In California what age do you have to be to drive without adult supervision?

Answer 1

You can get a "junior permit" as young as 14 if you can show that you do not have adequate transportation to school, work, and/or other important functions. Restrictions are to be placed on the permit by the Department of Motor Vehicles based on the intended use of the permit. If you only get the permit because you don't have a ride to school, for example, you are only allowed to drive to school when you have the permit. When you are 16.5 years old you can get an actual license. There are some restrictions on this. When you turn 16, you can apply for a learner's permit. With the learner's permit you can only drive with a California-licensed passenger who is at least 25 years old. After 6 months of this and completion of driver training courses and a number of hours of behind-the-wheel training, you are eligible for the real license. For the first year (or until you turn 18, whichever comes first) you have a few restrictions. Unless you have a licensed 25 year-old in the car you can't drive between 11 pm and 5am and can't have passengers under 20 years of age. You can get around these restrictions if you can show that it is necessary to have passengers under 20 or that it is necessary to drive during the restricted time period. To drive alone, it's the 16.5 thing. Learner's permit at 16, license 6 months later. There are still the restrictions mentioned above, but in most cases and at most times you can drive alone.
16