If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.
To receive your CA license if you hold a valid license from another state:
- Visit a DMV location and take the CA written test and vision test. If you pass these, the driving test is generally waived and a CA license will be granted and your former state’s license will be nullified.
Note: If you have a license from another country, you must take the driving skills test.
If you are under 18 and at least 15 ½ you can apply for a provisional driver license. The first step to getting your license is to get your instruction permit.
To get your vehicle registered
You must get your vehicle registered within 20 days of entry into CA in order to avoid fees.
The following is required to register a vehicle from out–of–state (nonresident):
- An Application for Title or Registration (REG 343) (PDF) signed by all registered owners as they appear on the out-of-state registration and/or title. Enter the name(s) and address of the registered owner(s) and lienholder (legal owner), if any, and complete the questions on the application.
- Last issued out-of-state title. (Not required if there is no change of registered owner and a California title is not requested.) If the out-of-state title is not surrendered the California registration card issued will say nontransferable and a California title will not be issued.
- Last issued registration certificate or renewal notice for the current year or a letter from the last registration jurisdiction verifying the registration period.
- The vehicle must be inspected by an authorized DMV employee, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier. These inspections are most easily obtained by bringing the vehicle to the nearest DMV. There is no charge for the inspection. For faster service, make an Appointment(s) .
- Smog certification, if applicable
- Weight certificate, if applicable
- Appropriate fees and any use tax due
If you have just moved to California, you may find visiting the CA DMV web site to be useful. Here is a page devoted to new residents of CA: = link_to http://www.dmv.ca.gov/newtoca/newtoca.htm
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Like most other states, California uses a graduated driver licensing program, which means that teenagers under the age of 18 must apply for a learner’s permit before they can receive a standard driver’s license. In order to obtain a driver’s permit, there are certain steps that must be followed. Here is a simple guide to getting a California driver’s permit:
Provisional permit
California refers to the learner’s permit or driver’s permit as the “provisional permit.” This type of license is awarded to California residents who are at least 15 years and six months old, and who have completed all the steps required to obtain a permit.
While driving with a provisional permit, teens may drive with a parent, guardian, or another adult who is at least 25 years of age, and has a valid California driver’s license. This permit must be held for at least six months, and the driver must complete at least 50 hours of practice (ten of which must have taken place at night) while driving with a permit, before the driver can graduate to the next license. Only someone who is under 18 years old must have a permit before they can apply for a traditional driver’s license.
California does require that student drivers take an official driver’s education course before they can apply for a provisional permit. In order to receive the learner’s permit, an applicant must pass a written exam and a vision test, pay all required fees, and present the required legal documents, including proof that they have completed at least 25 hours of a driver education course or program.
Required documents
When you arrive at the California DMV to take a driver’s permit exam, you must bring specific documentation:
- A completed application for a learner’s permit, with a parent or guardian’s signature.
- Proof of social security number.
- An original birth certificate or a certified copy.
- Proof of completion for a driver’s education program, or a certificate proving current enrollment and participation.
- Proof of identity and lawful U.S. presence, in addition to the required birth certificate and social security number.
Passing the exam
The driver’s permit test is made up of 46 questions about the state-specific traffic laws, safe driving rules, and road signs. The California Driver Handbook covers all the information that a student needs in order to pass the exam. In order to get extra practice, there are several online practice tests available. Potential drivers must answer at least 28 questions correctly to pass the exam.
Once the written exam has been passed, a driver must pass a vision test and pay a $22 fee in order to receive their permit. The DMV requires all California drivers to submit a thumbprint at this time. If a driver fails the written exam, they must wait two weeks before reattempting, and must pay a retesting fee. A driver may only take the test a total of three times.
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