Driver's license

Mandatory for most visas if you stay longer than 6 months in California. Once you have it, it also works as your US ID, useful for buying alcohol at stores and getting into bars.

To get your license, you go through 2 steps: a written knowledge test first, then a practical driving test.

The written test

The California written test has 36 questions and you need at least 30 correct (83%) to pass. It covers road signs and signals, right-of-way rules, safe driving practices, parking rules, speed limits, alcohol and drug laws, sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians, and vehicle safety.

Start with the California Driver's Manual, which is free and all the questions come from it. Once you've read through it, use practice tests to check what you remember. Driving-Tests.org has AI feedback explaining why each answer is right or wrong. ePermitTest.com has tests in English and Spanish. DMV-Written-Test.com uses actual questions submitted by past test-takers. Review every explanation, repeat the questions you missed, and only book the real test once you can pass a full simulator without guessing.

The practical driving test

The road test has 2 parts: a pre-drive safety check where the examiner asks you to demonstrate the headlights, wipers, defrosters, and emergency brake, followed by the actual driving skills test covering turns, lane changes, backing up in a straight line, and stopping at intersections. You need someone with a valid California driver's license in the car with you, and you need to pass within your first year in California. Avoid using a Zipcar or Turo for the test, since the insurance paperwork can complicate things and examiners may refuse the car.

Booking: Waits at the San Francisco DMV are typically 27–45 days, so book as soon as you pass the written test. You can book online at dmv.ca.gov or by calling 1-800-777-0133. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to have the most available slots. A 20-minute drive to a different DMV office can save you 3 weeks of waiting. Offices outside the city almost always have shorter queues. Cancellations are released back overnight, so refreshing between 11 pm and 1 am sometimes turns up next-day slots. Rescheduling is free as long as you haven't met the examiner yet.

On test day, focus on observation, lane control, and smooth stops. Really look over your shoulders every time you check your mirrors, examiners check for this. If you fail, use your score sheet to find your weakest areas before booking again.

A Belgian friend, Jonas, put together a great summary of everything you need to do during the practical exam: jonasdeschouwer.notion.site/DMV-Tests.

Once you have your license

Once your physical license arrives, you can also add a digital copy to your phone through the CA DMV Wallet app. Handy for situations where you don't have your wallet on you.