Requirements, rules and regulations for obtaining a drivers license is more or less similar in different states. The process of obtaining drivers license often appears confusing because of many different requirements and rules for different age group.
In most of the states, the minimum age you must have attained before you can obtain a drivers license is 16. In some states, minimum age requirements may be slightly lower. For example, in State of California, minimum age requirement to become eligible for drivers license is 15 years and 6 months.
Rules are slightly different for different age groups. Different rules are there for teens aged 16 and near 16, for teens less than 18 years old and adults who have crossed 18 years age. So basically, depending upon the age group a person falls in, he or she has to
fulfill some requirements to obtain a drivers license. In different states, age limits for first, second and third age group may be slightly different. And also the process to obtain a drivers license for a particular age group may be slightly different for different states. In California state, first age group consists of age limits 15 years 6
months to 17 years 6 months, second age group consists of age limits 17 years 6 months to 18 years and third age group consists of persons above 18 years old seeking drivers license in California state.In California, 18 years and older can directly apply for a drivers license and take the DMV test (department of motor vehicle) whenever you feel you can drive well. For drivers license seekers aged between 17 years 6 months and 18 years, you can apply for provisional permit to drive which is really a good idea or you can wait 6 months to obtain a drivers license.For teen drivers seeking a drivers license aged between 15 years 6 months and 17 years 6 months, the process is slightly difficult. This has been done to reduce the large number of accidents involving teens every year in California. For this age group, the process is
1. Take drivers education class in one of the state approved programs or in a high school.
2. Obtaining a provisional learner’s permit to drive for 6 months. For this, you need to fill up and submit an application form called form DL44. In case of minor, parents or guardian have to sign the permit application form. You should be ready with documents related to social security number, identity, birth date, legal presence in the state of California, completion of driver education and driver training. Pay the application fee and make an appointment to take the written test for learner’s permit to drive. Credit cards are not accepted at DMV. Pay the application fee using other methods. Prepare well for the written test. Its best to take such mock tests at home and be well aware of all traffic laws and traffic signs.
After obtaining learner’s permit to drive, you can’t drive alone. You always have to be accompanied with a 25 years and above person holding a California drivers license. The sole purpose of learner’s permit is driver training and not professional driving.
3. Taking six hours of drivers training.
4. Completing fifty hours of driving practice with an adult aged 25 years and above holding a California driving license.
5. After that, you can apply for California provisional driver license. For this, you’ll have to take DMV test. When you turn 18, the license is no more provisional and no restrictions apply to it. Also first 12 months after obtaining a provisional driver license have some restrictions like you can’t drive at night between 11 pm and 5 am and persons below 20 can’t ride in your vehicle.