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NPN: 20461358
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Updated
Minimum age: 16
Required documents: Certificate of completion/enrollment of driver education (for instruction permit); proof of California state-minimum insurance; California driver’s license application; acceptable identity and residence documents
Testing requirements: Pass a driving test, knowledge test, and vision exam (depending on your license status)
Estimated cost: $46
Timeline: At least six months if you’re younger than 18; about four weeks for regular processing
Follow the steps below to get a California driver’s license:
Determine your application situation. If you’re younger than 18, you’ll need to enroll in driver education and complete the requirements of the provisional instruction permit (California’s version of a learner’s permit) before you can get your driver’s license. If you’re older than 18, the process depends on whether you’ve never had a driver’s license, have a driver’s license from another state, or have a driver’s license from another country.[1]
Apply for your learner’s permit. At 15 and a half, California teens can get their learner’s permit, also known as a provisional instruction permit. This includes completing an application and getting your guardians’ signatures, providing identity and residency documents, giving your Social Security number, taking a test, and providing proof of a driver’s ed class.[2]
Gather your paperwork. If you’ve already applied for a provisional instruction permit, you’ll just need to provide proof of insurance that meets California requirements to get your license. If you’re transferring from another state, make sure to bring the documents in the section below to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) after you complete the California Driver’s License card application.
Visit a local DMV office. If you have an instruction permit, schedule a DMV appointment to take your driving test. Otherwise, visit a local DMV office after completing your driver’s license application online. You’ll present your documents, pay the $46 application fee, take a vision exam and knowledge test, and have your photo taken for your driver’s license.
Receive your California driver’s license. You’ll get a temporary driver’s license instantly at the DMV after passing your driving test or surrendering your out-of-state license, but you can’t use it for identification purposes. You’ll receive a permanent copy by mail in about four weeks.[3]
Monthly rates start at $123 for teen drivers
While requirements vary slightly depending on whether you’re moving from another state, moving from another country, or applying for a driver’s license for the first time, you generally need to provide the following documents:
Proof of identity: These include a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document card, refugee travel document, or other acceptable identity document.
Proof of residency: Provide a signed lease agreement, mortgage or utility bill, employment document, tax return, California title or registration, change of address confirmation from the U.S. Postal Service, or other acceptable residency document.
Driver’s license application: You can complete the driver’s license card application online or in person. You’ll need your Social Security number, address, and date of birth.
Proof of financial responsibility: You’ll need to show proof of financial responsibility that meets California requirements, such as a California insurance card that shows you have state-minimum liability coverage or proof of a $75,000 cash deposit with the DMV.[4]
Certificate of enrollment/completion of driver education: If you’re younger than 18 and applying for your provisional instruction permit, you’ll also need to show that you enrolled in or completed a state-approved driver education and driver training course.[5]
A driver’s license for any non-commercial use car costs $46 for an original or renewal and $37 for a replacement. A behind-the-wheel driving retest costs $9.[6]
If you’re younger than 18 and looking to get your instruction permit, you can complete your state-mandated driver education course and behind-the-wheel driver training course at your high school.
If you choose to complete your training at a state-licensed driving school, pricing varies by location, ranging from about $330 to $660 for a basic package that meets California’s requirements.
California doesn’t charge a separate fee for an instruction permit. You pay the application fee of $46 for a California driver’s license and receive an instruction permit until you’re eligible to receive your driver’s license.
Fee Type  | Cost |
|---|---|
| License fee (personal vehicle) | $46 |
| License replacement fee (personal vehicle) | $37 |
| Driving retest fee (older than 18) | $9 |
| Driving retest fee (younger than 18) | $7 |
| Copy of a California driver’s license record | $5 |
| Driver’s license reissue after DUI suspension | $55–$125 |
| Financial Responsibility Penalty Fee | $250 |
| Financial Responsibility Reissue Fee | $55 |
If you’re a Californian younger than the age of 18, you need to get a provisional instruction permit and complete driver education and training before you can take your driving test to qualify for a driver’s license.
You must be at least 15 and a half years old to apply for a provisional instruction permit. According to the California DMV, you’ll follow these steps to get your driver’s license:
Enroll in or complete a driver education program. Enroll in a driver education course through your high school or a state-approved driving school (online or in person) to learn about road safety and traffic laws.
