DL 396 is the Authorization/Requisition for Driver Instruction Forms, a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) form that a secondary school, home school or private school satellite program (PSSP) completes to request driver instruction forms and certificates. It reports the school type, expected driver education and behind-the-wheel enrollment, the instructors, and a certification signed by the school's owner, officer, administrator or principal. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original is mailed to the DMV Occupational Licensing Section, as described below.
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What is DL 396?
Authorization/Requisition for Driver Instruction Forms (DL 396) is the California DMV form a school completes to request driver instruction forms and certificates, while reporting its school type, driver education enrollment, instructors and a signed certification.
The form is sent to the DMV Occupational Licensing Section. It has six sections: requester information, a section for all requesters, a section for private schools, home schools and PSSPs, secondary school age student enrollment, driver education and behind-the-wheel instructors, and the certification.
The sections tie the request to the school's standing under the California Education Code. Public and charter secondary schools confirm they offer driver education or behind-the-wheel training as part of the full-time curriculum (Education Code §§51850, 51851). Private secondary schools confirm compliance with Education Code §§33190 and 33191 and enclose a current copy of the "Private School Affidavit" (PSA). Home schools and PSSPs state whether they teach classroom driver education, behind-the-wheel training, or both.
Schools that teach non-classroom driver education, such as Internet-based, correspondence or other distance-learning courses, indicate the curriculum used. If it is educationally equivalent to the DMV curriculum, the form directs them to complete a separate form, the Private Secondary School Non-Classroom Driver Education Curriculum Certification (DL 396 B), and return it with the request.
The form is a school-level requisition. It is not a student's driver education certificate and not an instructor license application.
Who needs to file DL 396?
The main group is the school that wants to receive driver instruction forms and certificates from the DMV. The form is built for three kinds of requester, and the first box on the form asks you to check one:
- Public secondary schools, including public or charter secondary schools teaching at the high school level authorized by the Department of Education.
- Private secondary schools.
- Home schools and private school satellite programs (PSSPs).
Section 2 is completed by all requesters. Section 3 is completed only by private schools, home schools and PSSPs.
The form names who may sign: the owner, officer, administrator or principal of the school. An instructor, secretary or representative is not an authorized signatory, so they cannot sign Section 6 for the school.
For Section 5, the form says that an instructor who does not hold a current California teaching credential must be fingerprinted by the employer, who submits two sets of fingerprints to the Department of Justice for criminal record summary information. A parent or guardian who instructs only their own child is exempt from that requirement.
When to file DL 396
File DL 396 when your school needs to request driver instruction forms or certificates from the DMV. The form prints no due date of its own. It asks for the date of request and for the dates (MM/DD to MM/DD) and hours at which the school can receive the forms or certificates, so complete it with those details ready.
Section 4 asks for the number of secondary school age students to be enrolled in driver education or behind-the-wheel training for the current school year, which the form defines as September through August, including the summer session. Report the figures for the year in which you are making the request. Private schools must keep the total within the number of secondary school age students reported on the school's PSA.
Documents you need
- A current copy of the "Private School Affidavit" (PSA) filed with the Superintendent of Public Instruction: enclose it if you check that box in Section 3 as a private secondary school.
- Private Secondary School Non-Classroom Driver Education Curriculum Certification (DL 396 B): complete it and return it with the request if your non-classroom driver education curriculum is educationally equivalent to the DMV's.
- Additional sheet(s) listing instructors: attach them if Section 5 does not have enough lines for all driver education or behind-the-wheel instructors.
- A copy of the completed DL 396 for your own files; the form says to retain one, and the original goes to the DMV.
How to fill out DL 396
Check the school type
At the top, check one box: Public Secondary School, Private Secondary School, or Home School or Private School Satellite Program. The type you check decides whether you complete Section 3.
Enter the school's identifying details
In Section 1, enter the name of the school, its CDS code and school I.D. number if issued, and the name of the requester (owner, office, administrator or principal).
Add phone number and date
Enter the requester's phone number and the date of the request. Leave the CDS code and I.D. number blank if none has been issued.
Enter mailing and delivery addresses
Enter the school's mailing address, city, state and ZIP code, checking the box if it is new. If the delivery address differs, enter it and check the new-address box if it applies; do not use a P.O. box for delivery.
Set the receiving dates and hours
Complete the line stating when the forms or certificates can be received: the MM/DD start and end dates and the A.M. and P.M. hours.
