If you wish to take up residence in California from another state or country and you are not an active duty military member, you will need to obtain a California driving licence. If you already hold a driving licence from any of the other 49 states, you will only need to take the written test, rather than the practical, on the road test again. Do you have what it takes to pass? Here’s what to expect when you first walk into the DMV.
What to Expect when Applying to Take the California Written Driving Test: Verify your age, name, Social Security card number and residence
Before you are even allowed to sit your written test, a member of staff at the DMV will need to verify your age, name, Social Security card number and residence. So be sure to take along all relevant information such as your birth certificate, passport (if you have one), Social Security card and evidence of legal residence. If you are an immigrant, DMV will need to see your unexpired Permanent Resident card (Green Card) or paperwork to prove that your application for benefits is processing. Illegal immigrants will not be allowed to proceed any further if they do not have legal documentation.
What to Expect when Applying to Take the California Written Driving Test: Eyesight test
DMV staff are required to check your eyesight before they will allow you to sit your written test. According to their current guidelines, if you will be applying for a class A,B, or C licence, you will have to be able to see 20/40 out of both eyes, separately and together, with or without glasses or contact lenses. If for any reason you do not pass the vision test, you will need to visit an optometrist to correct your vision before you can return. DMV cannot allow anyone to proceed with the written test who may present a danger on the roads due to poor eyesight.
What to Expect when Applying to Take the California Written Driving Test: Special needs assistance
The DMV in California provides a great deal of assistance to applicants who have various special needs and require alternative ways to take the written driving test. The test can be taken in a foreign language, American sign language, by audio cassette or even by having a member of staff read out the questions to you. However, applicants must be able to identify road signs in English, as they will have to deal with them on a regular basis on the roads. So if you require any kind of special assistance with taking the written driving test, inform DMV well in advance so that they can provide the needed assistance for you.
What to Expect when Applying to Take the California Written Driving Test: Questions
After you have been able to verify your identity and have passed the vision test, you can then proceed to the actual written test. The California written driving test consists of 36 questions in total. You will be allowed ample opportunity to complete the test. It is a multiple choice test, so you will have a selection of answers to choose from. Some questions require more than one answer, which means you will need to read each question through carefully before answering. Use pencil, so that if you do make a mistake, you can go back to it and correct it. Once you have completed your test, take it to the desk of the person who dealt with you and he or she will mark it for you and let you know of your score within a few moments. If you failed the test, you will have three further opportunities to re-take it. To increase your chances of passing first time, you should make sure you study the California Driver’s Handbook and practice taking mock written tests that are available from the California DMV’s website.
Source:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/
