Do I need a CA driver to accompany me to driving test?

[TTG 8]

Just got my permit and booked my behind the wheel test. I'm still driving around on my UK license but I don't want there to be confusion when I arrive at the DMV. Am I OK to arrive alone driving on my UK license or should I bring my wife along and arrive on my CA permit so to speak.

 

I need to be certain as I"m driving 3.5 hours away to get to the DMV for this appointment and need the license for my new job ASAP.

 

Grateful for help.

Edited June 14, 2019 by TTG

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

If you're legally able to drive on your UK license still, then should be no issue. If it's expired or passed the 'deadline' of usage (by state law, each state can vary) then I would take a US licensed driver. 

[calanda 14]

CA only allows you to drive for 10 days on a foreign licence once you become a resident, so if you’ve managed to get your permit and driving test and become a named driver on car insurance all within that time period then I can only say nice one! I couldn’t get an appointment for like 3 weeks.

 

Based on my experience, just go on your CA permit and bring your wife. Whatever the actual rules may be, it is always advisable with the DMV to follow the most routine, standard, simple process possible. It’s a lot easier for some employees to just say no rather than go and find out whether something can be done.

 

Before I came to California, I always thought that people were overreacting to their DMV experiences, but since arriving I have found that they really are awful. They wouldn’t even let me sit my test the first time around because they said my car registration wasn’t valid (it was). I also was accused of having a fraudulent passport (I don’t), told I couldn’t get an AB60 licence because I have a K1 visa (I could and did), and that I would get my licence mailed out to me 2 weeks after my test (it wasn’t, because they’d sent it as the wrong type of licence). They also insisted on writing my ID document as an Irish passport because the front said “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” until I argued enough to make them change it to UK passport. Having always worked in retail and service occupations, I am a very strong believer in being nice, respectful and polite to the person behind the counter, but that has seemingly counted for nothing at the DMV.

 

Sorry, this turned into a big rant about how shite the CA DMV is, but my point is don’t do anything that might cause them any confusion or seem out of the ordinary because they might just turn you away.

[TTG 8]

1 hour ago, calanda said:

CA only allows you to drive for 10 days on a foreign licence once you become a resident, so if you’ve managed to get your permit and driving test and become a named driver on car insurance all within that time period then I can only say nice one! I couldn’t get an appointment for like 3 weeks.

  

Based on my experience, just go on your CA permit and bring your wife. Whatever the actual rules may be, it is always advisable with the DMV to follow the most routine, standard, simple process possible. It’s a lot easier for some employees to just say no rather than go and find out whether something can be done.

  

 Before I came to California, I always thought that people were overreacting to their DMV experiences, but since arriving I have found that they really are awful. They wouldn’t even let me sit my test the first time around because they said my car registration wasn’t valid (it was). I also was accused of having a fraudulent passport (I don’t), told I couldn’t get an AB60 licence because I have a K1 visa (I could and did), and that I would get my licence mailed out to me 2 weeks after my test (it wasn’t, because they’d sent it as the wrong type of licence). They also insisted on writing my ID document as an Irish passport because the front said “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” until I argued enough to make them change it to UK passport. Having always worked in retail and service occupations, I am a very strong believer in being nice, respectful and polite to the person behind the counter, but that has seemingly counted for nothing at the DMV.

  

Sorry, this turned into a big rant about how shite the CA DMV is, but my point is don’t do anything that might cause them any confusion or seem out of the ordinary because they might just turn you away.

 

Honestly that 10 day rule is the most BS thing I have heard in my life. My experience so far is that every single person at the DMV has a different answer for the same question and I haven't been able to get a real answer for anything 

I have been driving for 2 months on my UK license. As far as I am concerned the 10 day law was created with domestic out of state DL holders who are moving into CA because as you said, it takes WEEKS to get an appointment at the DMV to get a behind the wheel test, not to mention it took me weeks to receive my SSN and the DMV wouldn't let me take the knowledge test without the SSN. I'll be damned if I'm going to drive around on a permit like a child when my UK license is perfectly valid and can't be revoked by the US government as far as I'm concerned. 

 

I'm annoyed because I have to ask my partner to take the day off to accompany me on a 7 hour return journey because the only DMV that could give me an appointment within 6 weeks is 3.5 hours away.

 

Sorry to follow your (totally justified) rant with my own. The DMV is incompetence embodied. 

 

[geowrian 22,336]

2 minutes ago, TTG said:

I'll be damned if I'm going to drive around on a permit like a child when my UK license is perfectly valid and can't be revoked by the US government as far as I'm concerned. 

The USG cannot revoke your UK license, but that's separate from requiring you to hold a US license within the US.

Your choice, your risks. Just don't do the crime if you cannot pay the time.

 

2 minutes ago, TTG said:

The DMV is incompetence embodied.

Truth

 

 

 

 

[HRQX 4,145]

24 minutes ago, TTG said:

I'm annoyed because I have to ask my partner to take the day off to accompany me on a 7 hour return journey because the only DMV that could give me an appointment within 6 weeks is 3.5 hours away.

You can hire a YoGov Road Test Concierge: https://yogov.org/dmv/road-test-concierge/ Can also try to get a closer appointment within 4 weeks: https://yogov.org/dmv-express-v2/

Edited June 15, 2019 by HRQX

[databit 328]

The DMV will ask for proof of US insurance carried by the driver.

[TTG 8]

On 6/14/2019 at 7:26 PM, databit said:

The DMV will ask for proof of US insurance carried by the driver.

I have insurance. My concern is will they require a check to see that I was accompanied by a CA driver? 

[Villanelle 4,121]

1 hour ago, TTG said:

I have insurance. My concern is will they require a check to see that I was accompanied by a CA driver? 

Most likely yes. And because you are going to be driving almost 4hours its better to bring her (and her proof of insurance and registration) to the appointment.  Hope it goes smoothly!

[midwinterrose 263]

13 hours ago, TTG said:

I have insurance. My concern is will they require a check to see that I was accompanied by a CA driver? 

I seem to recall they asked me how I got to the DMV when I went in for my test in CA 12 years ago.