California Driver Handbook
Obtaining a Driver License
When you apply for an original DL/ID card, you must present an acceptable birth date/legal presence document and provide your social security number. Depending on the birth date/legal presence document you present, your first California DL/ID card may expire on the same date as that document. If the name on your birth date/legal presence document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application, you must also bring an acceptable true full name document. (See below for more information about true-full-name documents .) Your thumb print* and picture will also be taken. For any other DL/ID card transaction, you should present photo identification.
Acceptable Documents
An acceptable birth date/legal presence
or true full name document is issued by a county or
state. This document is a certified copy of the original
(the original is always retained by the county or state)
and contains an impressed seal or an original stamped
impression. The certified
copy will be returned to you. If you make a copy of
the certified copy, DMV will not accept it for birth
date/legal presence or true full name verification.
Some acceptable birth date/legal presence documents are: U.S. Birth Certificate, Proof of Indian Blood Degree, U.S. Passport, U.S. Armed Forces ID Cards, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, or a foreign passport or Mexican Border Crossing Card with a valid I-94.
Your social security number will be verified with the Social Security Administration.
True full name verification documents are:
- Adoption documents — containing your legal name as a result of the adoption.
- Name change documents — containing your legal name both before and after the name change.
- Marriage Certificate.
- Dissolution of marriage document — containing your legal name as a result of the court action.
Application Requirements For All Drivers
To apply for a driver license, you must:
- Submit a completed DMV application form (DL 44). Signing this form means you agree to submit to a chemical test to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood when required by a peace officer. If you refuse to sign this statement, DMV will not issue a permit or license.
- Present an acceptable birth date/legal presence document.
- Provide your true full name.
- Provide your Social Security Number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration.
- Pay the $27 application fee when you apply for any new or change of class permit or license. It will not be returned. The fee is good for 12 months and allows you to take the appropriate law test(s) three times, if needed, during that period. The fee pays for both the instruction permit and driver license, if you qualify for both within the 12-month period. If the application expires, you must resubmit documents, repay the application fee, and retake the required tests.
- Pass an eye exam. Any person with a best corrected vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye cannot be issued a driver license or use a bioptic telescopic or similar lens to qualify for a driver license.
- Have your picture taken.
- Give a thumb print.