Y.C.

*525 Opinion

We granted review to examine the lower courts’ determination that a county bureau of children and family services need not pay for automobile liability insurance for a dependent minor in foster care. We affirm.

I. Facts

Corrine W. was removed from her mother’s custody at the age of 16, declared to be a dependent of the court (see Welf. & Inst. Code, § 300) and placed in foster care with a friend’s family. When Corrine reached the age of 17, she was a senior in high school, and had completed driver’s education, passed the written driving test, received a provisional driver’s permit and begun supervised driving practice. She encountered difficulty, however, in obtaining a driver’s license. An adult must ordinarily sign a minor’s license application, and the person who signs thereby assumes civil liability for any damages caused by the minor’s driving. (Veh. Code, §§ 17701, 17707.) Corrine’s foster parents and natural mother, unwilling to assume liability or to pay for her automobile liability insurance, declined to sign her application. California law also permits a child protective services worker to sign a foster child’s application, without assuming personal…