Apply for a provisional instruction permit. Complete the California Driver’s License & ID Card Application with a parent or guardian’s signature accepting financial responsibility, provide the documents proving your identity and residency, present your Certificate of Completion/Enrollment of Driver Education, and pay the application fee. You’ll also need to pass a knowledge test and vision exam.
Complete behind-the-wheel driver training. Don’t start using your instruction permit until you begin a state-approved driver training program and your instructor validates your permit. You’ll need at least six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a professional instructor.
Practice driving. For at least six months, practice driving with a California-licensed driver age 25 or older in the car, sitting close enough to take control of the vehicle. You need at least 50 hours of practice, 10 of which must be night driving hours. Keep track of your hours in a supervised driving log.[7]
Get car insurance. Buy a California car insurance policy, or ask your parents to add you to their auto insurance policy.
Schedule your driving test. Make a driving test appointment at your local DMV office and provide proof of insurance. If you fail the test, you need to wait 14 days and pay a $7 retest fee. If you pass, you’ll receive a temporary driver’s license to use until your permanent driver’s license arrives by mail in three to four weeks.
License Type | Hours Teens Are Allowed to Drive | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Learner’s license/permit | 5 a.m.–11 p.m. | Only with a California-licensed driver age 25 or older |
| Provisional driver’s license: 16–18 | 5 a.m.–11 p.m. (first 12 months) | No passengers younger than 20 (unless a parent, guardian, or California-licensed driver at least age 25 is with you); can’t operate commercial vehicles* |
| Full, unrestricted license: 18 | No restrictions | No restrictions once you pass your behind-the-wheel driving test |
Save up to $1,100 per year on coverage
A California REAL ID features a golden bear and a star. It meets new federal requirements for boarding flights and entering certain secure facilities.[8] To get a REAL ID in California, you’ll need to upload multiple documents and complete an online application before visiting the DMV.
Gather your documents. The California DMV website offers an interactive document checklist that helps you select the documents you’ll need to upload. The preferred identity document is a U.S. passport or passport card. With your passport, you’ll also need to provide two documents that show your California residency, such as a bank or credit card statement, property tax bill, rental agreement, or voter registration confirmation letter.
Complete the online application. Complete the online REAL ID application. You’ll upload images of your identity and residency documents during the online application. Save your confirmation code when you’re finished.
Visit the DMV. Bring your online confirmation code and your original documents to your local DMV office to complete the application process. If your REAL ID is your first California driver’s license, you’ll also need to complete a written test.
If you’re moving to California permanently and want to drive, you’ll need to get a California driver’s license. For example, if you have a job, rent or own a primary residence, or spend more than six months out of the year in California, that shows an intent to reside in the Golden State.[9]
You generally have 10 days after establishing residency to apply for a CA driver’s license. If you bring a vehicle to California that’s registered in another state, you need to re-register it within 20 days.
If you already have a valid driver’s license from another state, you’ll follow these steps to apply for a California driver’s license:
Apply. Complete the Driver’s License card application online.
Pay your application fee. Pay the $46 application fee online. If you want to pay by cash or money order, bring your payment with you to the DMV.
Gather your documents. Find an acceptable identity document and an acceptable residency document that meet the requirements.
Prepare to take the written test. You’ll need to take a written test in California even if you’ve passed a driver’s test before. Review the California Driver’s Handbook until you’re prepared to show your knowledge of traffic safety laws in California.
Visit the DMV. Bring your identity and residency documents with you to your local DMV office. A DMV employee will scan your thumbprint and take your photo. You’ll also need to pass a vision exam and pass the knowledge test(s). You’re allowed up to three attempts per application.
You have several ways to renew or replace your California driver’s license:
Renew online: If you’re within 90 days before or 12 months after your California driver’s license expiration and you don’t need to update your address or personal information, you can renew your driver’s license online from your MyDMV account.
Renew in person: If you received a notice to renew in person, complete the Driver’s License card application online or bring your renewal notice to your local DMV along with your application fee. You’ll need to have your photo taken, your thumbprint scanned, and pass a knowledge test and vision exam.
