In California, high schools offer free driver ed. Driver Ed at a driving school can cost teens from $40-$60. Driver ed may be free if the teen also purchases a driving training package. These packages may range from $350-$650.
Teens eager to get their learner’s permit and get behind the wheel may turn to a California driving school to satisfy driver ed and driver training requirements. High schools generally offer classes for free, but for students who aren’t in a public school, a driving school may be an option. Parents may also want a more focused driver ed experience and purchase more safety training for their teens.
Knowing what driving school costs and how to find a trustworthy instructor will be key to a teen’s journey to getting a California driver’s license.
Driver Ed and Driver Training Teen Requirements in California
Teens in California can apply for an instructional permit, also known as a learner’s permit, when they turn 15 ½. To be eligible to take the test for a learner’s permit they will need to prepare several months in advance.
They must show proof that they’ve already completed 30 hours of driver education (driver ed) courses. They must also have finished at least six hours of driver training with a professional driving instructor.
These courses and training are usually taken at high school starting in the 10th grade, but parents and teens have other options. Teens without access to a high school program can enroll to take driver ed and driving training at a certified California driving training school.
Check out Maison Law’s Ultimate Guide to California Driver Ed Requirements for more information on what’s needed to earn a learner’s permit.
Driver Ed Cost in California Driving Schools
Teens will have the option to take driver ed through an approved driving school. Driver education is the knowledge section of the training. These courses are mostly online nowadays.
An online course can cost anywhere from $40 to $60 or more. They will include text, graphics, and many hours of videos.
Driver training companies offer frequent coupons and specials for teens who sign up for coursework. Driver ed is often included free for teens who are signing up and paying for driver training at the same time.
Driver Training Cost in California Driving School
Driver training is the other requirement for teens hoping to get their learner’s permit. They’ll need to log six hours behind the wheel with the driving school’s professional instructors. They will only be able to spend two hours behind the wheel in each session. The time young drivers are in the car while watching someone else drive won’t count towards the requirement.
Driver training is usually sold in two-hour increments and in packages. Three two-hour driving sessions, to fulfill the six-hour standard, usually costs parents anywhere from $300 to $600 or more. Prices vary from company to company and will differ in each different city. Prices can be much different between cities like Fresno and Los Angeles. It’s important that parents and teens investigate every driver training school they are considering and know what they’ll be paying. They should also ask about any additional fees or penalties that could be charged.
There are dozens of these driving schools and reputable companies often offer more personalized training than some high school instructors could. Parents are also able to purchase additional lesson hours that go beyond the minimum requirement. This gives teens more experience behind the wheel before they hit the road with a learner’s permit. Signing up for eight or ten hours of driver training will only add to the final bill, of course.
For more on how to find the right driving school for your teen, and how to make sure the one you choose is approved by the state, check out our California driving school guide.
What Will My Teen Need to Get a California Learner’s Permit
When teens turn 15 ½, they’ll need to bring a few things with them to the DMV office on the day they apply for a learner’s permit. Teens will need their certificates showing they’ve completed a driver ed course and logged their six hours in the driver’s seat.
The California DMV will also require a few more steps:
- Teens must complete a Driver’s License or ID (DL/ID) Card application complete with a parent(s) or guardian(s) signature.
- Teens must show proof of identity and California residency. (See acceptable identity documents and acceptable residency documents.)
- Teens take documents to a California DMV office. An appointment can be scheduled.
- Teen drivers will pay an application fee during their DMV office visit.
- Teens get a fingerprint scan and take a vision exam.
- A photograph will be taken.
- Proof of car insurance will be required.
Teens will take a knowledge test. This test can be taken online before the DMV visit. Failing the knowledge test will mean teens must wait seven days to take it again.
A word for the parents of teen drivers in California accidents…
Teens will hit California freeways and boulevards with a lot less experience than most other drivers. This inexperience can lead to frightening accidents, but not every crash can be blamed on a teen driver.
After an accident involving an injured teen, parents must see to the health of their children. They must also make sure victims have the support to pay for the best medical care available. Parents and teens can also require legal assistance when a car insurance company tries to unfairly blame a teen driver for a collision.
Talk to a California Teen Driver Accident Lawyer with Maison Law in a free consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out how to fight back against unfair accusations. You should also know what your teen’s injury is worth so you can demand full compensation from a careless driver’s car insurance company. Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, makes sure you and your family have what you need to rebuild your lives after an accident.
