The DMV is an unfortunate but necessary experience if you plan on driving and/or registering a car in California.  I ended up doing 4 trips to the DMV to get my licence, I’m hoping the following information prevents you from doing the same.

Do I need a Californian Licence?

It’s a grey area but the California Driver Handbook states ‘when you become a Californian resident and you want to drive in California you must apply for a California DL within 10 days.’ However it also states that ‘visitors over 18 years old with a valid DL from their home state or country may drive in California without getting a California DL as long as their home state DL is valid’.  We’ve moved here and plan on being here for the foreseeable future, but it was the convenience of having a valid form of US identification that had us queuing up for hours at our local DMV.  Secondly, all the major insurance companies will not insure your car without a California drivers licence, they’ll refer you to a third party insurance company that charges a much higher premium.

Do I need to do both the written and the behind the wheel test if I have a valid licence from back home?

Yes, you do.  Frustrating as it is both test have to be done.

Can I take the test in a rental car?

Yes, BUT, the person taking the driving test must be listed on the rental contract AND the contract must not exclude driving tests.  I saw a couple ahead of me in the line get declined as the husband’s name was on the contact and his wife who was taking the test was not.

SITTING THE WRITTEN TEST

Firstly, study the handbook and also take the on-line tests. Then make an appointment to go in and do the written test.  We made an appointment the first time but I went in the second time without one and I just had to wait longer.

You’ll then need to produce the following when you arrive:

• Your passport
• A copy of your I-94
• 2 different forms of acceptable California residency documents
• Your SSN if you have one (I didn’t which wasn’t a problem)

I was turned back the first time I tried to sit the written test as you need two acceptable documents showing your address – my second doc was a printed out email confirmation of our temporary housing which was not accepted, for the list of what’s needed see here under the Residency heading.

You’ll receive a  DL 44 form when you get there to fill out.  If you don’t make an appointment try to get in there before 2pm, on my second trip there I got in at 3pm and my number was called at 4.50pm, they stop doing the written tests at 4.30pm so I had to come back a third time.  They did however take my photo, my fingerprints and payment ($33 – cash, cheque or debit only, they don’t accept credit cards) so it was quicker the next time I came in.

It was third time lucky my next trip in, I got my number and it was called within 30 minutes, I then went to the touchscreen computers and did the test which took around 10 – 15 minutes.  If you study the book and take the on-line tests it’s relatively easy.  When you pass you’ll be given a temporary licence.

BEHIND THE WHEEL TEST

You must make an appointment for this.  You’ll need the following to sit the test:

• Instruction permit or temporary licence
• Your SSN, if you have one
• Valid vehicle registration
• Valid vehicle liability insurance
• A licensed Californian driver to accompany you*

I booked my appointment for 10.45am and finally got to see the examiner at 1.45pm, my husband’s experience was a bit better, his appointment was 10.30am and he did the test at 12.15pm, just be prepared to be there for a while.  The whole test took around 15 minutes and was a lot less intensive as my original test in Australia.  If you google ‘Californian drivers test behind the wheel’ there are some good videos showing the test.  They start off with a pre-drive checklist as per below:

• Windshield wipers
• Turn signals
• Brake lights
• Horn
• Emergency parking brake (handbrake)
• Arm signals
• Defroster
• Emergency flasher
• Headlights

The test started by exiting the complex and then took a series of left hand turns, we went through a school zone which I slowed down to 25 for even though it was school holidays, then he asked me to pull up to a curb and back approx. 3 car lengths and then pull back into traffic safely, a few more turns and I was back at the DMV.  Throughout the whole test I was checking my mirrors, triple checking incoming traffic at intersections, and indicating 100 feet before turning.  Once you pass you head back in the office and they issue you with a paper licence which is valid until you receive your licence in the mail.

Good luck with your licence! Please share your experience if you feel it may help others doing this for the first time.  Our written test was taken at the Costa Mesa DMV and the behind the wheel was done at Laguna Hills.

* We were told two completely different things by the DMV about this, my husband was told by one DMV employee that as we had valid international licences that we didn’t need a Californian licensed driver with us but when I asked another DMV employee said that we absolutely had to.  In the end I just went in by myself and tried it out, I got through fine but the next group after me had a different lady calling out names (a manager) and she was insisting that everyone had a Californian licensed driver with them.