What do I need to do to get a Driver's license If I'm under 18?
What do I need to do to get a driver's license if I'm over 18?
What should I look for when selecting a driving school?
What do I need to do to get a Driver's license If I'm under 18?
If you are under 18, you must:
Complete Driver's education
This can be done at some high schools, but is usually completed at a driving school like Safety First. It can also be completed online. We have an entire page devoted to helping you decide which way to take driver's ed.
Pass the DMV permit test
This is a 48 question, multiple choice test issued at the DMV. You must be at least 15 1/2 years old to take this test. Driver's education prepares you for this test. We recommend you study the California driver's handbook for this test - especially while waiting at the DMV to take the test. An appointment is not necessary but is recommended to take the permit test. In order to take this test, you need to have with you at the DMV:
- Completed DL44 - application for driving license (available at our offices)
- Government issued birth certificate or passport
- Social Security Card
- Certificate of completion of Driver's education (blue or pink certificate)
- Certificate of enrollment in Driver's training (white certificate)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you pass the permit test and are issued the permit, it is NOT LEGAL TO DRIVE until it is validated by a licensed driving instructor. This is done on the first behind the wheel driving lesson.
Complete at least 56 hours of driving experience over the next six months
The DMV requires that you hold the permit for at least 6 months before you can take the drive test. There are a minimum of 56 required hours of driving experience before the drive test can be taken. Of these 56 hours, at least 10 must be at night and a minimum of 6 must be with a licensed driving instructor. Whatever hours are not completed with a licensed instructor, must be completed with a licensed adult over 25 years of age. A
Pass the drive test at the DMV
This is the behind the wheel test at the DMV. You must make an appointment for this test. You need to take the following documentation with you to the DMV for this test:
- Completed DL44 - application for driving license (available at our offices)
- Government issued birth certificate or passport
- Social Security Card
- Certificate of completion of Driver's education (blue or pink certificate)
- Certificate of enrollment in Driver's training (white certificate)
- Certificate of completion of Driver's training (gold certificate)
- Provisional permit (issued when you passed your permit test)
- Valid and current registration for the car used to take the test
- Valid and current proof of insurance for the car used to take the test
It is important to note that the car used for the drive test will undergo a safety inspection by the examiner. If there is a brake light or turn signal not working, the test will be rescheduled.
What do I need to do to get a driver's license if I'm over 18?
If you are over 18, you must:
Pass the DMV permit test
This is a 48 question, multiple choice test issued at the DMV. Driver's education prepares you for this test. We recommend you study the California driver's handbook for this test - especially while waiting at the DMV to take the test. An appointment is not necessary to take this test. In order to take this test, you need to have with you at the DMV:
- Completed DL44 - application for driving license (available at our offices)
- Government issued birth certificate or passport
- Social Security Card
Pass the drive test at the DMV
This is the behind the wheel test at the DMV. You must make an appointment for this test. You need to take the following documentation with you to the DMV for this test:
- Completed DL44 - application for driving license (available at our offices)
- Government issued birth certificate or passport
- Social Security Card
- Permit (issued when you passed your permit test)
- Valid and current registration for the car used to take the test
- Valid and current proof of insurance for the car used to take the test
It is important to note that the car used for the drive test will undergo a safety inspection by the examiner. If there is a brake light or turn signal not working, the test will be rescheduled.
While driver's education and training are not required for those over 18 years of age, we recommend that everyone undergo at least the behind the wheel portion of our training program before they try to tackle the roads on their own.
What should I look for when selecting a driving school?
Driving is a skill that will be used for your entire life. It is also the leading cause of death and injury in the nation. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the instructors and staff about the curriculum and teaching methods. There are many excellent driving schools out there but unfortunately there are also many driving schools are small "mom and pop" operations that really don't do much teaching. Some schools spend the time in the car with the student but much of it spent aimlessly driving around without a real plan or syllabus to follow. If a school has a reputation for being the "easy" school that isn't necessarily a good thing. Many schools will not provide a full program of driver's education and training. If you are paying for a certain number of hours, don't you think it's fair that the school provide those hours? If your lesson is scheduled to last two hours and it's over in 90 minutes, you've been cheated.
Safety training tips for parents
- Begin the first 3 or 4 sessions in a residential area in light traffic.
- Minimum practice time should be 30 minutes. In the first 15 hours, five and ten minute drives do not help much and usually destroy confidence. Remember, it takes your new driver at least 15 to 20 minutes just to get relaxed and to get used to a different car.
- We teach only the correct way to drive which means observing and obeying all traffic laws and standard safety practices. If you have any questions or disagreements with our methods, please call the office and ask to speak to the manager. Giving students conflicting advice makes learning very difficult.
- A 15 minute warm-up drive is a good way to start each lesson. This would be mostly straight driving in light to moderate traffic.
- No passengers for the first 15 hours, especially little brothers and sisters, their advice is not usually welcomed. Also having both Mom and Dad in the car is very stressful for your new driver…so only one teacher at a time is best. The reason is, most parents do not drive exactly the same way, and both usually want to give advice.
- The better you are at seeing situations develop and point them out to our new driver, the less stress you will experience.
- Please do not give any last minute directions like “TURN HERE!” Always let your student know a block in advance before any turn or lane change. This is why it is not advisable to run errands as a part of the training program, because this is when the sense of urgency comes into the lesson…creating more stress for everyone.
- Never make your criticisms personal, and keep them to a minimum. A new driver cannot do everything perfect right away, it sometimes takes 2 or 3 attempts, if not 200.
- Keep your sentences short, and avoid general conversation; your new driver really needs to concentrate on the task at hand.
- Music is another distraction that is not needed in the first 10 to 15 hours of driving.
- Ask your instructor for other helpful hints and what to watch for.
Testimonies
Dear Safety First Driving School,
I would just like to take a moment and thank you and your staff for providing such excellent service. I am a parent of three boys who have taken drivers education/training from three different companies here in the Conejo Valley.
Because I have had the exposure to the other driving schools I can say that Safety First by far provides better instruction and instructors. Some of the issues we had with other schools were price, scheduling, instructors showing up late, or cutting my child's drive time to get to get back to their over booked schedules.
With Safety First the instructors were always early, provided fantastic instruction and insight, as well as showed genuine concern to provide the best instruction for the new driver.
It's scary as a parent that your child will be behind the wheel, you want to know that the instruction that was given was the best it can be to educate them to be safe, cautious and defensive drivers. With car accidents as the #1 cause of death for young adults I am grateful that Safety First doesn't cut corners. I have lived in Thousand Oaks since 1974 and whenever I am asked for a recommendation for new drivers I will always recommend Safety First.
Sincerely,
Kathleen J.
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