FullCA · STUDY GUIDE
Instruction Permits & Provisional Licensing
Permit requirements, supervised practice, provisional passenger and nighttime restrictions, and road-test rules. This guide has 35 questions, each citing the CA manual section it comes from — the first 18 are free to read below.
1 · GETTING LICENSED
To apply for an instruction permit in California, a minor must be at least:
- ✓ 15 1/2 years old
- · 15 years old
- · 16 years old
- · 14 years old
Under 18, you must be at least 15 1/2, complete a driver education program, and have a parent or guardian sign the application accepting financial responsibility.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Applying for an Instruction Permit, p. 32 · GETTING LICENSED
Before scheduling the behind-the-wheel test, a minor must have held an instruction permit for at least:
- ✓ 6 months (or turned 18)
- · 30 days
- · 3 months
- · One year
Minors need the permit from California or another state for at least 6 months — or to turn 18 — before the drive test, plus completed driver education and training.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Applying for a Driver's License, p. 33 · GETTING LICENSED
A minor's supervised practice requirement is:
- ✓ 50 hours, at least 10 of them at night
- · 20 hours, all daytime
- · 100 hours, 30 at night
- · There is no hour requirement
At least 50 hours of practice with a California-licensed driver who is at least 25 years old — and 10 of those hours must be at night.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Applying for a Driver's License, p. 34 · GETTING LICENSED
When a minor with a permit practices driving, the accompanying licensed driver must be at least:
- ✓ 25 years old
- · 18 years old
- · 21 years old
- · 30 years old
Permit holders must practice with a California-licensed driver — 18 or older for adult permit holders, but at least 25 for minors — seated close enough to take control.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Applying for a Driver's License, p. 35 · PROVISIONAL LICENSE
During the first 12 months of a provisional license, a minor may NOT drive:
- ✓ Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- · Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- · On freeways
- · Outside their home county
Provisional drivers can't drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first year, with exceptions (signed notes for medical, school, work, or family need) or when a licensed driver 25+ rides along.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Minor's Restrictions, p. 46 · PROVISIONAL LICENSE
For the first 12 months, a provisional driver may not carry:
- ✓ Passengers under 20, unless a licensed driver 25 or older is in the car
- · Any passengers at all
- · More than one passenger of any age
- · Passengers after 6 p.m.
No passengers under 20 years old during the first year unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other California-licensed driver at least 25 years old (or a qualifying exception applies).
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Minor's Restrictions, p. 47 · TESTING PROCESS
How many attempts do you get to pass the knowledge test before reapplying?
- ✓ Three
- · One
- · Two
- · Unlimited
You're allowed three attempts. Minors who fail must also wait seven days (not counting the failure day) before retaking it.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Knowledge Test, p. 58 · TESTING PROCESS
A minor who fails the knowledge test must wait how long to retake it?
- ✓ Seven days
- · One day
- · 30 days
- · There is no wait
Seven days, not including the day of the failure. For a failed behind-the-wheel test, the wait is 14 days.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Knowledge Test, p. 59 · TESTING PROCESS
During the knowledge test, using a cell phone or the handbook is:
- ✓ Not allowed — no testing aids of any kind
- · Allowed for one question
- · Allowed with permission
- · Allowed for translations only
No testing aids are allowed during knowledge tests — that includes the California Driver's Handbook and your phone.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Knowledge Test, p. 510 · TESTING PROCESS
Your drive-test vehicle will be rejected if:
- ✓ It has a "donut" spare tire in use
- · It is older than 15 years
- · It has an automatic transmission
- · It has only two mirrors
Donut tires aren't allowed on the drive test. Tires need at least 1/32-inch tread, both brake lights must work, and the examiner needs a clear windshield view — otherwise the test is rescheduled.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Behind-the-Wheel Test, p. 611 · PROVISIONAL LICENSE
A provisional driver with TWO at-fault collisions or convictions within 12 months:
- ✓ Cannot drive for 30 days unless accompanied by a licensed adult 25 or older
- · Gets a warning letter only
- · Loses the license for five years
- · Pays a fine but keeps driving
One incident brings a warning; two means 30 days of driving only with a licensed adult 25+; three suspends you for six months with a year of probation.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Maintaining Your Minor's License, p. 5512 · GETTING LICENSED
For a minor's permit application, a parent or guardian must:
- ✓ Sign the application and accept financial responsibility — both must sign if they share custody
- · Only provide a birth certificate
- · Attend the knowledge test
- · Co-drive the road test
A parent or guardian signs to approve the application and accepts financial responsibility; parents with joint custody must both sign.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Under 18 Requirements, p. 313 · GETTING LICENSED
A minor's new instruction permit is not valid until:
- ✓ Behind-the-wheel training starts and an instructor validates the permit
- · It's laminated
- · 30 days pass
- · The DMV mails a confirmation
Minors must wait to use the permit until they begin behind-the-wheel training with an instructor, who validates it.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Under 18 Requirements, p. 314 · GETTING LICENSED
An ADULT permit holder practicing driving must be accompanied by a California-licensed driver at least:
- ✓ 18 years old
- · 25 years old
- · 21 years old
- · 16 years old
Adults practice with a licensed driver 18 or older; minors need someone 25 or older. Either way, the supervisor sits close enough to take control if needed.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 2 · Applying for a Driver's License, p. 315 · GETTING LICENSED
If you pass the DMV vision test wearing glasses or contacts:
- ✓ Your license carries a corrective lenses restriction
- · Nothing changes
- · You must retest yearly
- · You may only drive by day
Testing with corrective or contact lenses adds a corrective lenses restriction. Failing the vision test means an eye doctor completes a Report of Vision Examination (DL 62).
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Vision Test, p. 516 · TESTING PROCESS
A minor who fails the behind-the-wheel drive test must wait ___ before retaking it:
- ✓ 14 days
- · 7 days
- · 30 days
- · No wait
14 days, not counting the day of the failure — double the 7-day wait for a failed knowledge test.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Behind-the-Wheel Test, p. 617 · TESTING PROCESS
In the pre-drive check, your horn must be:
- ✓ Designed for the vehicle, working, and audible from at least 200 feet
- · Musical
- · Louder than 100 decibels
- · Mounted on the wheel
The examiner verifies a proper working horn loud enough to be heard from 200 feet — one of the many pre-drive checklist items.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Behind-the-Wheel Test, p. 618 · TESTING PROCESS
When the foot brake is fully depressed, there must be at least ___ between the pedal and floorboard:
- ✓ One inch
- · Three inches
- · Half an inch
- · No requirement
One inch of clearance under the depressed pedal — along with working right and left brake lights.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 3 · Behind-the-Wheel Test, p. 6Tip: use your ← and → arrow keys
FullPass is an independent study aid. Questions are reviewed against the cited official CA driver's manual; the state licensing agency remains the final authority.