Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration and insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. "Save Time by Going Online," at www.dmv.ca.gov.

Q: My daughter just received her driver license last week, but she's not quite sure what restrictions apply to a newly issued driver license. Where can we find rules and restrictions that apply to new drivers so that we can make sure she follows them properly?

A: It's great that your daughter is aware of the importance of these provisional restrictions to keep her and other drivers on the road safe. When a provisional driver license is issued, the following restrictions apply:
•    For the first 12 months, she may not drive between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00am unless she has a licensed parent, guardian, or other adult over the age of 25 in the vehicle with her.
•    For the first 12 months, she may not transport any passenger (even family) under the age of 20 unless she has a licensed parent, guardian, or other adult over the age of 25 in the vehicle with her.
•    She may drive alone between the hours of 5:00am and 11:00pm.
To read about exceptions to these restrictions or learn more about the provisional driver license and other laws for teens, please visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/dl_btn2/dl.htm.

Q: I would like to buy a car from my coworker, but I am not sure what the process is to buy a vehicle through a private party. What paper work is involved, what should I expect to receive from the current owner, and what do I need to know as a buyer? 

A: You are wise to plan ahead and learn about this process before you commit. The most important thing to know is that you must transfer ownership of the vehicle within 10 days of the purchase. The transaction can be handled by mail or in a DMV field office.  To do this visit www.dmv.ca.gov to obtain the proper mailing instructions or schedule an appointment online.  The following items are required to transfer ownership:
•    A properly endorsed title, (also known as a "pink slip," which the previous owner must provide to you).
•    The odometer mileage if the vehicle is less than 10 years old.
•    A smog certification, which the previous owner must provide to you (if the vehicle is older than four model years. Cars that are four model-years old or less do not require a smog certification).
Also plan to pay a use tax fee based on your purchase price and a transfer fee of $15.  Penalties will be assessed if these are not paid within 30 days of the sale date.  To read additional details on private party buying and selling, visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2522.

Q: My son just turned 18 years old but never got his driver license. He's now ready to learn the rules of the road and get his license. What is the process?

A: The process for an adult to obtain a driver license is relatively simple. First, your son has to visit the DMV (he may schedule an appointment online at www.dmv.ca.gov to ensure faster service), where he will fill out the proper application, pay an application fee, pass a vision test and pass a written traffic laws and signs test. He also needs to be prepared to provide his social security number and verify other personal information. If he passes the exams, he'll be issued a permit and will be able to drive as long as he's accompanied by another licensed adult. After practicing, he can schedule a behind-the-wheel driver's test and once he passes that, he'll be issued his driver license. He must have an appointment to take this test.
It's very important that he understands the rules of the road and becomes a safe driver. Luckily, the California Driver Handbook has everything he needs to learn. It can be downloaded as a PDF from www.dmv.ca.gov.