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State rules

Driver training rules in California

What California requires of driving schools, CDL training and school bus drivers, with every fact linked to its official source.

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✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18

Driver training rules in California for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.

Driver education (teens)Required under 18: classroom driver education of 30 hours (or 2 1/2 semester periods) at a licensed school, plus at least 6 hours behind-the-wheel training with a professional instructor.source 1 · source 2
Supervised practice (teens)Under 18: 50 hours with a licensed driver 25+, 10 at night; hold permit 6 months (or turn 18) before drive test.source 2
New adult driversNone stated. Over 18 with no license: get an instruction permit, then take the driving test.source 3
Who licenses driving schoolsCalifornia DMV licenses and bonds driving schools; driving instruction for pay needs a DMV license.source 4 · source 1
CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDTYes. Beyond federal ELDT, original Class A or B applicants need at least 15 hours behind-the-wheel training, proven on form DL 1236.source 5
CDL schools: state licenseThrough Dec. 31, 2026: BPPE approval unless total charges are $2,500 or less (Ed. Code 94874(f)). From Jan. 1, 2027 (AB 2771): all Class A, B and C CDL training needs BPPE approval, except employer-run programs of employers with 250+ California CDL drivers; schools using the old exemption must apply by Mar. 31, 2027 and may keep operating until Jan. 1, 2028. The DMV driving-school license does not cover truck schools.source 6 · source 4 · source 7 · source 8
CDL schools: state hours or curriculumYes. Class A or B applicants need at least 15 hours behind-the-wheel, 10 on public roads, proven on form DL 1236 (Veh. Code 15250.1).source 9 · source 5
CDL schools: instructor rulesNo state instructor license. BPPE rule: non-degree instructors need 3 years of experience, education and training in the subject (5 CCR 71720(b), eff. Oct. 1, 2026).source 10
Carriers training their own drivers: licenseNot settled. BPPE covers entities offering education to the public for a charge (Ed. Code 94858); no carrier exemption is stated. From Jan. 1, 2027, employer-run CDL programs of employers with 250+ California CDL drivers keep the $2,500-or-less exemption (AB 2771). The DMV license does not cover truck training.source 11 · source 8 · source 7
Carriers: hours or curriculumYes. Every first Class A or B applicant needs 15 hours behind-the-wheel, 10 on public roads (VC 15250.1), logged on form DL 1236 with each instructor's name and CDL number; the applicant signs the certification.source 9 · source 5
Carriers: instructor rulesNot settled: depends on whether the carrier's program falls under BPPE (see State license). Federal 49 CFR 380.605 applies.source 11
New school bus drivers40-hour course minimum: 20 hours classroom and 20 hours behind-the-wheel (CHP manual HPM 82.4).source 12
School bus refresher10 hours each 12 months (classroom, behind-the-wheel or in-service); last year before renewal must be 10 hours classroom.source 12

Driving manuals and handbooks

Official publications from California, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.

Cover of California Driver's HandbookDriver's manual

California Driver's Handbook

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 600 English (Rev. 6/2025) · 92 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of California Driver's Handbook Quick ReferenceDriver's manual

California Driver's Handbook Quick Reference

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 600 X English (New 6/2025) · 68 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of California Parent-Teen Training GuideTeen and parent guides

California Parent-Teen Training Guide

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 603 (Rev. 7/2019) · 49 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Supervised Driving LogTeen and parent guides

Supervised Driving Log

California Department of Motor Vehicles · 3 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of DMV Senior Guide for Safe DrivingMature and senior drivers

DMV Senior Guide for Safe Driving

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 625 English (Rev. 10/2017) · 84 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of California Commercial Driver HandbookCommercial (CDL)

California Commercial Driver Handbook

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 650 (Rev. 12/2019) · 208 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Commercial Driver's License Handbook Supplement for Modernized VersionCommercial (CDL)

Commercial Driver's License Handbook Supplement for Modernized Version

California Department of Motor Vehicles · January 2023 - DL 650 X (New 1/2023) · 22 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of HPH 82.7 Passenger Transportation Safety Handbook (cover, contents and Chapters 1-10)School bus

HPH 82.7 Passenger Transportation Safety Handbook (cover, contents and Chapters 1-10)

California Highway Patrol · Revised March 2003 (Chapters 6-10 revised August 2005) · 294 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of California Motorcycle HandbookMotorcycle and moped

California Motorcycle Handbook

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 665 English (Rev. 2/2024) · 52 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Driver Education Lesson PlanDriving schools and instructors

Driver Education Lesson Plan

California Department of Motor Vehicles · OL 236 (Rev. 1/2020) · 39 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Driving School Instructor Lesson PlanDriving schools and instructors

Driving School Instructor Lesson Plan

California Department of Motor Vehicles · OL 235 (Rev. 1/2020) · 46 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Driving School Program HandbookDriving schools and instructors

Driving School Program Handbook

California Department of Motor Vehicles, Occupational Licensing · OL 210 (Rev. 8/2002) · 33 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Student License Manual (instructions for issuance of student licenses)Driving schools and instructors

Student License Manual (instructions for issuance of student licenses)

California Department of Motor Vehicles with the California Department of Education · DL 612 (Rev. 3/2012) · 39 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Recreational Vehicles and Trailers HandbookOther driving guides

Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook

California Department of Motor Vehicles · DL 648 (Rev. 11/2011) · 43 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.

Driving jobs in California

205,090heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers employed (May 2025)
$60,230median yearly pay (May 2025)
26,250projected openings each year, 2024 to 2034
11.4%projected job growth, 2024 to 2034
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics, California, May 2025Projections CentralLong-Term Occupational Projections (2024-2034)

Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.

Federal rules in every state

CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.

Sources

  1. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/driver-training-schools/
  2. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/getting-an-instruction-permit-and-drivers-license/
  3. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/driver-licenses-dl/
  4. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11100.&lawCode=VEH
  5. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/commercial-driver-licenses-cdl/
  6. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=94886.&lawCode=EDC
  7. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2771
  8. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=94874.&lawCode=EDC
  9. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=15250.1.&lawCode=VEH
  10. https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/regs.pdf
  11. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=94858.&lawCode=EDC
  12. https://www.chp.ca.gov/siteassets/policy/hpm/hpm-82.4/hpm-82.4-ch-2.pdf

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