APPLYING FOR A
CALIFORNIA DRIVER’S
LICENSE AS A
F-1 VISA STUDENT
(18 YEARS OR OLDER)
International Education Center
Santa Monica College
Applying for a CA Driver’s License
This PowerPoint addresses:
What is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)?
How to obtain a driver’s license if you are 18 years or older
and on a F-1 visa?
The Santa Monica DMV – DMV location nearest to Santa
Monica College
What is the contact information for the Santa Monica DMV?
What are their office hours?
Driving/Public transportation directions
What is the Department of Motor
Vehicles?
In the U.S., the Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the
government agency in charge
of areas having to do with
driving a vehicle (i.e. vehicle
registration, driver’s license,
safety inspections, etc.).
Driving in California…
If you plan to drive a car while in
the U.S., you must have a driver’s
license. California law states that
if you are visiting and have a valid
driver’s license from your home
state or country, you may drive in
our state without getting a
California Driver’s as long as your
home state/country license remains
valid; however, it is recommended
that you apply for a CA driver’s
license as soon as possible if you
plan to drive in CA as a student.
CA Driver’s License Checklist
Basic Requirements to Receive a CA Driver’s License
Schedule an appointment to take the Written Test
Bring all the documents you need to take the Written Test
Pass the Written Test and receive your Driver’s Permit
Schedule an appointment to take the Driving Test
Take the Driving Test
Pass the Driving Test and receive your interim Driver’s License
Wait for your new photo license in the mail
Who Needs to Take the CA Written
Test?
1. Any F-1 visa student over 18 yrs.
old who wants to obtain a CA
driver’s license and has a valid
• International driver’s license;
• Driver’s license from another
U.S. state;
• Or driver’s license from
another country or another
state in the US.
2. Any F-1 visa student over 18 yrs.
old who wants to obtain a CA
driver’s license but does not have
a valid driver’s license will need
to take and pass the DMV written
test.
Preparing for the CA DMV Written Test
1. Schedule an appointment to
take your written test.
Option One - To reduce
your wait time, the IEC
recommends scheduling an
appointment online
• Go to www.dmv.ca.gov
• Click on Online Services
• Click on Appointments
Option Two - Schedule an
appointment by calling
1-800-777-0133
Three Steps to Prepare for the CA DMV Written Test
Interpreters and the CA DMV Written
Test
The Department of Motor Vehicles provides interpreters, including
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, at no cost to the
customer
If you need a language interpreter schedule an appointment by
calling 1-800-777-0133 and indicating foreign language
assistance is needed.
For the California Relay Telephone Service from TDD phones, call
1-800-735-2929 or, from voice phones, call 1-800-735-2922
for assistance in contacting DMV and making arrangements for an
ASL interpreter.
Taking the CA DMV Written Test
The CA DMV Written Test in Seven Steps
1. Bring the following original documents (no photocopies) to
your written test appointment (You may wish to arrive earlier)
Passport/F-1Visa/I-94
I-20 – Bring your current SMC I-20 and if different, also
bring the I-20 with the Port of Entry stamp. Transfer
students who do not have a SMC I-20 with a Port of Entry
Stamp, should bring their current SMC I-20 and their
original (non-SMC) I-20 with the Port of Entry Stamp.
Social Security Card (if issued one)
DMV application fee (you can pay by Cash, U.S. Check,
Money Order, or ATM/Debit Card. The DMV does not
accept credit card payments. For the current fee table,
click Current Fee Table.
Taking the CA DMV Written Test
The CA DMV Written Test in Seven Steps
2. Complete the Driver’s License or ID Card Application – DL44
Form. This form is only available at the DMV Office. Do not
make photocopies of this form. Copies will not be accepted.
3. Pass the vision test
4. Provide your thumb print
5. Have your picture taken
6. Take the written test
7. Pass the written test
The CA Driver’s Permit
A CA Driver’s Permit also
referred to as a learner’s
permit, learner’s license or
provisional license is a restricted
license that is issued by the DMV
to a person who is learning how
to drive, but still has not satisfied
the requirements to obtain a
driver’s license.
