IN
Minors under 18 must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice. 10 of these hours must be at night. Adults 18 and older have no minimum requirement.
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California minors must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice before the road test, including at least 10 hours at night. Adults 18 and older do not have the same minimum supervised-practice-hour requirement.
| Requirement | Minor Applicant |
|---|---|
| Supervised practice | 50 hours total |
| Night practice | 10 of the 50 hours |
| Professional driver training | 6 hours, separate from the 50 supervised hours |
| DL 603 practice log | Optional tracking tool, not a mandatory DMV log |
| Completion proof | Parent or guardian certifies that the required supervised practice was completed |
California DMV provides the Parent-Teen Training Guide (DL 603) as an optional way to track practice. Families may use it, an app, or their own notes to stay organized.
DMV does not require a detailed DL 603 log as the official proof of every drive. The key requirement is that the minor actually completes the 50 supervised hours, including 10 at night, and that the parent or guardian truthfully certifies completion.
That does not by itself invalidate the hours. DL 603 is optional. The key requirement is completing the required supervised practice and having the parent or guardian certify completion.
For a minor, DMV relies on the required parent or guardian certification that the 50 supervised hours were completed. DL 603 can help the family track progress, but it is not a mandatory audit log.
Keep any personal tracking record that helps you verify the hours before signing the certification.
The 50-hour total is supervised practice completed after the instruction permit is valid for practice.
| Counts toward the 50 hours | Separate / does not count toward the 50 |
|---|---|
| Driving with a qualifying supervising driver age 25 or older | The required 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training |
| Practice in daytime and nighttime conditions | Time spent only as a passenger |
| Practice on streets, parking areas, and other lawful driving environments | Driving before the permit is valid for supervised practice |
No. For minors, California treats the six hours of professional behind-the-wheel driver training and the 50 supervised practice hours as separate requirements. The professional training does not replace the 50 supervised hours.
California DMV requires at least 10 of the 50 supervised practice hours to be completed at night. DMV states the requirement as nighttime practice rather than giving a separate clock-time range in its permit guidance.
The legal requirement is to complete the full 50 hours, including 10 at night. Because DL 603 is optional, losing a detailed log does not automatically mean the applicant must restart from zero.
The parent or guardian should certify only hours that were actually completed. If the family is unsure whether the full requirement has been met, complete additional supervised practice before certifying.
The parent or guardian signature on the permit certification is submitted under penalty of perjury. Falsifying the log or certification can create legal and DMV consequences.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Get the permit | Receive the California instruction permit and make sure it is valid for supervised practice. |
| 2. Complete driver training | For minors, complete the required professional behind-the-wheel training separately from the 50-hour practice requirement. |
| 3. Complete supervised practice | Reach 50 hours total, including 10 at night, with a qualifying supervising driver. |
| 4. Certify completion | A parent or guardian signs the required certification only after the hours are completed. |
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