California Driver Handbook
Diplomatic Driver License
Nonresidents who possess a valid diplomatic driver license issued by the U.S. Department of State are exempt from California’s driver licensing requirement.
Driving Schools
When learning to drive, you should seek qualified instruction either in bona fide public or private high schools or in state licensed professional driving schools.
Professional schools and instructors in California are licensed by the DMV after meeting rigid qualifying standards. Schools must carry liability insurance, be bonded, and maintain complete records for DMV inspection. Vehicles are subject to annual inspection. Instructors must pass a qualifying written examination every three years, or show proof of continuing education in the traffic safety field. If you use the services of a professional driving school, ask to see the instructor’s identification card.
Free ID Cards For P&M Conditions
Drivers with physical or medical (P&M) conditions may need to be reexamined from time to time by a physician or be retested more often than every five years (limited term license status) by a DMV examiner.
Drivers who are no longer able to drive safely because of a P&M condition may exchange their valid driver license for an ID card for no fee, if certain guidelines are met. Call 1-800-777-0133 for additional information.
Identification (ID) Card
DMV issues ID cards to persons of any age. To obtain an original ID card, you must present a birth date/legal presence verification document and provide your social security number. (See page 5.) The ID card is good until the sixth birthday after it is issued. The fee for an ID may be reduced if you meet certain income requirements for specific public assistance programs
Note: Governmental or nonprofit organizations determine whether an individual meets the requirements for a reduced -fee ID.
If you are age 62 or over, you may obtain a free Senior Citizen ID card good for 10 years.
You can now change your address online.
Mature Driver Program
The Mature Driver Program is an eight-hour course for drivers aged 55 and older. The course covers a variety of topics of special interest to the mature driver and is available from course providers approved by DMV.
Your insurance company may offer discounts for those who complete the class and receive a completion certificate . The certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed by completing a four-hour course.
Pedestrian Responsibilities*
Yield the right-of-way to vehicles when you:
- Cross or walk where intersections or crosswalks are not marked.
- "Jaywalk" across a street between intersections, where no pedestrian crosswalks are provided.
*Joggers must obey pedestrian rules.
Remember: Making eye contact with the driver does not mean that the driver will see you or yield the right-of-way.
Do not suddenly leave a curb or other safe place and walk or run into the path of a vehicle close enough to be a danger to you. This is true even though you are in a crosswalk. The law states that drivers must take care for the safety of any pedestrian—but if the driver can’t stop in time to avoid hitting you, the law won’t help you.
Always obey traffic signals. Whether the intersection has pedestrian signals or the usual traffic lights, you must obey the pedestrian rules. (See page 58.) At an intersection where traffic is not controlled by signals, drivers are required to yield the right of way to you within any crosswalk, marked or unmarked.
When a signal first changes to green or "WALK" for you, look left, right, and then left again, and yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection before the signal changed.
If the signal begins blinking or changes to "DON’T WALK," or to an upraised hand after you have gone part way across a divided street, you may continue across the street.
Do not stop or delay traffic unnecessarily while crossing a street.
Pedestrians are not permitted on any toll bridge or highway crossing unless there is a sidewalk and signs stating pedestrian traffic is permitted.
If there is no sidewalk, walk facing the oncoming traffic (see the picture below). Don’t walk or jog on any freeway where signs tell you that pedestrians are not allowed.
At night, make yourself more visible by wearing white clothing and retro-reflective materials, or carrying a flashlight.
Record Confidentiality
Most information in your driver license file is available to the public. Your residence address may only be viewed by authorized agencies. Your mailing address, if different from your residence, is less restricted.
Records on the physical or mental condition of a driver, however, remain confidential.
You may obtain a copy of your driving record at any DMV office for a fee and by providing valid identification.
Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips
If you follow the suggestions below, you can minimize your chances of becoming the victim of vehicle theft. In the United States, a vehicle is stolen an average of every 21 minutes. Vehicle theft costs the victim time and money and it costs society by increasing insurance premiums. Also, vehicle thieves often use the stolen vehicles to commit other crimes.
Vehicle thefts seem to occur more often where large groups of cars are parked for extended periods of time, such as shopping centers, colleges, sporting events, movie complexes, and large apartment complexes. Vehicle thefts can occur anytime— at random, on different days of the week and various times of the day.
Here are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of vehicle theft:
- Never leave:
- your vehicle running and unattended, even to dash into a store.
- the keys in the ignition or in the vehicle. Don’t leave them inside a locked garage or in hide-a-key boxes.
- valuables in plain view, even if your vehicle is locked. Place them out of sight.
- personal identification documents such as the ownership title or credit cards in the vehicle.
- Always:
- roll up your windows and lock your vehicle, even if it’s parked in front of your house.
- park in high-traffic, well lighted areas, whenever possible.
- report a stolen vehicle immediately to the police.
- Suggestions:
- install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes.
- investigate the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking/security system, especially if you own one of the frequently-stolen model vehicles.
- when you must leave your key with a valet, attendant, or mechanic, only leave the ignition key.
- copy your license plate and vehicle information on a card and keep that information with you. The police will need this information, if your vehicle is stolen.
Traffic Breaks
Traffic breaks are used by law enforcement for several reasons:
- to slow or stop traffic to remove hazards from the roadway.
- conducting emergency operations.
- prevent traffic accidents in heavy fog or unusually heavy traffic.
During a traffic break, the officer turns on the rear emergency lights, slows the vehicle and drives across the lanes of traffic in a serpentine manner. To assist the officer in conducting a traffic break, follow these rules:
- activate your emergency flashers to warn other drivers there is a hazard ahead.
- slowly begin to decrease your speed. Do not slow abruptly unless it is necessary to avoid a collision. Slow to the same speed while keeping a safe distance from the patrol car ahead of you.
- do not attempt to drive past the patrol vehicle. Do not accelerate until the patrol vehicle has turned off its emergency lights and traffic conditions ahead allow the return of normal speeds