Can i get my license at 18 without a permit in california

Q: How do you get your license when your 18 in California?

Be at least 18. Complete the California Drivers License or ID Card Application. Visit a DMV office (schedule an appointment), where you will: Bring your California Identification Card or proof of identity and residency.

Table of Contents Show

Steps to Earning Your Drivers License
Step One: The Learners Permit
Step Two: The Drivers License
Step Three: Become a Licensed Driver
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Age requirements to obtain your California drivers license
Driving Age Requirements in California
Junior permit
Learner's permit
Provisional license w/ completed driver's ed course
Provisional license without driver's ed course
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Do I need a learner's permit after 18 in California?
Do you have to wait 6 months to get your license if your 18 in California?
How do you get your license when your 18 in California?
What age can you get your license in California without a permit?

Steps to Earning Your Drivers License

Getting a California drivers license is an exciting time. There are newfound freedoms that only drivers can understand—like the freedom to pull into a drive-through anytime or never have to ask anyone else for rides!

While the process may not be as quick or easy with adult applicants, teenagers in California don't need to worry. So long as you demonstrate confidence, knowledge of the road, and good driving behavior, you'll soon get your hands on a California drivers license.Let DriversEd.com help you understand California driver license requirements:

Take these steps and get on the right track towards earning your full California unrestricted license by age 18.

Step One: The Learners Permit

At the age of 15½, teens in California can apply for a learners permit (also called a provisional instruction permit). All applicants under 17 ½ are required to take a DMV-approved drivers education course, which includes 30 hours of classroom instructions. Everything covered on the exam can be found in your trusty California Driver Handbook. Be sure to review the handbook and take a few practice tests to ace the exam!

Don't forget to bring the following to the DMV:

Proof of your date of birth and legal residence. See a list of acceptable documents
Proof of Social Security number.
Proof of residency in California.
Certificate of Completion of a DMV-approved drivers ed course.
A completed Form DL 44 available at the DMV, signed by a parent or guardian.
An application fee.

Once you have all that you'll get your permit! Now you can prepare for your driving test with practice, practice, and more practice.

However, note the following restrictions: Every time you drive, you must be accompanied by someone who has at least two years of licensed experience and a valid drivers license. That person must be in the front seat next to you and meet one of the requirements:

A qualified instructor, parent, guardian, or spouse who is over 25
Someone who is 25 or older (in this case, the person must have written permission if the permit holder is under 18)

Step Two: The Drivers License

If you're at least 16, have held a learners permit for at least six months, and completed 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training (including 10 hours at night), you can apply for a provisional license.

Take the Driving Test

Bring the following to your DMV driving test:

Proof of your date of birth and legal residence. See a list of acceptable documents.
Proof of insurance for the vehicle you'll be driving during your road skills test.

Once you pass, you'll receive an interim California driver's license valid for 90 days. Your provisional license will be mailed to you. You can drive solo without supervision, however, there are a few restrictions for the first 12 months:

You can't drive between the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
You can't have any passengers under age 20 in your car, unless you're with a licensed driver over 25.

Exceptions to these restrictions are if you to need to drive for:

A medical emergency or immediate need of a family member
School or work-related necessities
Employment purposes

Step Three: Become a Licensed Driver

Once you turn 18, your provisional license will be upgraded to a full California driver's license. Congrats and safe driving!

If you have any further questions on the California driver's license requirements then get in touch with Driversed.com today.

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Age requirements to obtain your California drivers license

California DMV Related Articles

In many states, there is a graduated driver license program (GDL) that provides teens with different steps and milestones in the driver license process. Many of the stages and milestones that are a part of this program are age-related or experience-related. California is one of the states that has a GDL program for teens. The purpose of this program is to reduce the risks that brand-new drivers face as they get familiar with being behind the wheel of a car. Below, we have listed the different driving age requirements that go along with the GDL system.

Driving Age Requirements in California

Junior permit

The Junior Permit is for California residents who are at least 14 but less than 18 years of age and can show a present hardship that requires them to drive alone. These hardships can sometimes include:

An illness in the family
School
Work
Family business

There are some other steps involved in applying for a Junior Permit. You will need signatures from your parent/guardian, principal, and/or employer as well as a DL 44 and DL 120 form filled out.

Learner's permit

To apply for a California learner's permit, teens need to be between 15½ and 17½ years of age. If you are younger than 17½ you will have to complete an approved driver's education course that is taught by a state-licensed driver's education school and includes a minimum of 25 hours of instruction.

Provisional license w/ completed driver's ed course

You can apply for a California provisional driver license at the age of 16 if you have completed your driver's ed course. This provisional license will have restrictions, so make sure you know what those are and follow them to the letter.

Provisional license without driver's ed course

If you are 17½ years of age but not yet 18, you can apply for your provisional license without having to take the driver's education course. However, you will still need to get a learner's permit and complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of which must be at night. After that, all you need to do to get your provisional license is to study for the written test and pass it. You will also need to pass a vision test. Bring your birth certificate, SS#, a completed DL 44 form, and your parent to sign the paperwork when you go to take the test and you will be able to get your provisional driver license right after you pass the test.

If you are just getting started with the driving process it may feel like forever before you'll be driving on your own. But don't worry, the time will pass soon enough and you'll be behind the wheel. The GDL process is designed and created to keep young, new drivers safer and get them used to driving in a controlled way and at a slower pace. Enjoy the different accomplishments and stages as you learn, and don't be in a hurry to rush the process.

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Do I need a learner's permit after 18 in California?

Permit rules if you are over 18 – You do not need to take driver's education or driver's training, but you still need to drive with a permit for six months before you can apply for your license.

Do you have to wait 6 months to get your license if your 18 in California?

You must obey all traffic laws. You must drive without a collision. You must drive with a parent, guardian, spouse or adult age 25 or older who holds a valid California driver license. You must hold your permit for at least six months before you can apply for your driver license.

How do you get your license when your 18 in California?

Be at least 18. Complete the California Driver's License or ID Card Application. Visit a DMV office (schedule an appointment), where you will: Bring your California Identification Card or proof of identity and residency.

What age can you get your license in California without a permit?

DL Requirements To obtain a DL, you must: Be at least 16 years old. Have held your instruction permit (in California or another state) for at least 6 months.