How to Get Your Driver’s License in Los Angeles, California


Getting a Los Angeles driver’s license doesn’t take much. With a few documents and a DMV-approved driver’s education course, both teens and adults can get their driver’s license fairly easily in Los Angeles, California.

Take a look at what you need to know and what you need to bring.

Getting Your Los Angeles Driver's License as a Teen

To get a Los Angeles driver’s license, teens must first apply for a permit. To get a permit, teens must be at least 15 and a half years old and complete the Driver’s License and ID Card Application (Form DL 44 or eDL 44).

The driver’s license application must be signed by your parent or legal guardian. If both parents have custody, they’re both required to sign the application. Luckily, you can do this electronically.

To pass the permit test, teens must also pass the knowledge test, which is why it’s important to take a driver’s education course beforehand to gain as much knowledge as possible. You'll need to get at least 38 out of 46 questions right. If you fail, you must wait seven days before retaking the test.

If you’re between the ages of 15 and a half and 17 and a half, you’ll have to provide proof that you completed a California driver education course via a Certificate of Completion of Driver Education.

If you’re over the age of 17 and a half, you can get a permit without taking a driver education or driver training course.

Once you've had your permit for at least six months and completed 50 hours of practice driving (10 of which were at night), you make an appointment to take the driving test to get your full license. There are numerous Los Angeles DMV locations where you can do this.

Getting Your Los Angeles Driver's License as an Adult

Getting your driver’s license as an adult in California is somewhat similar to getting one as a teenager, except you don’t need anyone’s permission or any driver education. You will still need to get a learner's permit if you never had a license before.

You’ll still need to provide proof of your identity, in the form of one of the following:

  • U.S. birth certificate

  • U.S. passport

  • U.S. Armed Forces ID cards

  • Certificate of naturalization

  • Permanent resident card

  • Foreign passport with a valid I-94

Acceptable residency documents include:

  • Utility bill (including cell phone)

  • Insurance documents

  • California title or registration for a vehicle or vessel

  • Statement from a financial institution

For a more complete list of acceptable documents, visit the California DMV Website.

Enjoy the California Roads!

Getting your driver’s license means not only providing the right documents, but it means preparing mentally to take and pass your knowledge test. You could take practice tests and re-read the manual until you’re blue in the face, but the absolute best way to increase your chances of passing is to take a driver’s education course. If you’re a minor, it’s a requirement, so take a Los Angeles DMV-approved online course that’s affordable and easily accessible.

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