Complete Section 2
All requesters check every box that applies: a public or charter secondary school authorized by the Department of Education, a school offering driver education and/or behind-the-wheel training to full-time students, and the maintenance of those courses under the listed Education Code sections.
Complete Section 3 if applicable
Private schools, home schools and PSSPs check all boxes that apply, including the PSA enclosure, classroom or behind-the-wheel teaching and non-classroom instruction. For non-classroom courses, mark the DMV curriculum or the educationally equivalent curriculum, which requires DL 396 B.
Report enrollment in Section 4
Enter the expected number of students for the current school year (September through August) under Driver Education Only (Classroom), Driver Education Only (Non-Classroom), Behind-the-Wheel Only, and Total Number of Students. Private schools must not exceed the PSA total.
List instructors in Section 5
Print each instructor's name, sign where the form asks, and check Parent or Guardian, Teaching Credential, or Criminal Record Summary. Attach additional sheets if necessary.
Sign the Section 6 certification
The owner, officer, administrator or principal enters the printed name, signature, title and date under the penalty-of-perjury statement.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every section against your school type, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, keep a copy and mail the original as described under How to submit.
How to submit DL 396
The form prints one channel: mailing the original copy to the DMV. It says nothing about online or in-person filing.
- By mail: send the original to Occupational Licensing Section, P. O. Box 932342, MS L224, Sacramento, CA 94232-3420.
- What to include: private secondary schools that checked the PSA box enclose a current copy of the Private School Affidavit; schools that use an educationally equivalent non-classroom curriculum return the completed DL 396 B with the request. Attach additional sheets if you need more room for instructors.
- Your copy: the form tells you to retain a copy for your files.
- Delivery address: the form warns not to use a P.O. box as the school's delivery address in Section 1; the P.O. box above is only the DMV's mailing address.
Print in ink or type if you complete it by hand, and sign Section 6. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Having an instructor, secretary or other representative sign Section 6; only the owner, officer, administrator or principal of the school is an authorized signatory.
- Entering a P.O. box as the school's delivery address in Section 1; the form says not to use a P.O. box for delivery.
- Reporting a Section 4 student total that exceeds the number of secondary school age students on the school's PSA.
- Checking the PSA enclosure box in Section 3 without enclosing a current copy of the Private School Affidavit.
- Claiming an educationally equivalent non-classroom curriculum without completing and returning DL 396 B.
- Listing an instructor without a current California teaching credential and not submitting two sets of fingerprints to the Department of Justice.
- Filling in Section 3 as a public school; Section 3 is only for private schools, home schools and PSSPs, while Section 2 is for all requesters.
- Mailing the form without keeping a copy; the form says to retain a copy for your files.
Frequently asked questions
What is DL 396 used for?
DL 396 is the California DMV's Authorization/Requisition for Driver Instruction Forms. A secondary school, home school or private school satellite program completes it to request driver instruction forms and certificates, and to report its enrollment, instructors and school type.
Who can sign DL 396?
Only the owner, officer, administrator or principal of the school may sign the Section 6 certification. The form states that an instructor, secretary or representative is not an authorized signatory. The signature is made under penalty of perjury under California law.
Where do I mail DL 396?
Send the original to Occupational Licensing Section, P. O. Box 932342, MS L224, Sacramento, CA 94232-3420. The form prints no other submission channel, and it tells you to keep a copy for your own files.
Can I fill out DL 396 online?
Yes. You can fill out the DL 396 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not send it to the DMV: you mail the original to the Occupational Licensing Section at the address printed on the form.
Do instructors need fingerprints for DL 396?
An instructor without a current California teaching credential must be fingerprinted: the employer submits two sets of fingerprints to the Department of Justice for criminal record summary information. A parent or guardian instructing only their own child is exempt.
What is DL 396 B and when do I need it?
DL 396 B is the Private Secondary School Non-Classroom Driver Education Curriculum Certification. Complete it and return it with your request if your non-classroom curriculum is educationally equivalent to the DMV's, rather than the DMV curriculum itself.
Can I use a P.O. box as my delivery address on DL 396?
No. Section 1 says not to use a P.O. box for the delivery address. You can enter a different delivery address if it differs from the mailing address, and check the box if either address is new.
Which sections of DL 396 does a public school complete?
Section 1, Section 2, Section 4 and Section 6 apply, and Section 5 applies to the school's instructors. Section 3 is only for private schools, home schools and private school satellite programs.
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