Most teens get excited about sitting in the driver’s seat well before they turn 16. In California, young drivers can begin their journey to getting a full-fledged driver’s license by applying for a learner’s permit when they are 15 ½ years old.
But they’ll have to earn this privilege by first completing some intensive studying and some practice driving. To meet the requirements, teens can attend an approved driving school in California. This guide will help you decide if you need to book time at a driving school and how to choose one.
California Driving School Requirements Before Teens Get a Learner’s Permit
Teen drivers can apply for a learner’s permit (instructional permit) beginning at 15 ½ years old. However, before they can take the test, they’ll need proof they’ve taken a driver education course.
The requirements can be fulfilled by courses taken at the teen’s High School. They can also be satisfied at a California DMV-licensed driving school.
Teens need to build up a certain amount of hours in the classroom and a certain amount of hours of supervised driving on the road. They’ll require 30 hours of driver ed classroom instruction or 30 hours of semester periods. They can also complete the course hours in a home study program or online.
In addition, young drivers have to show they’ve completed at least six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a professional driving instructor.
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.
Selecting a California Driver Training School
Teens who don’t have an approved driver ed program at their schools will need to search out the many Driver Training schools across California. These are state-licensed, professional driving schools, but not every professional school is equal. They’ll have different price points too.
The California DMV website offers guidelines for parents and teens when looking for a driver ed (DE)/driver training (DT) program.
Officials want teens to be as comfortable as possible with their decision. Minors (under age 18) should select a DE/DT school that features high-quality education. Instructors should be qualified, professional, and respectful.
Checking Out a California Driver Training School
California provides the OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE STATUS INFORMATION SYSTEM (OLSIS) webpage so that parents and their children can easily tell if a program is licensed and bonded by the DMV.
They also offer these tips when searching for a DE/DT course:
- Check out your top options with the Better Business Bureau to see how many customer complaints a driving school has received.
- Make sure you are clear on the price. You should know what the tuition will be and if there will be any additional charges or fees.
- Keep your receipts and contracts from the school.
- Find out about their instructors. Make sure they are up to date on state qualifications. Many schools offer male or female instructors.
- Choose a school that operates in your city if possible. When driving, you’ll have an easier time on roads that are familiar to you.
- Ask about the coursework. Driving schools can require additional classroom hours and driving time beyond what the state requires.
- Licensed schools must show at least 100 minutes of driver ed videos. If you are worried about graphic injury content, ask school officials about their videos.
- Ask about the school’s policy for canceling a course or rescheduling behind-the-wheel training. Some schools will still charge you for missed classes.
- Be sure you understand where the classes and road training take place. Some driving training could be scheduled after hours.
What to Expect From Driving Instructors at a California Driving School
Teens will be expected to get six hours or more of behind-the-wheel driving time to earn the certification needed to score an instructional permit. These hours can’t include time spent in the backseat watching another driver. Teens also can’t take the wheel for more than two hours a day during classes.
Instructors should be professional and respectful at all times. They should never touch a student unless it’s in an emergency situation. If you are assaulted, you should call 911. If you have a complaint about a driving school or one of its instructors, you can send it by going to the Driving School Complaint Page.
When the driving portion of the course beings, students can expect to get real-time tests on several key points. The instructors will want to observe drivers signaling to other motorists. They’ll have student drivers backing up and making left turns.
Drivers will practice parallel parking and parking on hills. Observing the proper right-of-way in intersections is also a focus. And since we live in California, some freeway driving practice will probably be thrown in.
A word for Teen Drivers in California Accidents…
Teens certainly have less experience than older drivers, but that doesn’t mean they are to blame for every accident.
Teens can suffer serious injuries in a collision caused by a careless adult driver. And car insurance companies may still try to blame your teen motorists for every accident, despite what a CHP accident report says. You don’t have to accept this unfair treatment.
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. Maison Law makes sure you and your family have what they need to rebuild your lives after an accident.
