants who were not born in the United States, it will be necessary to present proof of legal status in the country.
5. DMV also requires a residency document that is listed on their list of acceptable documents for this purpose.
6. Provide a document that proves that you have completed a driver’s education program or that you are currently participating in one . This type of program is taught in secondary schools. In the event that the applicant has done it in another state, it may be consigned as long as it is accompanied by a letter signed by the corresponding school authority that ensures that the program in the school of origin is equivalent to that taught in secondary schools in California. This program must be previously approved by the DMV.
7. Allow fingerprinting .
8. Pass an eye exam.
9. Pay the fee corresponding to the application. It is not refundable.
10. At the office, the official who is carrying out the procedure will also request that you enter the signature that will appear on the instruction permit. Next, it will take the corresponding photograph.
11. The last requirement will be present a knowledge test composed of 46 questions. In order to approve and obtain the instruction permit, the DMV will require that at least 38 of them are correct. There are only three opportunities to take the test 7 days apart. If the applicant does not pass any of these opportunities, the DMV will require that they start the process again.
In California, teens who get this rate can only drive in the company of a parent, legal guardian or adult of 25 years or more who has a valid driver’s license in the state . These documents also state that the adult who signed the application will be responsible for all expenses related to the insurance of the car that the minor drives.
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