Driving School Program
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or greater) to view some of the linked documents on this page. If you have problems with Acrobat Reader see the Adobe Troubleshooting page for possible solutions.
Purpose
The purpose of this page is to assist the prospective driving school and driving instructor by describing the requirements to obtain a driving school and/or driving instructor license from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
What is a Driving School?
A "driving school" is a business which, for compensation, conducts or offers to conduct instruction in the operation of motor vehicles. CVC Section 310.6
A Driving School Is Made Up Of...
A driving school owner which is any person licensed by the department to engage in the business of giving instruction for compensation in the driving of motor vehicles or in the preparation of an applicant for examination for a driver's license issued by the department. CVC Section 311;
A driving school operator, that is, either a driving school owner who operates his or her own driving school or an employee of a driving school who is designated by the driving school owner of such school to personally direct and manage the school for the owner. CVC Section 310.8; and
At lease one driving instructor which is an employee of a driving school licensed by the department to instruct others in the operation of motor vehicles. CVC Section 310.4
or...
An independent
driving instructor is licensed to teach driving instruction
in a city with a population of less than 50,000, which does
not have within it an established licensed driving school.
The city must be located in a county with a population of
less than 400,000; and the instructor must be employed as
an accredited teacher of automobile driver education or automobile
driver training under the provisions of the Education Code.
CVC Section 11105.5
Exemptions to Driving Schools and Driving Instructor Licenses:
- Public schools or educational institutions in which driving instruction is part of the curriculum
- Nonprofit public service organizations offering instruction without a tuition fee
- Nonprofit organizations engaged exclusively in giving off-the-highway instruction in the operation of motorcycles, if the course of instruction is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is not designed to prepare students for examination by the department for a class 4 drivers license
- Commercial schools giving only off-the-highway instruction in the operation of special construction equipment
- Vehicle dealers or their salespeople giving instruction without charge to purchasers of motor vehicles
- Employers giving instruction to their employees
- Commercial schools engaged exclusively in giving off-the-highway instruction in the operation of racing vehicles or in advanced driving skills to persons holding valid drivers' licenses, except whenever such instruction is given to persons who are being prepared for examination by the department for any class of driver's license. CVC Section 11101
Click on the following links for additional information related to the Driving School Program.
Education Lesson Plan (guidelines)(PDF)
Driving School Instructor Plan (guidelines)(PDF)
Additional Information
Requirement for Authorization to Issue Student Licenses
CCR, Title 13, Section 344.10 through 344.34
Every applicant applying for authorization to issue student licenses must:
- File an OL 804, Application For Authorization To Issue Student License, with the department. CCR, Title 13, Section 344.12 (a)(1)
- Pay the required fees for the student license (book of 25 licenses costs $50). CCR, Title 13, Section 344.28
- Be the driving school owner or an employee of the school designated by the owner to operate the school. CCR, Title 13, Section 344.24 (a)
- Have a vision screening device. CCR, Title 13, Section 344.12 (a)(1)(C)
- Have at least one designated employee trained to conduct vision screening. CCR, Title 13, Section 344.20 (a)(2)(D)
Authorized Forms for Driver Education and Driver Training
The department will accept the following forms as proof of completion of driver education and driver training:
- OL 238, Certificate of Completion of Behind the Wheel Training (other than from a secondary school).
- OL 237, Certificate of Completion of Classroom Driver Education (other than from a secondary school). CCR, Title 13, Section 340.27(a)
- OL 392, Certificate of Enrollment in Driver Training (other than a secondary school).
These forms can be obtained by calling (916) 229-3127. You may also order these forms by mail from:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Occupational Licensing
P.O. Box 932342 L224
Sacramento, CA 94232-3420
Suggested Study Material
Applicants for a driving school or driving instructor license are urged to prepare themselves before taking the required licensing examination(s). Books and publications on the subject of driver training are available at libraries, automobile clubs, and the employing school.
California Vehicle Code . Division 1, Sections 310.4, 310.6, 310.8, 311, 320, 1670, and 1671; Division 5, Chapter 1, Sections 11100-11114; Divisions 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The California Vehicle Code is available for purchase from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
California Drivers Handbook . Available free of charge at any Department of Motor Vehicles office. Or can also be downloaded from the internet.
California Code of Regulations. Title 13, Sections 50.40, 50.45 and 340.00 through 344.34