For the purposes of this chapter, all persons under 18 years of age are minors.
Chapter 2Civil Liability of Persons Signing License Applications of Minors
Section § 17700
This law section defines anyone under the age of 18 as a minor.
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Section § 17701
If a minor in California wants to apply for a driver's license, the application must be signed by their parents if both are alive and have custody. If only one parent is in the picture, that parent signs. If neither parent is around, it's up to the guardian or someone with custody to sign.
For minors who are dependents or wards of the court, the application can be signed by a grandparent, adult sibling, aunt, uncle, or foster parent they're living with. Court officers like probation officers or child protective services can also sign, provided they inform the foster parents and show proof of financial responsibility on behalf of the minor.
No application for a driver’s license shall be granted by the department to any minor unless it is signed and verified by the father and mother of such minor, if both father and mother are living and have custody of the minor.
If only one parent is living or has custody, the application shall be signed and verified by that parent.
If neither parent is living or has custody, the application shall be signed and verified by the guardian, or if there is no guardian, by a person having custody of the minor.
If the minor is a dependent or ward of the court, the application may be signed by a grandparent, sibling over the age of 18 years, aunt, uncle, or foster parent with whom the minor resides. The probation officer or child protective services worker acting as an officer of the court, on behalf of a child, may also sign and verify the application of a minor who is a dependent or ward of the court, if the minor files proof of financial responsibility as provided in Article 1 (commencing with Section 16430) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 at the time of application. Prior to signing the application, the probation officer or child protective services worker shall notify the foster parents or other responsible party of his or her intent to sign and verify the application.
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Section § 17702
If someone under 18 years old is married, their adult spouse or the parents of either spouse can sign and verify legal applications on their behalf. Alternatively, the minor can provide proof that they can handle their own financial obligations, as specified in another section of the law.
If a minor under the age of 18 years is married, the application may be signed and verified by the adult spouse of the minor or by the parents of either spouse or in lieu of the signature, the minor may file proof of financial responsibility, as defined in Section 16430.
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Section § 17703
If the people who need to sign a minor's application aren't from California, someone living in California with custody of the minor should sign. Alternatively, the minor can sign themselves if they provide proof of financial responsibility.
If the person or persons required to sign and verify the application of a minor are not residents of this state, the application shall be signed and verified by a person residing within this state who has custody of the minor, or the department may accept an application signed and verified by the minor and accompanied by proof of financial responsibility, as defined in Section 16430.
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Section § 17704
This law says that if a minor who has shown proof of financial responsibility (like insurance) loses that proof while they are still underage, their driver's license will be cancelled immediately. The license will stay cancelled until the minor proves they have financial responsibility again or meets other rules for getting a driver's license.
If, at any time during the minority of the person who has given proof of financial responsibility, as defined in Section 16430, the proof fails, the department shall immediately cancel the license until proof of the licensee’s continued financial responsibility has been given or until the minor has otherwise complied with the requirements of this code relative to the issuance of a driver’s license.
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Section § 17705
This California law states that if a minor's guardian consents in writing or if the minor is emancipated not through marriage, the minor can apply for something on their own, as long as they show proof of financial responsibility. However, if the guardian only gives consent but does not sign the application, they won't be liable for any civil issues just because they gave their consent.
If the person who is required to sign and verify the application of a minor gives his or her written consent, or the minor is emancipated other than by marriage, the department may accept an application signed and verified only by the minor and accompanied by proof of financial responsibility, as defined in Section 16430. The person giving the consent to but not signing or verifying the application shall not be subject to the civil liability specified in Sections 17707 and 17708 merely by reason of having given consent.
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Section § 17706
This law allows a minor to apply for a driver's license with the help of their employer, if the person who usually needs to sign the application gives written consent. The minor's license will be limited to driving for work unless the employer approves a full license. Also, the person who consents but doesn't sign the application won't be held liable for civil damages related to the minor's driving.
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 17706(a) If the person who is required by the provisions of this code to sign and verify the application of a minor gives his written consent, the department may accept an application signed and verified by the minor and his employer, but in such case the department shall issue to the minor only a driver’s license restricted to the operation of vehicles by the minor within the scope of his employment by the employer, unless the employer in writing authorizes the issuance of an unrestricted driver’s license.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 17706(b) The person giving his consent to, but not signing or verifying, the application as provided in this section shall not be subject to the civil liability specified in Sections 17707 and 17708 merely by reason of having given such consent.
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Section § 17707
This law states that if a minor causes damage while driving, the person who signed their driver's license application is responsible, along with the minor. They are both liable for any damage resulting from the minor's negligent or wrongful driving. However, if it's an employer who signed, liability only applies if they authorized an unrestricted license for the minor. Additionally, the state, county, and certain officers like probation officers or child protective services workers are not liable if a court-involved minor causes damage due to negligence.
Any civil liability of a minor arising out of his driving a motor vehicle upon a highway during his minority is hereby imposed upon the person who signed and verified the application of the minor for a license and the person shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages proximately resulting from the negligent or wrongful act or omission of the minor in driving a motor vehicle, except that an employer signing the application shall be subject to the provisions of this section only if an unrestricted driver’s license has been issued to the minor pursuant to the employer’s written authorization.
No liability may be imposed under this section or under Section 17708 on the state or county, or on a probation officer or child protective services worker acting as an officer of the court for damages caused solely by the negligence or willful misconduct of a minor driver whose application for a driver’s license was signed by the child protective services worker or probation officer while the minor was a dependent or ward of the court.
