Canadian Drivers in California

[CanAmerican 0]

Hey everyone!

I was wondering if anyone has gone through this is in the process of going through this. I will be moving to California and I have my complete G class licence in Ontario. So was wondering if there is a way to switch it over or do I have to go through the painful procedure again??

Thank You

[Rustbelt 0]

I'm sure someone who lives in California will give you accurate info, but FWIW, here's the link to the appropriate bit of the website:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#two500

Looks like you'll have to do the whole test and everything!!

If you have a license from another country, you will be required to take a driving test. If you have a license from another state, the driving test can be waived.

- Steve's wife

[Marilyn. 340]

yes you will need to do the eye exam, the written test and the driver's test...

but the driving test was the easiest part of the whole thing for me... it lasted maybe 5 minutes and the person basically just took me around the block.. I didn't have to parallel park or anything...

[Inky 1,110]

you should move to nebraska instead !! all they do is have you answer 25 questions and you need 20 of them right and they give you your license, I didnt even have my G only my G2 it was so easy.

Its so weird how all states and areas are so different!!

[bradcanuck 1]

The CA driving test is very simple and I had no problem passing. If you aren't a terrible driver you will be fine.

[Rustbelt 0]

Or move to NY like I did and all you have to do is read a line off an eye chart and you get to swap your ON license for a NY one. Dead easy.

- Steve's wife

(Although when I did this the first time around I moved from the UK to the US and had to do the whole driver's exam. I was SHOCKED at how easy it was - round the block, stop at the stop sign, and parallel park into something that was about two bus lengths long).

[Misty1979 0]

Hmm...I tested in CA as well, but the driving test was more like 20 min in my area and they were super finicky. I failed the first time mostly for pulling up too far at stop signs instead of stopping directly on the line. (I guess it's just one of those habits that you tend to forget about after driving for a few years.) I passed the second time, and it was a breeze.

Basically, just make sure you brush up on all the driving etiquette, etc and you should be fine. Hopefully your test is as short as some of the above posters were.

[CanAmerican 0]

Thank you everyone for posting

Im actually more worried about the written test, than the driving one

Hopefully I pass the written one ( I failed it here in Ont the first time)!

[Misty1979 0]

Thank you everyone for posting

Im actually more worried about the written test, than the driving one

Hopefully I pass the written one ( I failed it here in Ont the first time)!

Ooh...you should try some of their sample tests to help build your confidence: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/interactive/tdrive/exam.htm

I practiced for about a week prior and found the test to be easy peasy thanks to their practice tests online.

[minnew 4]

you should move to nebraska instead !! all they do is have you answer 25 questions and you need 20 of them right and they give you your license, I didnt even have my G only my G2 it was so easy.

Its so weird how all states and areas are so different!!

Hehe! The 25 question test was easy for me..... The second time around...LOL....

I failed the first time, had to wait until the next day to retake it. Do NOT go to a DMV on a Friday!! Ugh! So many state law questions about points for offenses... I got the random hard questions!!!

There was this question abou what do you if you see a blind man walking down the street with a cane... I said you slow down.... The correct answer was STOP.... Ummm ok stop dead in the middle of traffic if you see a blind man walking parallel on the sidewalk next to you driving? Seriously.....If it said the man was going to approach an intersection...ugh!

[Carlawarla 1]

Here is an interesting thread in the Moving to America forum you might want to read.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196639

[thetreble 19]

Definitely study before you go to take the written test. State laws are different then what you are used to. The test in Jersey has 60 questions I believe and between the "feet" and other laws I didn't know, I failed twice before I finally passed the third time.

[The_Dude 1,142]

My aunt failed the driving part of the test here in CA, both times she failed within 10 seconds of beginning the driving. First time, she didnt' put her seat belt on. Second time, she had the radio on. I don't think they disqualify you anymore for having the radio on though.

[LeprechaunSean 0]

No driving test in AZ either. Had to do the written though. Funny thing is they have windows into the room so you can sit there and watch which answers they pick, get wrong or right, etc... was easy to pass after that.