How many practice hours do you need in California?
In California, a learner driver must log 50 hours of supervised driving practice—including 10 at night—before applying for a license.
California learner permit requirements
- Minimum permit age: 15½
- Supervised practice required: 50 hours total, 10 at night (what counts as night driving)
- Permit hold period: 6 months
- License eligibility age: 16
- How hours are certified: Form DL 356 (parent/guardian certification of practice hours). DriveMint fills in the Supervised Driving Log from your logged drives (see every state form).
Drivers under 17½ must complete driver education and driver training. A parent or guardian certifies the 50 hours (10 at night) when applying for the provisional license.
When can you drive with a permit in California?
California sets no curfew for instruction permit holders. You can practice at any hour, including after 11 p.m., as long as a qualified supervisor sits beside you. The 11 p.m.–5 a.m. limit starts with the provisional license and lasts its first 12 months.
With a California-licensed parent, guardian or spouse, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor.
Same as daytime. There's no permit curfew.
With any California-licensed driver 18 or older.
Same as daytime.
Alone, but no passengers under 20 unless a licensed parent or guardian, a driver 25 or older, or an instructor rides along.
Only with a licensed parent or guardian, a driver 25 or older, or an instructor, unless a signed-note exception applies.
- A minor's permit isn't valid until behind-the-wheel training with an instructor begins, or until the teen turns 17½.
- The supervisor's license can't be on probation, and they must sit where they can reach the controls and help avoid a collision.
- Provisional drivers can drive alone from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., or drive an immediate family member, only for medical, school, work or family necessity, with a signed note from a doctor, the school, the employer or a parent. Emancipated minors are exempt. Local laws can add their own limits.
With no permit curfew, the 10 night hours fit any evening after dark. Winter makes them easy: sunset is before 5 p.m. across most of California in December.
Checked against California Vehicle Code §12814.6 in October 2026. Limits after the road test are under restrictions for new drivers.
Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the California DMV before applying.
Need driver ed in California? You can take it online
California requires drivers under 17½ to complete driver education — the classroom portion can be done online through a DMV-approved course.
Take California driver ed online with Aceable →Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you enroll through this link—at no extra cost to you. It doesn't affect our recommendations.
California's graduated licensing stages
Drive only with a licensed parent, guardian or spouse, a licensed driver 25+, or an instructor; complete 50 hours of practice (10 at night).
Issued after holding the permit 6 months and passing the road test; night and passenger limits apply for 12 months.
All provisional restrictions are lifted.
Driving restrictions for new California drivers
For the first 12 months, you can't drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor is with you. A signed note covers medical, school, work or family necessity.
For the first 12 months, you can't carry passengers under 20 unless a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor is with you.
Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone at all while driving — handheld or hands-free.
Log every California practice hour automatically
DriveMint tracks each supervised drive, separates day and night hours, and generates a PDF you can print or show at the DMV. Prove all 50 hours without a paper logbook falling apart in the glove box.
New to DriveMint? Watch the one-minute video guides, from setup to a signed log.
California driving practice FAQs
How many driving hours do you need in California?+
California requires 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours at night, before a teen can apply for a license.
What time can you drive with a permit in California?+
California sets no time-of-day limit on instruction permits. A permit holder under 18 can drive at any hour, including 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with a California-licensed parent, guardian or spouse, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a driving instructor. Permit holders 18 or older need a California-licensed driver 18 or older. The 11 p.m.–5 a.m. restriction belongs to the provisional license: for its first 12 months, a teen can drive in those hours only with a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or an instructor, unless a medical, school, work or family exception applies.
Can I drive my younger siblings to school in California?+
During the first 12 months you generally can't carry passengers under 20 without a licensed adult 25+; a documented family exception may apply if no other transportation is available — confirm with the DMV.
Does driver education count toward the 50 hours?+
Behind-the-wheel professional training (6 hours) is separate from the 50 hours of parent-supervised practice; both are required for drivers under 17½.
Requirements in other states
Compare practice hours in all 50 states side by side, or read what actually counts as a night driving hour.