Military personnel stationed in California are exempt from payment of the vehicle license fee (VLF) on any vehicle owned or leased and registered in California provided: The nonresident military owner is shown as a lessee or registered owner of the vehicle. Driver's License - Information on obtaining your GA License or ID, reinstating your license, suspensions, and Licensing FAQs. A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) is a license that is issued to an individual in accordance with Federal Regulations to operate a commercial vehicle. To apply for a CDL in California, you should meet the following federal regulations, which include.
The road to your license starts here
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COVID-19 Effects on Licensing Services
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state DMVs nationwide have closed driver licensing offices, extended license and registration expiration dates, and/or limited the transactions they are processing. Residents are strongly encouraged to use the DMV's online services. Follow the DMV's recent updates for the latest information.
CA REAL ID License Update
The California DMV has begun issuing federally-compliant REAL ID driver’s licenses in addition to standard non-compliant driver’s licenses. The REAL ID allows you to use your license for domestic travel and entry into federal and military buildings after October 1, 2021. You can choose to receive either a REAL ID or a standard driver's license—details are outlined below.
Getting Your New Driver's License in CA
For teens, getting a driver's license is an exciting experience. Just think about it! No more trying to catch a ride to the mall or waiting around for your parents to pick you up after practice. Once you have your California driver's license in hand, those days will be long gone.
Although the process of getting your license might seem complicated, we've made it much easier to understand by explaining the process in a simple, easy to follow manner.
AB-60 Driver's License California residents who cannot provide proof of legal presence in the U.S. are able to get a CA driver's license under the AB 60 law. California began implementing the law in early 2015. There are special regulations and required documents for an AB 60 license.
Age Requirements
- Junior permit: 14 years old IF you can prove eligible hardship.
- Provisional permit:
- 15 1/2 years old WITH completion of driver's education.
- 17 1/2 years old WITHOUT completion of driver's education.
- Provisional license: 16 years old WITH completion of driver's education.
- Full driver's license: 18 years old and older.
Step 1: Driver's Ed
Driver's Ed is required for all California teens between 15 1/2 years old and 17 1/2 years old. You'll need to first complete a course before applying for your learner's permit.
Your driver education course should:
- Consist of at least 25 hours of instruction.
- Be taught at either your high school or by a state-licensed driver's education school.
If you have reached 17 1/2 years old, you may apply for your permit without having first taken a driver's education course, but it is strongly recommended that you go through a Driver's Ed program to fully prepare yourself for the road.
For more information about California's driver's education requirements, please visit our Driver's Ed page.
Take Your Pick—Online or Classroom Driver's Ed
California allows you to take a Driver's Ed course in a traditional classroom setting, or you can complete it online. The advantages of taking it online have increased dramatically in recent years. The important thing is that you get to choose!
Step 2: CA Provisional Permit
The first milestone on your path to your driver's license is obtaining a provisional permit.
The process differs slightly depending on:
- Your age*—If you're between 15 1/2 years old and 17 1/2 years old, make sure you've FIRST completed a Driver's Ed course. Without driver education, you'll need to wait until you're 17 1/2 years old to get your permit.
- Your application type—California offers both a federally-compliant REAL ID permit/driver's license and a non-compliant permit/license. The required documents differ slightly based on whether you want a REAL ID or non-compliant license.
After you've polished your skills with a practice test, it's time to head to the DMV for your vision exam and written knowledge test.
Ace Your Exam on the First Try!
Don't leave your permit test to chance—take our free permit practice test with questions directly from the CA driver handbook. It's the fastest, easiest way to set yourself up for success!
Here's what you need to bring:
- A completed Driver License and Identification Card Application with your parent/guardian's signature.
- You can complete and submit the online application ahead of time, or complete it in person at your DMV office. The online application has a place for your parents to electronically sign.
- Proof of your:
- Identity.
- Social security number (SSN).
- You can provide your SSN at the DMV, where they'll verify it electronically.
- CA residency.
- The DMV provides guides to acceptable documents based on whether you're applying for a REAL ID permit or non-compliant permit. Your parents can provide some of the documents that you may not have yet (such as proof of residency).
- A certificate of completion for your CA driver's education course.
- Not required for applicants at least 17 1/2 years old.
- Payment for the $37 fee.
Your written exam will be made up of 46 questions about California traffic laws, road signs, and rules of safe driving taken from the CA DMV Handbook. A passing score is at least 38 correct answers; you'll have 3 chances to pass. If you fail, the DMV requires you to wait 7 days before testing again.
