Unique Situations

 

Situation #1: “I’ve never had a DL.”
If you are over 18 years of age and you have never had a DL in any state or country, you may obtain an instruction permit until you are ready to take your driving test.

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Once you complete the requirements of the instruction permit, you can take the driving test to get a California DL.

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Situation #2: “I have a DL issued by another state.”

• Complete a Driver’s License or Identification (DL/ID) card application.

• Visit a DMV office, where you will:

  • Provide your social security number (SSN).

  • Prove your identity with an acceptable identity document (original or certified copy) for either a Federal Non-Compliant or REAL ID Compliant DL/ID Card. Your current name needs to match the name on the identity document (see the FAQs below for more information).

  • Present acceptable residency documents (if you have never had a California DL/ID).

  • Pay the nonrefundable application fee (application and fee valid for 12 months).

  • Have your thumbprint scanned.

  • Pass a vision exam.

  • Have your photo taken.

  • Pass the knowledge test(s). You are allowed three attempts to pass each of the required knowledge tests. If you fail the same test three times, your application is no longer valid and you will need to reapply. To allow for sufficient testing time, we do not administer knowledge tests within 30 minutes of closing.

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Situation #3: “I have a DL issued by another country.”
If you have a DL issued by another country, follow the application process listed above for “I have a DL issued by another state.”

You’ll also need to pass a driving test to obtain an original California DL.

To take your driving test:

• Schedule a driving test appointment (driving tests are not given without an appointment).

• Provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance) that meets or exceeds California insurance requirements.

NOTE: If you have a valid DL from another country, an accompanying driver is not required to and from the drive test.

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Your application fee allows you three attempts to pass the driving test. If you fail the driving test, you must schedule a new driving test on another day and pay a $7 retest fee. If you fail the driving test three times, your application is no longer valid and you must reapply.

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Situation #4: “I am ineligible for a DL, but can prove legal presence in California.”
Any Californian who can prove their current legal presence in the United States (U.S.) with one of the accepted identity documents (original or certified copy) is eligible to receive a standard or REAL ID driver license or identification (DL/ID) card. This includes all U.S. citizens, permanent residents who are not U.S. citizens (Green Card holders), and those with temporary legal status, such as recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and holders of a valid student or employment visa. For Californians with temporary legal status, their DL/ID card will expire depending on their immigration status, will expire on the same date as their U.S. legal presence document, and they can receive a new card with a documented extension of their legal status.

See the full list of acceptable identity documents for a Federal Non-Compliant or REAL ID Compliant DL/ID card.

There are many other ways to prove that you are legally present in the United States:

If you were born in the U.S., you may provide a U.S. birth certificate, passport, or passport card.
If you are an immigrant to the U.S., you may provide a U.S. citizen naturalization or citizenship document, or a Permanent Resident Card.
If you are a non-immigrant, but are authorized to be in the U.S., you may present a Temporary Resident Identification card or other temporary resident documentation.
Your DL will remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card.

If you no longer maintain U.S. legal presence, you can convert your DL to an AB 60 DL.