Driving rules for teens in California can get confusing at times. Everything comes down to age and when teens start the process. Knowing what are the driving rules for 17 year olds in California can be different depending on those factors.
What are the Driving Rules for 17 Year Olds in California?
What are the driving rules for 17 year olds in California? The answer depends on when teens get their licenses. Teens can start the driving school process as soon as they turn 15 ½ years old. However, the process takes time; most teens won’t take a driving test until a bit after they turn 16 years old.
Those teens are awarded a provisional license, which they must use for the first year. This means they won’t have a provisional license once they turn 17 years old. They must simply follow normal driving laws, and the restrictions disappear.
What is a Provisional License in California?
New teen drivers are first given a provisional license in California for one year before the provisions are lifted. What is a provisional license? A provisional license is a driver’s license that allows new drivers to drive, but it comes with special rules they must follow. Those rules include:
- No driving between 11 PM and 5 AM
- No passengers under 20 years old unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a licensed driver over the age of 25
- No cell phone usage, even if it’s hands-free
Of course, there are some exceptions to the rules. Not to mention, most teens will end their provisional license period on or slightly after their 17th birthday. This means only 17-year-olds who are still within their provisional period must follow those rules. That includes teens who wait until they turn 17 ½ to take a written test at the DMV to get a permit without attending driving school.
Provisional License Exceptions
What are the driving rules for 17 year olds in California? As you can see, it all depends on when teens start the process and when they get their driver’s license. Say you get your driver’s license 3 months before you turn 17, that means you will have a provisional license until you turn 18 years old. The only other exceptions to the rules include:
- Medical necessity
- School or school-authorized event
- Employment necessity
- Immediate need for a family member
- Emancipated minor
The only way to get these exceptions approved is to have a note in the vehicle at all times. A doctor’s note for medical necessity would be required; a note signed by the principal, dean, or designee would be required for school activity. Teens would need a note signed by their boss for employment necessity or a note signed by a parent or guardian for family member needs.
Emancipated teens do not need a signed note. Instead, they must declare they are emancipated when applying for their learner’s permit. All teens can learn about these rules and more with Varsity Driving School.