california drivers test behind the wheel

You must register your car with the state within 20 days if you brought it with you from another state, and within 30 days if you purchased it here. You can find advice on buying a new or used car on the Better Business Bureau website. Added with the difficulty of finding a parking space (it often takes twice as long to park than it would to take public transportation), and you may give up the idea of having a car in San Francisco.īut if you are determined to have a car, please read through the guidelines below. In addition to the cost of buying a car, you will need to pay annual registration fees, car insurance, smog tests, and parking costs. You should also have a look at the Department of Homeland Security's fact sheet on driver's licenses for foreign nationals.Įverything having to do with owning a car in this city is expensive. However, you must still provide an acceptable birth date and legal presence document (passport, I-94 Form, and DS-2019 in the case of J-2) for any driver's license or ID card application.

if you are on J-2 status), you are exempt from Social Security Number requirements. If you are legally present in the US, but ineligible for a Social Security Number (i.e.

passport, immigration document, valid I-94)

verify birth date and legal presence (i.e.

visit DMV office (make appointment for faster service).

complete a DL-44 application (available at DMV)įor individuals who do not need to obtain a California driver’s license, the DMV also issues identification cards.

passport, Immigration document, valid I-94)

provide your Social Security Number (if available) Or see below.

visit DMV office (make appointment by phone or online for faster service).

To apply for a driver’s license, you must: To apply for a license, we advise you to visit the DMV website or local DMV office for additional information. Copies of the California Driver Handbook can be downloaded from the DMV website they are available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese, in addition to English. Also, please note that an international driver’s license is not recognized in California. For non-tourists, foreign driver’s licenses are valid for only 10 days. Individuals who have entered the United States, other than as a tourist, who wish to drive in the state of California, must obtain a California driver’s license. General Information and Appointments: 1-80 Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), State of California

California drivers test behind the wheel