Parents’ Corner: Helping Your Teen Get Licensed

Learning to drive is an exciting but anxious time for the young driver in your family—and for you. This page pulls together the resources that calm the worries. We want driving to be fun for everyone involved.

Driver Education

TeenDrivingOnline.com is a DMV-licensed driver education provider, licence #E4727. Your teen gets the same state-approved material taught in classrooms—text, photos, charts, video and interactive activities—online, at their own pace.

$24.95 covers everything, including the Certificate of Completion. No hidden fees.

The licensing regulations are genuinely confusing, so we lay them out as a simple five-step plan.

Driver Training

Driver education teaches the theory. Driver training (behind-the-wheel) teaches the hands-on skills. California requires applicants under 18 to complete at least 6 hours of training with a professional instructor before starting supervised practice driving.

Is professional training worth the money? Absolutely. Aim for 12–18 hours. Driving is one of the most dangerous things your teen will do daily, and time in the driver’s seat builds both confidence and safety.

Find a DMV-licensed driving school near you.

Supervised Driving Practice

Once your teen has a permit and 6 hours of professional training, they practise under your supervision. California requires at least 50 hours, 10 of them at night.

Aim for 2–3 times the minimum. It sounds like a lot; your teen will be a better driver for it.

Teaching your child to drive shouldn’t be a negative experience. Stay calm, don’t get frustrated, and use these two tools to keep it manageable—and even fun:

• downloadable Practice Driving Log
• downloadable Parent-Teen Driving Contract

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and 1 in 4 licensed drivers aged 16 and 17 is involved in a collision. Experience is what changes that: the more practice, the more quality lessons, the more drills you do together, the safer your teen driver will be.

Staying Safe

Your concern doesn’t end when they get their license. These two resources help you talk to your teen about the behaviours that cause the most harm:

MADD. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the most dangerous thing a driver can do. MADD’s mission is “to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking.”

Texting & Driving…it can wait. Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to crash or near-crash than undistracted drivers.

Helpful Links

• DMV Licensing Requirements
• California Driver Handbooks
• DMV Practice Written Exams
• Make an Appointment at the DMV
• Nearby Driver Training (Behind-the-Wheel) Providers
• Click Here for a Printable Checklist