California Teen Driving Log Requirements (2026)
Everything teens and parents need to know about supervised practice hours, night driving rules, and DMV paperwork for a California provisional license.
California requirements at a glance
| Total supervised hours | 50 hours |
|---|---|
| Night hours required | 10 hours |
| Day hours (non-night) | 40 hours |
| Minimum permit age | 15.5 years |
| Minimum license age | 16 years |
| Official DMV log form | Official supervised driving log |
What counts as night driving in California?
Most states — including California — define legal night driving astronomically, not by a fixed clock time. Night hours generally begin around civil twilight or roughly 30 minutes after sunset, and end around sunrise. That means a drive at 8:45 PM in June may count as day, while a 6:00 PM drive in December counts as night.
- California requires at least 10 of your 50 hours to be completed at night.
- Sunset shifts daily — a fixed schedule like "drive after 7 PM" can misclassify hours on your DMV log.
- DriveLog calculates sunset for your location automatically and classifies each session as day or night using official astronomical data — no guesswork.
Track your California hours the easy way
DriveLog's free driving timer works 100% offline, auto-detects legal night hours, tracks multiple supervisors and vehicles, and exports a printable log formatted for the California DMV — including signature lines and per-entry initials.
Free for your first 20 hours • No account required • Works offline