Getting a california DL

[Lights 56]

San Diego county here

Good luck, let me know how it goes!!! I don't know if there even is a point to the Cali dl yet for me...we're getting hitched next month and realistically there will be some lapsed time there I'm pretty sure...it is government after all...for the aos to go through. But I'll be asking some questions and doing some general harassment when we go to smog "my" car...see what they need from me.

Whoops! Sorry for the lack of updates Went back to this thread and realized I didn't let you know how it went.

Tip 1 - ALWAYS schedule an appointment. It really boggles my mind the amount of people waiting in line with no appointment. It took me about an hour or so from start to finish. Those who don't have an appointment end up waiting 2 hours or so on top!

I get in and there was rarely a line for appointments. I finished my paperwork and took my number. Within less than 5 minutes, I was called to a window. They took all my paperwork and info and gave me another form. I stood in line again to get my photos taken. Then I stood in line again to do the written exam. The written exam is all electronic now. It was pretty straight forward, however like others have said the wording is all tricky. They ask similar questions to those in the sample tests in the handbook and online test, but a bit differently.

All in all it wasn't so bad. I finished my written portion and now im off to do my road test. I was told that I could do my road test in a few weeks since my EAD and AP should be approved (crossing fingers) then. I have a permit right now... so hopefully I get it all done by end of Sept. I did my biometrics on Monday... so holding my breath.

[kc247 22]

Whoops! Sorry for the lack of updates Went back to this thread and realized I didn't let you know how it went.

Tip 1 - ALWAYS schedule an appointment. It really boggles my mind the amount of people waiting in line with no appointment. It took me about an hour or so from start to finish. Those who don't have an appointment end up waiting 2 hours or so on top!

I get in and there was rarely a line for appointments. I finished my paperwork and took my number. Within less than 5 minutes, I was called to a window. They took all my paperwork and info and gave me another form. I stood in line again to get my photos taken. Then I stood in line again to do the written exam. The written exam is all electronic now. It was pretty straight forward, however like others have said the wording is all tricky. They ask similar questions to those in the sample tests in the handbook and online test, but a bit differently.

All in all it wasn't so bad. I finished my written portion and now im off to do my road test. I was told that I could do my road test in a few weeks since my EAD and AP should be approved (crossing fingers) then. I have a permit right now... so hopefully I get it all done by end of Sept. I did my biometrics on Monday... so holding my breath.

Congrats! I was glad I had scheduled an appointment as well, I was in and out pretty quick while everyone else had to wait. I was also glad it was open book, I guess if you've had a license before they give you the book to do it here in Utah!

I have my road test on Tuesday...I am not looking forward to it! I went to the DMV a couple times to practice parallel parking in the little spot they have with the cones..I swear it is as small as they could possibly make it! Good thing our car is small! So I am worried about screwing up with that. I am pretty sure I have to do a 3 point turn as well...never had to do that at home either..seems easy enough. Hope I pass so I can forget about it.

Edited August 1, 2014 by kc247

[Lights 56]

Congrats! I was glad I had scheduled an appointment as well, I was in and out pretty quick while everyone else had to wait. I was also glad it was open book, I guess if you've had a license before they give you the book to do it here in Utah!

I have my road test on Tuesday...I am not looking forward to it! I went to the DMV a couple times to practice parallel parking in the little spot they have with the cones..I swear it is as small as they could possibly make it! Good thing our car is small! So I am worried about screwing up with that. I am pretty sure I have to do a 3 point turn as well...never had to do that at home either..seems easy enough. Hope I pass so I can forget about it.

What?! You were able to do an open book test?! That's cool! They didn't do that in California.

I'm not sure when I should schedule my road test. My visa expires end of September, so my permit is only good until then. The nice lady said I could get the tests out of the way, but they'll likely only give me a paper permit and not send me the card since my expiration date is within 60 days. I'm hoping my EAD and AP is approved soon so that I can do the test when I have the approval and they can just send the card with the new expiration.

[pro_star 52]

I'm just...going to wait for the ead I think. Still have the Alberta license...

Need to get one of those "driving in Cali for dummies" books lol.

[Lights 56]

I'm just...going to wait for the ead I think. Still have the Alberta license...

Need to get one of those "driving in Cali for dummies" books lol.

The handbook is online. It is very simple... you will pass with flying colours!

[kc247 22]

I am pretty sure most Canadian provinces you can just trade in your drivers license from the States & get a Canadian one! No fair. Kinda good though since we plan on moving back to Canada at some point, I'd be mad if I had to take a THIRD road test! (Wouldn't feel bad if my husband had to, hahaha, since I have to for his homeland!) I just got back from mine..passed, yay! Made me do everything though parallel park, 3 point turn, u-turn, park on a hill, reverse like 50 feet. Not sure how it compares to the Cali road test. Glad to have it done...now I am legally on the roads haha. It expires next year though, once I get my greenvcard I have to go in again and then it lasts 2 years..then when I get my 10 year green card have to go in again!

Edited August 5, 2014 by kc247

[rshree 16]

Just finished the road test today! was waiting for EAD to arrive!

Funny! My first driving license was from SC, USA in 2004.. I could trade that for a Canadian license when I moved there & had been driving for last 10 years with a clean driving record. Now I am back to USA but because it is California I have to go thru the whole written test & drive test & what not! Damn!

Anyways, they gave me a temporary license instead of a "permit" based on Canadian license! at least!

Now should plan & prepare for road test!

Anyone who had gone thru California DL, please share what to expect in the road test. Thou I have read the California DMV website, it will be nice to know real time experiences. Btw, I am trying to fix up an appointment for road test; it says "driving lic # &/or birth date does not match our records" thou I am 200% sure everything is correct checked several times. May be I should wait for some more time before it shows up in their system??? what is going on?

[rshree 16]

Got my California Driving license after passing behind-the-wheel test on 21-Aug-2014. It was one of the simplest driving tests... Unlike other states like SC where I have done it before involved all tests like parallel parking, K-turn, reverse etc., CA driving test is pretty simple.. the max they asked was curbside parking & reversing!...