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More than 5,000 teens die in car accidents each year across the U.S. Of the 5,000 teen fatalities each year, the state of California accounts for 400. Based on these figures, the state of California has one of the highest teen accident fatality rates in the country for teen’s ages 16-17. In response to these disturbing figures, California pioneered the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program when it passed its first law in 1997. With higher standards and stricter requirements, California’s Graduated Driver Licensing is like no other. Continue reading to learn more about California’s innovative teen driving laws and the serious consequences for violating them.
California Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements
Under California’s Graduated Driver Licensing, teens ages 15 ½ to 17 ½ teens must:
• Apply for and carry a provisional learner’s permit for 6 months
• Complete 6 hours of professional driver training
• Complete an approved driver education class
• Complete 50 practice driving hours with a parent or guardian or an individual that is 25 years of age or older
• Apply for a provisional driver’s license
Once the teen has completed the steps above, he will receive an interim license. The interim license is good for 60 days. Within the 60 days, if your provisional application is approved (meaning you have passed all tests and met all requirements), you will receive a provisional license in the mail. The provisional license has several restrictions that expire on the driver’s 18th birthday if he has maintained a clean driving record. Please continue to the next section to read about provisional license restrictions.
To apply for a permits and licenses in the state of California, you must provide the following to the California Department of Motor vehicles:
• If under the age of 18, the parent or guardian must give written consent
• Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
• Photo ID
• Birth certificate
• Proof of legal residence
• Application fee of $28 (check, cash, money order, ATM/debit card)
California Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement
In the state of California, provisional license holders will have restrictions for the first year. During the first year, teen drivers are not allowed to:
• Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Allow passengers under the age of 20 in the car with them
If driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. is necessary or if passengers under the age of 20 are present in the car, the driver must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, a licensed driver over the age of 25, or a licensed driving instructor.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles lists the exceptions to these restrictions below, when reasonable transportation is not available. In addition, the teen driver must carry a note at all times, which explains the necessity and the date when the necessity will end. This rule does not apply to emancipated minors.
• Medical necessity when reasonable transportation alternatives are unavailable. The note must be signed by the physician containing the diagnosis and probable date of recovery
• Schooling or school-authorized activity. The note must be signed by your school principal, dean, or his/her designee
• Employment necessity and the need to operate a vehicle as part of your employment. The note must be signed by your employer verifying employment.
• Your necessity or the necessity of an immediate family member. The note must be signed by your parent or legal guardian
• If you are an emancipated minor. No documentation is needed. However, you must have already declared yourself emancipated and provided DMV with
• Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of the parent’s or guarantors’ signatures
The California DMV monitors all minor drivers closely. If you:
• Get a traffic ticket and fail to appear in court, your driving privileges will be suspended until you appear in court
• Get a traffic ticket and neglect to pay the fine, your driving privileges will be suspended until you pay the fine
• Have one “at fault” accident or conviction within 1 year, you will receive a warning letter from the DMV
• Have a second “at fault” accident or conviction (or combination of both) within 1 year, your driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days. You will be allowed to drive with a parent or other licensed adult (25 years or older) during the 30-day period
• Have a third “at fault” accident or conviction (or any combination) within 1 year, your driving privileges will be suspended for 6 months and you will be placed on probation for a minimum of 1 year
• Have additional “at fault” accidents or point count convictions while on probation, your driving privileges will be suspended again
• All teen traffic violations are reported to the DMV and will remain on your record for a period of time to be determined by the courts. In some cases, these violations can become a part of your permanent record
California Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws
In the state of California, it is illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a cell phone. This includes hands free and texting. A first violation carries a $20 traffic ticket. The second and third offenses will cost $50. Tickets become a part of your permanent California DMV record.
California Teen DUI Laws
In the state of California, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is equal to as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a California teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, and you are between the ages of 13 and 21, your license will be suspended for 1 year on the spot. If you do not have a driver license yet, you will have to wait an additional year longer before you can apply for a license. You will also have to complete a DUI program. Any restriction, suspension, or probation will continue past your 18th birthday for its full term.
California Teen Auto Insurance Requirements
In the state of California, all drivers must carry auto insurance. You must carry
minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for death or injury of any one person in any one accident; $30,000 for all persons in any one accident, and $5,000 for damage to property in any one accident (15/30/5). The risk of an auto accident is significantly higher during a teens first year behind the wheel. Because of this, California auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you do not want to purchase a separate policy for your teen and you would rather add your teen driver to your existing policy, your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase, however, is $2,171 a year.
Although auto insurance premiums will increase if you add a teen to your policy or purchasing teen auto insurance will always be pricier than other policies, there are ways to qualify for discounts on teen auto insurance. Auto insurance companies offer discounts ranging from 10-15% or more for:
• Maintaining at least a B average
• Successful completion of a state approved safe driver course
You can also lower your premiums on teen auto insurance if you avoid purchasing sports and luxury cars for your teen, if you opt for a higher deductible, or if you combine insurance policies into one (i.e. life, home, health, renter’s, etc.).