Your initial $37 fee covers a total of 3 exams in a period of 12 months and pays for both your learner's permit and provisional license. However, if all requirements are not met within the 12 month period, the application is considered void and all steps must be repeated.
Next up: practicing your driving skills behind the wheel!
*NOTE: Some drivers who are at least 14 years old MAY apply for a junior permit if a family, work, or health hardship can be proven. See 'Other California Driver's Licenses' below for details.
Step 3: Behind-the-Wheel Practice
Once you have your provisional permit, it's time to get busy and get practicing. How much practice, you ask? Good question.
With your California learner's permit in hand, you must:
- Log 50 hours of practice driving with a licensed driver over 25 years old.
- 10 hours of the 50 hours must be at night.
- Complete an additional 6 hours of driver training with a professional instructor.
Once you are behind the wheel, don't forget to keep all your attention on the road. Distracted driving is the cause of many serious injuries and even deaths on a daily basis. Learn more about the dangers of driving distracted by visiting the Distracted Driving section of our website.
Step 4: CA Provisional License
After you have held your learner's permit for a minimum of 6 months (and you are at least 16 years old), and you have completed your 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training, you may take your road exam and apply for your intermediate driver's license, called a provisional license.
DMV Road Test
When you make your appointment for your behind-the-wheel driving test, you will need bring the following with you:
- Your learner's permit.
- Proof of vehicle registration and insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your driving test in.
- Your parent or guardian.
The examiner will take you through standard vehicle operations, both within the car and on the road. This is where all your driving practice pays off!
If you need a couple tries to pass your exam, that's okay! Just note that you'll have to pay a $7 fee for each retest. The DMV asks you to wait at least 1 week before retesting. If you fail your test 3 times, you'll need to start back at the beginning and submit another application.
After you pass your test, the next step is exchanging your permit for your provisional license.
Provisional License Application
After you pass your DMV road test, you'll turn in your documents to receive your provisional driver's license. Be prepared to:
- Submit your:
- Provisional permit.
- Behind-the-wheel driving log, signed by your parent/guardian.
- Proof of your professional driver's training course.
- Receipt from your road test showing you passed.
- Have your photo taken.
- Provide any required documents to upgrade to a REAL ID license, should you choose to do so at this time.
You can now drive solo without supervision; however, during the 12 months of licensing, there will be a couple restrictions on your CA provisional license:
- You can't drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- You can't have any passengers under 20 years old in your car, unless you're with a licensed driver over 25 years old.
The only exceptions to these restrictions are if you need to travel for:
- A medical emergency or the immediate need of a member of your family.
- School or work-related necessities.
- Employment purposes.
Once you turn 18 years old, the California provisional license restrictions will fall off, and you will be the proud carrier of an unrestricted California driver's license! Congratulations!
You can track your progress and share it with your friends with our new driver's license checklist.
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New to California?
If you've already taken a Driver's Ed course in another state, you cannot use an out-of-state learner's permit for your proof of course completion. Instead, the California DMV will accept one of the following:
- A completed 'Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools' form (DL 33) completed by your out-of-state secondary school. You can request this form by calling (800) 777-0133 or pick one up at your nearest DMV office.
- A letter printed on school stationery and signed by a school official from your out-of-state secondary school stating that you completed a course equivalent to California's as described in Section 10020 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Other California Driver's Licenses
Apart from your standard driver's license, there are a couple other permits and licenses you can obtain as a California teen. These include:
- Motorcycle learner's permits.
- Junior permits.
Each permit type is outlined below.
California Motorcycle Learner's Permit
Want to travel on two wheel instead of four? Getting a CA motorcycle permit is similar to the processes described above, but you'll need to study some more motorcycle-specific content.
Check out our CA Motorcycle License page to get all the info on exams, permits, and licenses.
California Junior Permit
Some young Californians may apply for a Junior Permit. The Junior Permit is for Californians who:
- Are 14 years old but less than 18 years old.
- Can show that a hardship forces them to drive alone due to:
- Family illness.
- School.
- Work.
- Family enterprise.
To apply for a Junior Permit, you must:
- A completed Driver's License or Identification Card Application.
- Complete an Application for Junior Permit(Form DL 120).
- Depending on the hardship you're claiming, the form requires signatures from your parent/guardian, and also potentially from your school principal or employer.
Are you considering making truck driving your career? Well, the first steps in achieving this dream may feel overwhelming as there are some requirements that you must meet. Whether you are thinking of being a short-term truck driver or making it a full-fledged career, you will be required to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
The actual process requires you to start by looking for a truck driving school to take you through the training. After training, you will be required to sit for tests and then apply for a CDL after passing them. With a commercial driver’s license, you are allowed to drive commercial trucks anywhere, including the highways.