* If you are issued a permit and are at least 18 yrs. old, you
must have an accompanying adult (18 yrs. or older) with a
valid CA license while you practice driving. This person
must be close enough to you to take control of the vehicle.
It is illegal for you to drive alone.
Who Should Take the CA DMV Driving
Test?
1. Any F-1 visa student over 18 years old who has a valid
• International driver’s license (possession of a valid CA
Driver’s Permit)
• Driver’s license from a foreign country/state (possession of a
valid CA Driver’s Permit
• California Driver’s Permit
2. Any student on a F-1 visa who does not have a valid driver’s
license or has been licensed in another state but do not have
the license to surrender must also take and pass the DMV
Written Test
* If you have a license from another state in the U.S., the
driving test can be waived.
Preparing for the CA DMV Driving Test
1. Schedule an appointment to
take your Driving Test.
Option One Schedule an
appointment online
• Go to www.dmv.ca.gov
• Click on Online Services
• Click on Appointments
Option Two - Schedule an
appointment by calling
1-800-777-0133
Five Steps to Prepare for the CA DMV Driving Test
* You cannot take the Driving Test
without an appointment!!!
Preparing for the CA DMV Written Test
2. Review various methods recommended by the CA DMV.
Click Preparing for the Driving Test
for more information.
3. At your driving test appointment, you must provide
proof of financial responsibility. For more information
click Insurance Information
.
Five Steps to Prepare for the CA DMV Written Test
* Liability insurance is required for all drivers of motor
vehicles in California.
Preparing for the CA DMV Written Test
4. Take and pass the driving test.
Five Steps to Prepare for the CA DMV Written Test
* You have three chances to pass the driving test. If you fail,
you may practice for a while, then make another
appointment. There is no waiting period, but you must
make an appointment. If you fail to successfully complete
the driving test on the first attempt, you must pay a fee for
each additional driving test that is administered under an
application for an original or renewal driver license.
5. You may drive on your interim license (up to 60 days only)
until you receive your new photo license in the mail.
Interim Driver’s License
Double-check your address
before you leave the DMV. If you
have moved or if your address is
incorrect notify the DMV
representative. If you have not
received your license after 60
days, call 1-800-777-0133 and
they can check on the status for
you. Have your interim license
with you to provide information
when requested.
Santa Monica DMV Office
The nearest DMV office to the Santa Monica College campus is
the Santa Monica Location. This office is familiar with assisting the
SMC international community.
2235 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(800) 777-0133
* Wait Time and Office Hours
Santa Monica DMV Office
* Services offered by this DMV include Driver License and ID
Card Processing, Vehicle Registration, Payment of fees by
check, money order, cash or ATM/Debit Card. Credit Cards
are not accepted in DMV offices.
Santa Monica DMV Office
Office Hours*
Monday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
* This DMV Office is closed on weekends. To find out which
holidays this DMV will be closed, visit the CA DMV
website: www.dmv.ca.gov. For faster Service, schedule an
appointment on the CA DMV website.
Santa Monica DMV Office
Driving directions from SMC to the Santa Monica DMV Office
Head northeast on Pico Boulevard. toward 20
th
Street (344 ft.)
Turn Left at 20
th
Street (0.6 miles)
Turn Right at Colorado Ave. – Destination will be on the left
(0.2 miles)
Santa Monica DMV Office
Public Transportation to the Santa Monica DMV Office
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Sunset Line from SMC Campus
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Line 5
For more information on how to ride the Santa Monica Big Blue
Bus, visit http://www.bigbluebus.com/home/ride-free.html
For L.A. Metro transit riders, visit http://www.metro.net/
For Culver City transit riders, visit
http://www.culvercity.org/Government/Transportation/bus.as
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