Short answer: For your California permit appointment, bring proof of identity, proof of California residency, your Social Security number, your application confirmation, the application fee, and your glasses or contacts if you wear them. Teens under 17½ also need a driver education certificate, and anyone under 18 must bring a parent or guardian.
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Start the free test →Forgetting one document can mean a second trip, so use this checklist the night before. Everything here comes from the California DMV’s own pages.
Your DMV permit checklist
| What to bring | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Proof of identity (original) | Everyone |
| Proof of California residency | Everyone (the handbook lists two proofs; exceptions may apply) |
| Social Security number | Everyone who has one |
| Legal name document | Only if the name on your identity document doesn’t match your application |
| Online application confirmation number | Everyone who applied online |
| Driver education certificate | Teens 15½ to 17½ |
| Parent or guardian | Everyone under 18 |
| Payment for the application fee | Everyone |
| Glasses or contacts | Anyone who wears them |
If you already have a California ID card, the DMV says you can bring that card instead of separate identity and residency proof.
Proof of identity
You need one original identity document that shows your full name and date of birth. The DMV’s REAL ID checklist lists options such as:
- A valid U.S. passport or passport card (the DMV’s preferred option)
- A certified U.S. birth certificate
- A Permanent Resident Card
- A Certificate of Naturalization
- An Employment Authorization Document
The DMV does not accept “abbreviated” or “abstract” birth certificates. If your name has changed and your identity document shows a different name than your application, bring a legal name document that links the two, such as a marriage certificate or adoption papers.
California also offers driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status. If that applies to you, the DMV has a separate AB 60 document list on its website.
Proof of California residency
The handbook lists two proofs of residency for a permit, with some exceptions. For a REAL ID permit or license, you need two different printed documents that show your first and last name and the same mailing address as your application. The DMV’s examples include:
- A home utility bill or cell phone bill (preferred)
- Bank records
- Insurance documents
- A mortgage bill or property tax bill
- A voter registration confirmation
- A California vehicle title or registration
Teens without bills in their own name
Most 15-year-olds don’t get mail with their name on it. The DMV allows a child under 18 to use a residency document in a parent’s name by also bringing a tracing document, such as the teen’s birth certificate, that shows the relationship. If you’re using a P.O. box, one document must show both the P.O. box and your home address.
Social Security number
If you have a Social Security number, the DMV says the law requires you to provide it on your application. Exceptions may apply if you don’t have one. Double-check that the number on your application is correct.
Application confirmation and parent approval
Teens getting a learner’s permit must start the application online, and adults can too. After you submit it, you get a confirmation number by email. Bring that number, because a DMV employee uses it to find your application. You’ll sign the application at the office.
If you’re under 18, your parent or guardian must have approved the application through their own MyDMV account, and a parent or guardian must come to the office with you. If both parents have custody, both must sign. The full application process is covered in how to get your permit in California.
Driver education certificate (most teens)
If you’re between 15½ and 17½, bring your Certificate of Completion of Driver Education, or a Certificate of Enrollment in an integrated driver education and training program. If you took the course out of state, the school can complete form DL 33. Not sure whether you need it? Our permit age guide explains the 17½ rule.
The application fee
You’ll pay a nonrefundable application fee at the office. As of November 2026, the DMV’s licensing fees page lists $46 for an original Class C driver’s license; the DMV doesn’t list a separate permit fee. Check the fees page before your visit in case it changes.
Glasses or contact lenses
Everyone takes a vision test. If you need glasses or contacts to see well, wear or bring them. If you pass the vision test using corrective lenses, your license will show a corrective lenses restriction. If you don’t pass, the DMV may ask your eye doctor to complete a Report of Vision Examination (form DL 62).
What not to bring into the knowledge test
The DMV doesn’t allow testing aids, such as the handbook or a cell phone, during the knowledge test. Study before you go, not in the testing area. The test is multiple choice, and you need 80% to pass. You can take the free 10-question practice test the night before to warm up.
Timing tips for your visit
- Book an appointment after your application is complete, and upload your documents ahead of time to save time at the counter. Bring the originals of anything you uploaded.
- Arrive early. DMV offices don’t give knowledge tests after 4:30 p.m.
- Consider testing online. The DMV’s online knowledge test needs a computer or laptop with a webcam and can be tried twice before a third try at an office. See our online permit test guide. You still visit an office to complete your application.
If you don’t pass the knowledge test, you get three tries in all before you must reapply, and minors must wait seven days between tries. Our tips on how to pass the California permit test can help you get it on the first try.
Ready to check what you know? Take the free 10-question California permit practice test.
Start the free test →Frequently asked questions
Do I need my Social Security card to get my permit in California?
The DMV requires your Social Security number on the application if you have one, with exceptions for people who don't. The DMV pages we reviewed focus on providing the number, so make sure it's correct on your application.
Can a 15-year-old use a parent's bill as proof of residency?
Yes. The DMV lets a child under 18 use a residency document in a parent's name along with a tracing document, such as the teen's birth certificate, that shows the relationship.
Is a birth certificate enough to get a permit in California?
A certified U.S. birth certificate covers proof of identity only. You still need residency documents, your Social Security number, and, for teens, a driver education certificate and a parent or guardian.
Does my parent need to bring ID?
The DMV says a parent or guardian must come with a minor to the office visit and must approve the application through their own MyDMV account. The pages we reviewed don't list a separate ID requirement for the parent, but bringing one is a sensible precaution.
Can I bring my phone into the permit test?
You can bring it to the office, but cell phones and other testing aids aren't allowed during the knowledge test.
Sources
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 2: Getting an Instruction Permit and Driver's License
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 3: The Testing Process
- Learner's Permit (Instruction Permits)
- REAL ID Checklist
- Driver's License and ID Card Online Application
- Teen Driver Roadmap
- Licensing Fees
- More Californians Fulfilling DMV Testing Requirement Online (news release, Dec. 28, 2023)
- Driver's Licenses
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 1: The California Driver's License