California State Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

Safety first for teen drivers

More freedom means bigger responsibility for your teen. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws are designed to help young drivers gain skills and experience before gaining full driving privileges. It's important to discuss these laws with your teen, as research has shown GDL laws can reduce crash rates among 16-year-old drivers by almost 43%¹.

A teenage driver smiles as she sits behind the wheel of her car.

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California Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws

Minimum age

15 years and 6 months old²

Learner stage duration

6 months

Required supervised driving hours

50 hours, 10 of which must be at night

Nighttime driving restriction

11 p.m. to 5 a.m..

Passenger restriction (family members are exempt unless otherwise noted)

No passengers under 20 years old without an adult 25 years or older present

Minimum age for full-privilege driving

12 months licensed or 18 years old (whichever comes first)

Still have questions about teen driving or GDL laws? See the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's GDL laws, learn more about California licensing requirements and teen driving in California.

Set your teen up for safety.

GDL laws are a great start, but you can do even more to help keep your teen safe. If you're car shopping for your young driver, make sure to notice high safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety can help you learn about vehicle safety ratings and features.

Contact an agent for more information about insuring your teen driver and what that could mean for your limits and deductibles.

Teen driver discount

Adding a new driver to your auto policy means getting new opportunities to save. From being a great student to practicing safe driving, there are many discounts to explore.

See teen discounts

Related Resources:

Coverages and discounts are subject to availability and qualifications. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.

GDL requirements provided for informational purposes only. State requirements vary by state and may change from time to time. Check with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety if you have questions about current state requirements.

Many factors go into the cost of your auto insurance policy, including how you purchase the policy: online, through a call center, or with an agent.

²Further restrictions or details may apply. Please visit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for more information.