Moving to the great state of California is an extremely exciting adventure. However, you will need to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row in order to be officially a Californian. On your long list of things to accomplish, you will probably have included getting your new California driver’s license.

In order to make this process as smooth as possible, we have created an easy-to-follow guide to help you get your driver’s license renewed after to moving to California. Spending the day at the Department of Motor Vehicles is never fun, so follow this guide to help you get this done quickly and without issue.

If you Have a License

If you already have a driver’s license from another state, then you will not need to start over from the beginning once you move to California. There is no need to sign up for CA online driver’s ed unless you simply want to get a refresher course.

After you are an established resident, then you can apply online for your CA driver’s license. If you already have a driver’s license, then you are done after your application. You will simply have a new CA license mailed to your CA address.

Applying For a New License

Unfortunately, if you have never gotten a driver’s license, then you will have a few more steps than a simple application.

The first thing that you will need to do is make an appointment at the DMV. Making an appointment can save you a great deal of time that you would otherwise waste waiting in the long line of misery. You can even schedule an appointment if you need to take a test before being approved for your license.

You will need to go ahead and fill out the correct form for your driver’s license. You can find this online and complete it ahead of time so that you are not wasting time at the DMV. Along with the application, you will also need to verify your identity. Make sure that you have all of the proper identification with you before you head to the DMV.

Be aware beforehand that you do have a $37 fee associated with getting your license. This fee covers all of the exams that you will need to take as well as the cost of having the ID printed in general. This fee could be more if you decide to take a online driver’s ed course in California.

You will have to pass a vision test before you can take either the written test or the driving exam. Once you have passed that, then you will take the written exam.

The written exam is about 36 questions long, and CA will give applicants three chances to pass the exam before they require them to pay another fee. You might want to take the CA dmv practice test before you try to take the written exam.

Once you have done all of this, you will need to pass the driving test. For some, this is the most difficult part of the entire experience. However, just relax and do your best to follow all of the rules of the road. Before you go, you will want to make sure that your car is performing properly because there is a safety inspection.

Final Thoughts

Getting your license in California is not an incredibly difficult task to accomplish. In fact, it is pretty easy overall and you should have no trouble if you know what you are doing. Just do not forget any of the required documents.

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