Getting a commercial driver’s license may seem like a huge challenge, but with enough knowledge, it is something that you can easily manage. Here is what you need to know about how to get your commercial driver’s license in California.
What is a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?
A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) is a license that is issued to an individual in accordance with Federal Regulations to operate a commercial vehicle. To apply for a CDL in California, you should meet the following federal regulations, which include:
Should have been issued with a CLP (Commercial Learner’s Permit)
- To apply for a CDL to operate commercial vehicles within California, you should be 18 years or older.
- To apply for a CDL to operate commercial trucks outside California (interstate license), you should be 21 years or older.
Moreover, the state demands that you also complete a 10-year history record form while making your application if you are new in California and had been issued a license in another state. This is a relatively easy process since the federal government requires truck drivers to keep their records in electronic logging devices. ELD violations affect your CSA and also lead to being place out-of-service for 10 hours. The best resource we have found to research ELDs is BestELDDevices.com.
Types of CDLs
Commercial driver’s licenses are categorized into three different classes, which include:
1. Class A CDL
This license is required to drive any combination of motor vehicles with a GVWR (gross combination weight rating) of up to 26,001 pounds or more on condition that the towed vehicle weighs more than 10,000 pounds. With a Class A CDL, you will be allowed to operate the following vehicles:
- Tractor-trailers
- Tanker vehicles
- Trailer or truck combinations
- Triple/double trailers
- Flatbeds
- Tractor-trailer buses, and
- Livestock carriers
Drivers with a Class A CDL are also allowed to operate certain vehicles in the other classes, but with proper endorsements.
2. Class B CDL
A Class B CDL is required to drive any single vehicle with an attached cab and cargo area with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. This also includes any similar vehicle with a detached towed cargo with a gross vehicle weight rating that is not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
With proper endorsements, individuals with Class B CDL may also operate vehicles categorized as Class C CDL.
3. Class C CDL
This Class is required to drive a single vehicle with a gross weight rating that is below 26,001 pounds or any similar vehicle towing a vehicle that has less than 10,000 pounds gross weight rating. This includes all other vehicles that do not fit into the other classes.
What are the requirements to get my CDL in California?
To get your CDL in California, you will be required to provide the following documents:
· Identification Documents
First, you will need to prove your identity to ascertain that you have met the federal regulations. As mentioned above, you must be 18 years or older to apply for a CDL to operate vehicles within the state. To get an interstate CDL, drivers must be 21 years or older.
· Medical Examination Report
You may also be required to present a medical report for consideration. However, this will depend on the last time you had one.
· Social Security Card
The law requires you to also prove your social security number before getting a CDL in California. This should be done by presenting an original copy of your social security card.
· CDL Test Results
Finally, you will be required to prove that you have successfully completed and passed your CDL test.
Now that we have looked at the requirements, you will go through all the steps that you will have to go through to complete the actual process.
How to get a CDL in California
Step 1: Apply for Your Learner’s Permit
First, you need to get a learner’s permit, just like when applying for a regular driver’s license.
To get your learners permit, you must:
· Be at least 18 years old
· Provide you Social Security Card
· Allow them to take your photo and thumbprint
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· Submit a CDL application
· Submit a10-year history record form if you have been issued a license in another state to operate a vehicle.
· Submit a self-certification form that provides information about the type of commercial driving you have an interest in.
· Pass a written and a vision test
· Paying a fee for your license.
Step 2: Learn at a Driving School
Train at a driving school how to operate trucks and also how to maintain and inspect them for any mechanical issues. A truck driving school will teach you how to drive vehicles on highways and other roads as a way to prepare you for a road test.
Step 3: Pass a Road Test and Apply for your CDL
After acing the driving test and the skills, you will need to apply for a full commercial driver’s license. However, you will also get an interim CDL after passing the skills test that expires after 90 days within which your CDL will have arrived through your email. To apply for a CDL, you will have to make an appointment with your local CDL office.
Unlike some states, California allow individuals between the ages of 18 to 20 to apply for a CDL to operate within the state. However, to apply for an interstate license, you should be 21 years or older. The actual process might seem quite like a challenge, but we believe that the discussion above will help you stay ahead of the game.
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Conclusion
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Unlike some states, California allow individuals between the ages of 18 to 20 to apply for a CDL to operate within the state. However, to apply for an interstate license, you should be 21 years or older. The actual process might seem quite like a challenge, but we believe that the discussion above will help you stay ahead of the game.