The provisional license rules, and the exceptions that come with paperwork
Pass your drive test before you turn 18 and your license arrives with the word provisional on it. That word carries specific restrictions — and every exception to them requires a signed note in the car with you.
What you cannot do as a provisional driver
The handbook lists three restrictions. You cannot drive:
- Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the first 12 months you hold your license.
- With passengers under 20 years old, unless your parent or guardian — or another California-licensed driver who is at least 25 — rides with you.
- For pay, or operating vehicles that require a commercial Class A, B or C license.
The four exceptions — each with its note
| You may drive if | Signed note required from |
|---|---|
| you have a medical need and no reasonable alternative | your physician, stating the condition and expected recovery date |
| you drive for schooling or a school activity | your school principal, dean or designee |
| you must drive for work | your employer, confirming employment |
| you must drive an immediate family member | your parent or legal guardian, stating the reason and end date |
One more thing worth knowing
A parent or guardian can cancel a minor's license at any time by filing a Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a Driver License form with the DMV. The license is a conditional grant, not a right — that's the design of the whole provisional stage.
Still on the way to your license? The full path — permit at 15½, the six-month wait, the 50 practice hours — is in our step-by-step guide to getting a California driver's license.
Test yourself on this
Licensing requirements and restrictions are a fixture of the knowledge test for minors.
Questions on requirements and processSource: California Driver's Handbook (DL 600, rev. 6/2025), Section 2 — Getting an Instruction Permit and Driver's License (Minor's Restrictions and Exceptions). Written and checked by Fernando Aguilera. Aprobify is not affiliated with the California DMV.