California is great, but unfortunately public transportation is not one of its best qualities. While you still can live in the OC without a car (walking, biking, using the few buses, and counting on rides of friends), you will most likely need to drive. It makes things easier. Having a driver’s license (DL) will give you much more freedom to explore or simply do grocery shopping. And you can also use it as your personal identification document within the US, leaving your passport safe at home.
So, how is the process of getting your California driver’s license? First, the state agency responsible for registering motor vehicles and issuing driver’s licenses in California is the Department of Motor Vehicles, aka DMV. The whole process requires 2 tests, which I will describe now through a short list of steps.
1st Step: Written Test.
You will need to schedule an appointment for taking the written test. Although it is possible to do the test without scheduling, the lines and waiting time if you go without an appointment are usually very long. You can schedule an appointment here. You can pick any DMV office. The closest one in in Costa Mesa.
When you schedule your appointment, give yourself some time to study. The test itself is not difficult, but you will need to memorize some rules that may be different from your home country. Make sure to get the official handbook to study, it is very helpful. The DMV website also offers some sample tests that you can use to study. You can also find study samples in the internet and there are even mobile apps available.
You can take the written test in many different languages and the handbook is also available in other languages as well. However, many people suggest using English, both in the handbook and test, in order to avoid issues with translations.
In the scheduled day, go to the DMV with all your personal documents. When I was doing my test, I read in the website that you need your ID and a residency document. But that is for citizens. International students need other documents, such as the I-20 and most recent I-94. So, don’t do the same as I did, or you will have to come back to pick your documents. Bring all your personal documents, including the passport, visa, I-20, most recent I-94, and 2 residency documents (you can use your lease agreement or any other bill, such as electricity or credit card). You can find a list of accepted residency documents here. You also need a SSN, but you will get this earlier than your DL.
At the DMV, pay attention to get the correct line: there is one for appointments and other for walk-ins. When you are called, the officer will give you a form to fill and you will pay the fee. California asks a one-time fee of $35 as in June 2018. This fee includes both written and driving test. The DMV accepts cash and debit cards.
You will also make a very brief vision exam (just looking into a sign and repeating the letters of the requested line). After that you will do your test (more likely you will wait your turn and then do the test). It is an electronic test with 36 questions. You will know immediately after the test if you passed or not. You will have 3 chances to pass this test.
If you pass the written test, you will be issues a permit: a temporary student permit that allow you to learn how to drive. In practice it means that you can drive within the state of California accompanied by an adult who is 18 years old or older with a valid California DL. It is illegal to drive alone with this permit.
2nd step: Practice Driving.
Even if you have a driver’s license from your home country and already drive for many years I would suggest you to practice before your test. The main thing is that the rules are different in different countries and you will be evaluated by the rules of the US. There are 2 ways of practicing: 1) with a friend or family member (18 or older) who has a Californian DL, or 2) with an instructor.
There are many driving schools in Irvine and the OC region. I would suggest you to do some research, since some people say that there are instructors that offer a better driving class than others. You can research in websites such as Yelp and GroupOn. You can also ask other international students that learned with instructors for their suggestions. There are instructors that have worked with many UCI students. The prices may vary, and if you never drove before and/or need more time to learn it can get expensive. If you get a car you can practice with a friend or even combine that with a few classes.
It is a good idea to practice in the roads close by the DMV office you intend to do your test, since that is where your test will take place. You can try to search online for the most common test routes, but the information is not always available and may be not accurate. After you feel comfortable driving, you should schedule your behind-the-wheel exam.
3rd step: Driving (or behind-the-wheel) Test.
First you will have to schedule an appointment. Unlike the written test, the driving test cannot be done without an appointment. You can pick any DMV office you like, and it does not need to be the same of the written test. Many people suggest doing the test in the Laguna Hills office. They say the road test is easier than Costa Mesa and Santa Ana (many people speak against this last one). However, you will need to schedule in advance, especially if you intend to do your test in busy months, such as Summer ones. You can do is schedule it in advance and practice while you wait for the day to come. If you use a driving school, the instructor will help you scheduling the test.
In the day of your test, you have to go to the DMV with a car and accompanied by an adult who is 18 years old or older with a valid California DL. The car needs to be safe and fully functional, e.g., all the lights working, no broken mirror or serious damage. The vehicle must also be properly insured. You can read more about the test vehicle requirements here.
After checking your documents and the ones from the person accompanying you, the officer will ask to this person to leaver the car and wait in the office. The officer will ask you some quick questions about car parts (e.g., turn on the lights and signal) and signaling (e.g., how to signal with your hands that you will turn or stop). After that he or she will seat by your side and you will begin driving. Be calm and follow the instructions. The officer will not deceive you or make any tricky questions. He or she will always give you the instructions with enough time for you to follow them. The test should last around 20 minutes and involves basic actions such as left and right turns, backing, lane changes, stopping in intersections, etc.
If you don’t pass the test, it is not a big deal. Many people don’t. You can redo the test 3 times. You just schedule another appointment within some time after the first and do the whole process again. You will need to pay a $7 fee for redoing the test. The tests work exactly the same. You can pick a different DMV, but maybe it is good to choose the one you already know a bit of the route.
If you pass the test you will receive right after a temporary DL: it is a paper with your DL number but no picture. So, you will need to carry your passport with it. You will receive your final DL card by mail. The temporary license is good for 3 months, but usually you receive your final DL in a couple of weeks.
Usually. It took me more than 6 months to receive mine. Since we are international students, they need to verify our status with other agencies and these agencies may be busy. It doesn’t mean you have any problem with your documentation (at least I didn’t have according to the officers), you just may get trapped in the bureaucracy. But don’t worry: I am the only person I know who faced that issue. In the rare case that you are as unlucky as I was, you will have to renew your temporary license in the DMV when the deadline arrives. You will face the line, so it is annoying, but not complicated. Bring your personal documents with you just in case (I didn’t need, but who knows). The new temporary document will be valid for another 3 months and they will give you a phone number to call in case you still do not receive it. I had to call the number and the officer authorized my process in less than 10 minutes during the call. I was really just trapped in the bureaucracy.
After receiving your final DL, you are free to drive and better explore the beautiful state of California! You can see the official website with the steps here.
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Mayara Costa FigueiredoHome Country: Brazil Donald Bren School of Informatics and Computer Sciences, Computer Science, Ph.D. |