Congrats!

Thanks - boy i was nervous so glad its over

Congrats on passing your test!

I drove around on one of those for 3 months before taking my road test because they insisted at the DMV that it was the appropriate thing for me to have and that it would be fine (just show that in conjunction with my UK license if pulled over). Sure it's probably better to get it sorted if you can but don't feel like you can't drive at all. Disclaimer on that is that I was never pulled over, so I can't say for sure if it was ok but I figured I could always just tell the police that the DMV said it was ok.

Hi everyone!

I need a little help from those of you living in California. I need to renew my temporary driving license because i’m not quite ready to take the driving test yet (my 60 day temporary license runs out next week). Does anyone know how the process works? Do I have to take any documents in particular with me to the DMV? Will they just give me another one valid for another 60 days?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers, Laurie

Honestly if you have been actually driving for the 60 days you're ready to take the test. It's not exactly difficult!

No idea about if/how you can renew the temporary one. It doesn't help you buy beer either so I'd get the real one ASAP.

+1. It's probably too late to book the test now but I would just do it. If you pass - great! If not, then all you've lost is a couple of tenners - but gained knowledge of how the test goes. My wife and I had exactly the same test route with different examiners a month apart.

Thanks guys!

Yep the problem is that i’ve left it too late to book a test before my temporary license expires.

I called the DMV this morning and they just said to go to a DMV office and they’ll issue me an extension. Phewy.

Then I’ll get booking my test

Thanks for the help,

Laurie

ive recently taken my test - if you have been driving around by yourself on a temp licence you will be fine re the test. It lasted about 10 mins or so (maybe a tad longer but felt really short) Just remember as others have said - no Californian rolls - you MUST stop at the 2 way and 4 way stops - my instructer said just stop and settle back in your seat before starting again - ive a friend who just counts to 3 before she goes...and watch your speed in residential areas - its 25...and know your hand signals - good luck!

Thanks CAdreaming!

So i queued at the DMV for 2 hours only to be told that they can’t extend my temporary licence and that i should never have even been issued a 60 day temp license in the first place (apparently they should be 30 days).

So my only choice was to book a driving test for this Friday in order to get it done before my temp license runs out. And breathe…

Oh well, at least this has forced me into taking my test. Fingers crossed I pass or i’m going to have to be ‘accompanied’ by my husband whenever I want to drive!

Cheers - Laurie

They really have no idea. Mine was issued for some odd amount of days, 49 or something. The wife's was issued for 60 days. That was only a few months ago.

Good luck with the test!

Thanks GeoffM!

Yep I was told two different things by two different employees in the same office today, both of which were different to the information I was given when I went to the DMV to apply for my temporary license 2 months ago. I don’t have a huge amount of trust in them…

Ho hum, guess I just have to pass the test and stick it to the man!

Laurie

Good for you - and good luck with it!!! Before i passed my road test i had a temp licence - which for some unkown reason was changed to a licence whereby i couldnt drive by myself, Oh and before that i actually got issued with a proper full licence BEFORE i took the road test (I went and told them i shouldnt have it as i hadnt actually taken the test - hence all the other licences!! Ahh joy!!!) Let us know how you get on

Someone on BE got their CA temp license issued for 90 days and procrastinated and the temp license was renewed three times. Others weren't even given a temp license but only a driver's permit even though they had a UK license which required them to drive with a CA licensed driver. So I think the DMV offices don't know the correct regulations.

each office does work different, remember they are just keyboard monkeys and have a turnover of staff like no other. If you can drive in the UK then you can drive here, California is a great place to drive considering the large widths of lanes and freeways. Just remember to be extra vigilant of other drivers, being so multi cultered there are a lot of accidents and when it rains in california the roads get crazy with stupid drivers and too many accidents, so be careful when it actually rains here and then everything else you will be fine. good luck

FWIW

I drove on my UK licence for eight years before taking the US test....no-one cared...