Reinstating my California drivers license

[ca_poppy 1]

I surrendered my CDL when I moved to Canada, which was fairly painless (aside from the wait in the line). Now that I'm back in the US and re-establishing domicile, I'd like to know if I can "reinstate" my old California license--which, from what I gather, was cancelled when I surrendered it to the province of Ontario. If I go in there with just an Ontario license, I'll have to take the written test AND the road test, and not on the same day, which is going to wreak havoc on my schedule. However, I do still have records from the California DMV that show that I have 10 years' experience as a licensed California driver, plus an expired CDL. Can I save myself (most of) the time and hassle just by reinstating my old license?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

do you remember your old number ? If so that will be your new one and the records will link up.

[ca_poppy 1]

Yep, got the number. I actually have old licenses that were issued in 2004 and 2007. The most recent, issued in 2009, was sent back to the CA DMV when I swapped it for an Ontario license and presumably cancelled.

Nearly everything I have read about reinstating a license has to do with licenses suspended for things like DUI. I have a squeaky clean record, with a California DMV-issued document to back it up, but I don't know if I can just go in there and reclaim my license or if I have to swap my Ontario license. If it's the latter, then I have to schedule a road test for some date that is probably weeks or months away... :facepalm:

Edited January 5, 2013 by ca_poppy

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

My experience is state to state , Ca to Az back to Ca . But I just presented my Arizona one and they issued me a "new" California one with the old number. Punched a hole in the Az one. Simple and painless.

[ca_poppy 1]

How long ago was that? From what I've gathered googling, state-to-state is OK and you don't have to take more than the written test. Anyone presenting an out-of-country license will have to pass the written and road tests, which would be OK if I could take them the same day but I can't.

Basically I want to know if there's a way to reinstate my cancelled license instead of swapping my Ontario one.

[ca_poppy 1]

In case anyone finds this by googling, I only needed to retake the written test. I went in armed with all kinds of stuff--passport, social security card, driving record--and all they wanted was an expired license so they could copy the number. I'm not sure the woman processing my application knew what she was doing (she told me they don't accept out-of-country DLs, but the DMV website said otherwise) and just treated it as if it were out of state/a renewal.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm flabbergasted that people surrender their Driver License (note spelling) so casually.

The United States and Canada are different countries. You'll need your US license for driving in the United States, and you'll need your Canadian license for driving in Canada, so you really need both. What a hassle to surrender your Canadian license when moving to California and then surrendering your California license when moving to Canada again, and then surrendering your Canadian license again when moving to California and so on ad nauseum.

Here's a though: have a Canadian license for Canada, and a US license for the U.S.

[Dakine10 5,452]

In case anyone finds this by googling, I only needed to retake the written test. I went in armed with all kinds of stuff--passport, social security card, driving record--and all they wanted was an expired license so they could copy the number. I'm not sure the woman processing my application knew what she was doing (she told me they don't accept out-of-country DLs, but the DMV website said otherwise) and just treated it as if it were out of state/a renewal.

There is actually a reciprocal treaty for DL recognition between Canada and the USA. A provincial DL is treated the same as any state license.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Dakine10

[Dakine10 5,452]

I'm flabbergasted that people surrender their Driver License (note spelling) so casually.

The United States and Canada are different countries. You'll need your US license for driving in the United States, and you'll need your Canadian license for driving in Canada, so you really need both. What a hassle to surrender your Canadian license when moving to California and then surrendering your California license when moving to Canada again, and then surrendering your Canadian license again when moving to California and so on ad nauseum.

Here's a though: have a Canadian license for Canada, and a US license for the U.S.

It's illegal to hold two drivers licenses in many provinces and states. You would have to be careful with this.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Dakine10

[daphoknee 4]

I'm flabbergasted that people surrender their Driver License (note spelling) so casually.

The United States and Canada are different countries. You'll need your US license for driving in the United States, and you'll need your Canadian license for driving in Canada, so you really need both. What a hassle to surrender your Canadian license when moving to California and then surrendering your California license when moving to Canada again, and then surrendering your Canadian license again when moving to California and so on ad nauseum.

Here's a though: have a Canadian license for Canada, and a US license for the U.S.

My husband moved to Toronto from Florida and had to give up his FL DL to get an Ontario one. I doubt it's even possible to have both Canadian DL and US DL. In a perfect world, we'd have both..

[Marilyn. 340]

I am in California and when I was reading the California Driver's handbook it said they would take my old license. But when I went in they did take it briefly, I guess to get info from it and then handed it back to me. I did ask if they were supposed to keep it but the person just looked at me funny and said no.

yes,I got to keep my Canadian license but it eventually expired and I had no way or renewing it.