Driving Tests

Moving to California: How to Transfer Your Driver's License

informational·how to guide·Published May 29, 2026

How long do I have to get a California driver's license after I move?

If you drive on a valid license from your previous home as an exempt nonresident, you may drive in California for no more than 10 days from the date you establish residency (Vehicle Code 12505). From that date, you cannot drive for work without a California license. To switch a license from another state, you pass the knowledge test(s). A license from another country also needs a drive test.

Where these rules come from

As of 2026, this guide uses Vehicle Code 12505 for the 10-day rule and residency, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver license page for the application steps, and the DMV New to California page for residency examples and car registration. Vehicle Code 12502, the DMV licensing fees, REAL ID and online application pages, and the California Driver Handbook give the visitor rules, fees and documents. This guide covers the regular passenger-car license (Class C). Confirm the rules with the California DMV (dmv.ca.gov) before you drive.

What makes you a California resident?

For driver licensing, California decides residency by your state of domicile: the state where you have your true, fixed and permanent home and main residence, and where you plan to return when you are away. The law gives these as examples of evidence: the address where you are registered to vote, resident tuition at a public college or university, and a homeowner's property tax exemption. The DMV adds that you are a resident if you intend to live in California for six months or more in one year, and that other rules also help decide.

DMV examples of intent to live in California

You are in California for six months or longer in a 12-month period, and you are not visiting on a temporary basis.
You are registered to vote in California, you are employed in California, or your place of business is in California.
You pay resident tuition at a California public college or university, or your dependents attend a California primary or secondary school.

Do you take a knowledge test or a drive test?

You are over 18 and have a valid license from another state

Follow the application steps below. They end with the knowledge test(s).

You are over 18 and have a license from another country

Follow the same steps as for a license from another state, and add a driving test (see the drive test section below).

You are over 18 and have never had a license in any state or country

Get an instruction permit first. When you complete its requirements, you take the driving test. The guide to a first California license as an adult has the steps.

You are under 18

The steps on this page are the DMV steps for applicants over 18. The DMV has separate steps for drivers under 18, so ask the DMV about your case before you apply.

Steps to switch a license from another state to California (over 18)

1
Complete the application
Fill in a driver license or ID card application. You can start it online and finish it at a DMV office.
2
Visit a DMV office with your documents
Bring the documents in the table below. Check the office hours first (see "Before you go to the DMV office").
3
Pay, then complete the office checks
Pay the nonrefundable application fee, have your thumbprint scanned, pass a vision exam and have your photo taken.
4
Pass the knowledge test(s)
Take the knowledge test(s) at the DMV office. You have three attempts at each required test. If you fail the same test three times, the application is no longer valid and you must reapply.
5
Foreign license only: book the drive test
With a license from another country, schedule a driving test appointment after the steps above.

What to bring and what it costs

What to bring and what it costs
Item	What to know
Social Security number	Give it at the DMV office. Exceptions may apply.
Identity document	An original or certified copy. Your current name must match the name on it.
Legal full name document	Bring it if the name on your identity document and your application do not match.
Residency documents	Two proofs of California residency, with exceptions that may apply. A utility bill and a bank statement are examples.
Application fee	Nonrefundable. USD 46 for a Class C original application, as of 2026. Confirm the fee for your case with the DMV. The application and fee stay valid for 12 months.
Card payment fee	A credit card adds a service fee: 1.95% online, 2.1% at a DMV office and 1.95% at a kiosk.
Drive test retest fee (license from another country)	USD 9 on the DMV fee page. The driver license page shows USD 7. Confirm the amount with the DMV.

The drive test with a license from another country

The DMV does not give driving tests without an appointment, so schedule one first. You show proof of insurance that meets California requirements, and you bring a vehicle that is safe to drive with valid registration. An accompanying driver is required to and from the drive test, so arrange that person before test day. Your application fee covers three attempts. If you fail the driving test three times, the application is no longer valid and you must reapply.

Before you go to the DMV office

Arrive early. The DMV driver license page says there are no knowledge tests within 30 minutes of closing, and the online application page says tests are not available after 4:30 p.m. Check the hours of your office.
For a REAL ID, upload your identity and residency documents during the online application, then bring the originals and your confirmation code. The guide to what to bring for a REAL ID lists the documents.

Can a visitor drive in California on a home license?

You are a visitor over 18 with a valid license from the place where you are a resident

You may drive in California without a California license. Once you establish residency, the 10-day rule above applies.

You live in a country other than the U.S. or Canada, are over 16 and hold a valid foreign license

You may drive without a California license, unless the DMV decides that the place that issued your license does not meet California licensing standards. At 16 or 17, the next rule also applies.

You are 16 or 17 with a valid license from another country

You may drive in California for a maximum of 10 days. To drive longer, get a nonresident minor's certificate from the DMV, file proof of financial responsibility (insurance) with the DMV, and carry your license, the certificate and the proof when you drive.

Key takeaways

You have no more than 10 days from the date you establish residency to drive on your old license, and you cannot drive for work from that date without a California license.
A license from another state needs the application and the knowledge test(s). A license from another country also needs a drive test with an appointment.
Bring your Social Security number, an identity document and two proofs of residency, and arrive early at the DMV office.
Next step: practice for the knowledge test on the free California Class C practice test.

Moving to California: common questions

Do I need a Social Security number to get a California driver's license?

At a DMV office you give your Social Security number. The law requires you to give it on your application if you have one. Exceptions may apply, so ask the DMV about your case.

Do I have to get a REAL ID when I switch my license to California?

No. You can apply for a REAL ID or a federal non-compliant card. From May 7, 2025, you need a federally compliant card to board a domestic flight or enter some federal facilities. A passport, a military ID and a REAL ID are examples of such cards.

Does renting an apartment in California make me a resident?

It can. The DMV lists a rented property in California that is your primary residence as one example of intent to live in the state. The date you establish residency starts the 10-day limit to drive on your old license. If your case is not clear, ask the DMV before that limit runs out.

How long do I have to register my car in California after I move?

You have 20 days. A vehicle that was registered in another state or country must be registered in California within 20 days of becoming a resident or bringing it into the state. This deadline is for the car and is separate from the license deadline.