Michelle Burton
California Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements
Under California’s Graduated Driver Licensing, teens ages 15 ½ to 17 ½ teens must:
• Apply for and carry a provisional learner’s permit for 6 months
• Complete 6 hours of professional driver training
• Complete an approved driver education class
• Complete 50 practice driving hours with a parent or guardian or an individual that is 25 years of age or older
• Apply for a provisional driver’s license
Once the teen has completed the steps above, he will receive an interim license. The interim license is good for 60 days. Within the 60 days, if your provisional application is approved (meaning you have passed all tests and met all requirements), you will receive a provisional license in the mail. The provisional license has several restrictions that expire on the driver’s 18th birthday if he has maintained a clean driving record. Please continue to the next section to read about provisional license restrictions.
To apply for a permits and licenses in the state of California, you must provide the following to the California Department of Motor vehicles:
• If under the age of 18, the parent or guardian must give written consent
• Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
• Photo ID
• Birth certificate
• Proof of legal residence
• Application fee of $28 (check, cash, money order, ATM/debit card)
California Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement
In the state of California, provisional license holders will have restrictions for the first year. During the first year, teen drivers are not allowed to:
• Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Allow passengers under the age of 20 in the car with them
If driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. is necessary or if passengers under the age of 20 are present in the car, the driver must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, a licensed driver over the age of 25, or a licensed driving instructor.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles lists the exceptions to these restrictions below, when reasonable transportation is not available. In addition, the teen driver must carry a note at all times, which explains the necessity and the date when the necessity will end. This rule does not apply to emancipated minors.
• Medical necessity when reasonable transportation alternatives are unavailable. The note must be signed by the physician containing the diagnosis and probable date of recovery
• Schooling or school-authorized activity. The note must be signed by your school principal, dean, or his/her designee
• Employment necessity and the need to operate a vehicle as part of your employment. The note must be signed by your employer verifying employment.
• Your necessity or the necessity of an immediate family member. The note must be signed by your parent or legal guardian
• If you are an emancipated minor. No documentation is needed. However, you must have already declared yourself emancipated and provided DMV with
• Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of the parent’s or guarantors’ signatures
The California DMV monitors all minor drivers closely. If you:
• Get a traffic ticket and fail to appear in court, your driving privileges will be suspended until you appear in court
• Get a traffic ticket and neglect to pay the fine, your driving privileges will be suspended until you pay the fine
• Have one “at fault” accident or conviction within 1 year, you will receive a warning letter from the DMV
• Have a second “at fault” accident or conviction (or combination of both) within 1 year, your driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days. You will be allowed to drive with a parent or other licensed adult (25 years or older) during the 30-day period
• Have a third “at fault” accident or conviction (or any combination) within 1 year, your driving privileges will be suspended for 6 months and you will be placed on probation for a minimum of 1 year
• Have additional “at fault” accidents or point count convictions while on probation, your driving privileges will be suspended again
• All teen traffic violations are reported to the DMV and will remain on your record for a period of time to be determined by the courts. In some cases, these violations can become a part of your permanent record
California Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws
In the state of California, it is illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a cell phone. This includes hands free and texting. A first violation carries a $20 traffic ticket. The second and third offenses will cost $50. Tickets become a part of your permanent California DMV record.
California Teen DUI Laws
In the state of California, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is equal to as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a California teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, and you are between the ages of 13 and 21, your license will be suspended for 1 year on the spot. If you do not have a driver license yet, you will have to wait an additional year longer before you can apply for a license. You will also have to complete a DUI program. Any restriction, suspension, or probation will continue past your 18th birthday for its full term.
California Teen Auto Insurance Requirements
In the state of California, all drivers must carry auto insurance. You must carry
minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for death or injury of any one person in any one accident; $30,000 for all persons in any one accident, and $5,000 for damage to property in any one accident (15/30/5). The risk of an auto accident is significantly higher during a teens first year behind the wheel. Because of this, California auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you do not want to purchase a separate policy for your teen and you would rather add your teen driver to your existing policy, your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase, however, is $2,171 a year.
Although auto insurance premiums will increase if you add a teen to your policy or purchasing teen auto insurance will always be pricier than other policies, there are ways to qualify for discounts on teen auto insurance. Auto insurance companies offer discounts ranging from 10-15% or more for:
• Maintaining at least a B average
• Successful completion of a state approved safe driver course
You can also lower your premiums on teen auto insurance if you avoid purchasing sports and luxury cars for your teen, if you opt for a higher deductible, or if you combine insurance policies into one (i.e. life, home, health, renter’s, etc.).
Michelle Burton