California Driver Handbook
When you apply for an original DL/ID card, you must present an acceptable birth date/legal pres ence 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 differ ent 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 pres ence 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 certi fied 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, Certifi cate 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 A BASIC CLASS C DRIVER LICENSE
To apply for a driver license, you must:
• Submit a completed DMV appli cation 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 Administra tion.
- Pay the $28 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.
ADULTS’ PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
If you are 18 years old, meet the application requirements, and pass the tests, you may be issued a California driver license. There is no upper age limit. If you want to obtain professional driver education and driver training, more information about driver education and training.
You must have an instruction per mit while learning to drive. Your accompanying driver must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid California driver license. The person must be with you in the vehicle, close enough to take control of it at any time. An instruc tion permit does not permit to you drive alone—not even to a DMV office to take the driving test.
If you have a motorcycle permit, you cannot carry passengers, you must ride during daylight hours only, and you cannot ride on the freeway.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Complete the application requirements.
- Pass a traffic laws and road signs test.
ADULTS’ LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
If you have never been licensed, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Complete all the steps required for a permit.
- Bring your instruction permit with you to your driving test.
- Pass a behind-the-wheel driving test. If you fail the first driving test, you must pay a $6 retest fee for a second or third attempt and wait until the next day or the next available appointment before you are tested again.
If you have an out-of-state or out of-country license, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Complete all the steps required for a permit. (A temporary li cense will not be issued if your visual acuity is worse than 20/70 in both eyes together.)
- Surrender your valid out-of-state driver license. Your out-of-state license will be invalidated and returned unless you are applying for a commercial license.
NOTE: Driving tests for holders of out-of-state or U.S. territory licenses are normally waived. However, the department may require a driving test for any type of application. Driving tests are required for out-of-country license holders.