Renew by mail: If your CA driver’s license expires less than 120 days from today, you’re not on a driving probation or suspension, and you meet other requirements, you can renew by mail. Complete Form DL 410 FO and mail it along with a $46 check to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Renewal By Mail Unit
PO Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001
Renew your REAL ID: If you already have a REAL ID, you can renew it online, by mail, or in person. If you’re renewing your standard California driver’s license and getting a REAL ID for the first time, you’ll need to bring your acceptable documents to the DMV to complete the application process.[10]
Replace a lost or stolen driver’s license: To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged California driver’s license, submit a replacement driver’s license request online through your MyDMV account. Be prepared to pay the $37 replacement fee.
Liability quotes start at $67/mo.
California requires all drivers to carry car insurance. When a parent or guardian signs a driver’s license application for a minor, they accept financial responsibility for the minor, which means they need to meet state insurance requirements by having one of the following:
A liability insurance policy with the teen listed as a driver
A $75,000 cash deposit with the DMV
A DMV-issued self-insurance certificate
A $75,000 surety bond from a California-licensed business
State-minimum liability insurance includes:
$30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
$15,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage
California law requires insurers to electronically report your insurance information directly to the DMV.
New drivers pay more for car insurance because they lack driving experience. California law requires insurers to offer a good driver discount, but you need to be licensed for three years to qualify. Teen drivers pay particularly high rates because the risk of car accidents is higher among teen drivers than any other age group.
Adding a teen driver to a parent’s policy will raise premiums, but it’s generally cheaper than buying a separate car insurance policy for a teen driver in California. If you can’t afford the premium hike when your teen reaches driving age, check whether you’re eligible for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program.
You can also save money by comparing car insurance quotes from multiple auto insurance companies. The table below shows the cheapest insurance companies for teen drivers in California and their average quotes, based on Insurify data.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $123 | $273 |
| Aspire General | $128 | $226 |
| GEICO | $131 | $264 |
| Sun Coast | $134 | $312 |
| Root | $134 | $209 |
| Mercury | $136 | $264 |
| Dairyland | $144 | $340 |
| National General | $149 | $399 |
| Direct Auto | $176 | $432 |
| Allstate | $182 | $402 |
| Bristol West | $183 | $389 |
| Anchor | $186 | $350 |
| Farmers | $189 | $419 |
| Kemper Special | $193 | $296 |
| State Farm | $199 | $442 |
| 21st Century | $210 | $467 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $213 | $302 |
| Travelers | $223 | $498 |
| Chubb | $376 | $836 |
California has specific requirements for transplants, immigrants, teen drivers, and new drivers looking to apply for a California driver’s license. If you’re still confused about licensing requirements in California, check out the answers to these common questions from California drivers.
If you’re getting a driver’s license for the first time as a teen, the timeline varies, but you need to have your provisional instruction permit for at least six months before you take your driving test. If you’re an adult, it takes about four weeks from the date of your application to get your permanent California driver’s license, but you can get a temporary driver’s license instantly.
It costs $46 to get a California Class C or other non-commercial driver’s license in 2026, according to the California DMV website.
You can start the application process for a California driver’s license online. But you need to visit the DMV to complete the process if it’s your first time getting a driver’s license in California, or if you’re switching from a standard driver’s license to a REAL ID. In most cases, you can renew your California driver’s license online, unless you received a notice to renew in person.
To get a driver’s license in California, you need to prove your identity and residency, pass a vision exam and knowledge test, and pay an application fee. If you’ve never had a U.S. driver’s license before, you also need to pass a driving test. To be eligible to take a driving test if you’re younger than 18, you need to complete the additional requirements to get your learner’s permit.
Getting a provisional license as a teen in California can take six months to one year and requires the equivalent of at least 86 hours of combined driver’s ed, behind-the-wheel training, and driving practice before you’re eligible to take a road test. Getting a California license as an adult involves passing a knowledge test, plus a driving test if it’s your first U.S. license.
If you’re applying for a California REAL ID, bring one identity document, such as a U.S. passport, one SSN document, and two California residency documents. The requirements for a standard driver’s license are more flexible, but you still need to bring documents proving your identity and California residency.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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5+ years in auto insurance and personal finance writing
Featured in top personal finance publications
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
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