California provisional instruction-permit requirements

Be at least 15½ and complete driver education

Approved DE must be completed before an under-18 applicant obtains the provisional instruction permit.

Complete the DL/ID application with parent/guardian approval

Joint-custody rules can require both parents/guardians to sign under the current handbook guidance.

Bring documents, pay the fee and complete vision/photo

Credential type (REAL ID, federal noncompliant or AB 60) affects the exact document route.

Pass the applicable knowledge test(s) at 80%

Prepare from the current handbook and official sample questions rather than an old fixed-count study guide.

Core California instruction-permit steps

California DMV's handbook says a first-time applicant must complete the DL/ID application, provide the required documents, pay the non-refundable application fee, pass the knowledge test and pass a vision test before the instruction permit is issued.

DMV says the knowledge test is multiple choice and the passing score is 80%. The questions are based on the California Driver's Handbook.

If you are under 18

For a provisional instruction permit, California DMV requires the applicant to be at least 15½, have the required driver-education completion or enrollment certificate, and have a parent or guardian approve the application. The DMV's under-18 route also connects the permit to behind-the-wheel training before the learner can drive independently.

If you are 18 or older

An adult first-time applicant still gets an instruction permit before the behind-the-wheel driving test, but the teen driver-education certificate and parental-signature requirements do not apply. The application, documents, fee, vision, photo and knowledge-test steps still do.

• California documents checklist
• California Driver's Handbook
• California permit-test guide