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Section § 17708
This law states that if a minor is driving a car and causes any damage or injury, the parents or guardians who gave permission for the minor to drive can also be held responsible. They share the liability for damages resulting from the minor's negligence or wrongful actions while driving.
Any civil liability of a minor, whether licensed or not under this code, arising out of his driving a motor vehicle upon a highway with the express or implied permission of the parents or the person or guardian having custody of the minor is hereby imposed upon the parents, person, or guardian and the parents, person, or guardian shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages proximately resulting from the negligent or wrongful act or omission of the minor in driving a motor vehicle.
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Section § 17709
This law limits the amount a person or group can be held financially responsible for if a minor they are connected to causes injury, death, or property damage in an accident. The maximum liability is $15,000 for injury or death of one person, $30,000 for injury or death of all individuals involved, and $5,000 for property damage, all due to a single accident. Additionally, people are not liable for punitive damages aimed at punishing the minor, though they can be punished for their own wrongful actions.
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 17709(a) No person, or group of persons collectively, shall incur liability for a minor’s negligent or wrongful act or omission under Sections 17707 and 17708 in any amount exceeding fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for injury to or death of one person as a result of any one accident or, subject to the limit as to one person, exceeding thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for injury to or death of all persons as a result of any one accident or exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for damage to property of others as a result of any one accident.
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 17709(b) No person is liable under Section 17707 or 17708 for damages imposed for the sake of example and by way of punishing the minor. Nothing in this subdivision makes any person immune from liability for damages imposed for the sake of example and by way of punishing him for his own wrongful conduct.
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Section § 17710
If an adult signs a minor's application for a driver's license, they are not responsible for any accidents or mistakes the minor makes while working for someone else.
The person signing a minor’s application for a license is not liable under this chapter for a negligent or wrongful act or omission of the minor committed when the minor is acting as the agent or servant of any person.
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Section § 17711
If you signed a minor’s application for a driver’s license or are an employer who authorized issuing that license, and you want to avoid being responsible for the minor’s driving mishaps, you can ask the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to cancel the minor’s license. Once the license is canceled, you won’t be liable for any future reckless or negligent driving by the minor.
Any person who has signed and verified the application of a minor for a driver’s license or any employer who has authorized the issuance of a license to a minor and who desires to be relieved from the joint and several liability imposed by reason of having signed and verified such application, may file a verified application with the department requesting that the license of the minor be canceled. The department shall cancel the license, except as provided in subdivision (e) of Section 17712. Thereafter, the person shall be relieved from the liability imposed under this chapter by reason of having signed and verified the original application on account of any subsequent willful misconduct or negligent operation of a motor vehicle by the minor.
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Section § 17712
If a minor has a driver's license that was signed by a parent, guardian, or employer, and any of those people pass away or withdraw their consent, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will cancel the license. This also applies if the minor changes custody or leaves their job. However, if the new custodian of the minor requests to take over the liability for the minor’s driving, the DMV can transfer liability instead of canceling the license, provided the request is made before the original signer requests cancellation. If the new custodian doesn't file the request in time, the minor's license will be canceled.
(a)CA Vehicle Code § 17712(a) The department, upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of the death of the father and mother or the person or guardian who signed and verified the application of any minor under Section 17701 or any employer who signed and verified the application of any minor under subdivision (a) of Section 17706, shall cancel the license, except as provided in subdivision (e).
(b)CA Vehicle Code § 17712(b) The department, upon receipt of the verified application of a person who has given written consent to the issuance of a license to a minor as prescribed in Sections 17705 and 17706, for the cancellation of such minor’s license, shall cancel the license, except as provided in subdivision (e).
(c)CA Vehicle Code § 17712(c) The department, upon receipt of satisfactory evidence that there has been a change of custody of a minor licensed under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12500) of Division 6, and upon written request by the person to whom custody has been transferred, shall cancel the license.
(d)CA Vehicle Code § 17712(d) The department, upon receipt of satisfactory evidence showing that any minor to whom was issued a license pursuant to Section 17706, has left the employ of the employer who signed and verified the application for the license, shall cancel the license, except as provided in subdivision (e).
(e)CA Vehicle Code § 17712(e) The department, upon written request by the person to whom custody of a minor has been transferred, shall transfer the liability imposed under this chapter to such person upon receipt of such person’s written verified application for acceptance of liability. Upon receipt, by the department, of such application for acceptance of liability, the person who had signed and verified the application of the minor for the driver’s license presently held by the minor shall be relieved from the liability imposed under this chapter. If such application for acceptance of liability is on file with the department prior to the receipt of a request for cancellation by the person who had signed the application of the minor for a driver’s license, the license issued under such application shall not be canceled so long as the license is otherwise valid. If, however, such application for acceptance of liability is not on file with the department prior to the receipt of a request for cancellation by the person who had signed the application of the minor for a driver’s license, the license issued under such application shall be canceled.
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Section § 17714
If a court decides against a defendant because a minor had an accident while driving, this law limits how much money can be recovered. This happens if judgments are also based on another section regarding vehicle operation. Importantly, one cannot claim multiple damages for the same incident exceeding a specific limit.
In the event, in one or more actions, judgment is rendered against a defendant under this chapter based upon the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a minor in the operation of a vehicle, and also by reason of such act or omission rendered against such defendant under Article 2 (commencing with Section 17150) of Chapter 1 of Division 9, then such judgment or judgments shall not be cumulative but recovery shall be limited to the amount specified in Section 17709.
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