Do You Need Driver's Ed in California?

Driver’s ed is required in California. The state won’t issue a license to anyone under 18 who hasn’t finished an approved program.

What “required” actually means

The requirement applies to drivers under 18. Most programs include 30 to 40 hours of classroom instruction (or the online equivalent) plus 6 to 10 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a certified instructor. The classroom portion covers traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, and hazard recognition. The in-car portion puts you behind the wheel with a professional before you start logging hours with a parent.

Supervisor must be 25+ with valid license. Driver education enrollment required.

Supervised hours still apply

Finishing driver’s ed doesn’t reduce your practice hour requirement. California still requires 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night). Think of it as two separate boxes to check: the course gives you knowledge, the hours give you seat time.

Details on the hour requirement: California permit hours.

Track your hours with Moda

Whether or not you take driver’s ed, you’ll need to log practice hours. Moda tracks every session automatically. Start, drive, stop. It records day vs. night, calculates your progress against California’s requirements, and exports a DMV-ready log when you’re done. No paper forms, no guessing.

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