Quick Answer: To get your California driver's license, bring proof of identity, proof of California residency, and your Social Security number. You'll also need your signed permit, driver's ed certificate, proof of auto registration and insurance, and the licensing fee.
It's a long road to get a driver's license in California. Once you’ve done the hard work of taking driver education courses and practicing behind the wheel, you're finally ready to get your license. All that hard work won’t pay off if you aren’t prepared for your appointment. Even with all that preparation, you need to make sure you have all of your important documents in order before you head to the California DMV for your driver's license.
Here's your checklist of what to bring to the DMV.
1. Proof of Identity
The first step in getting your license is being able to prove you are who you say you are.
You will need to bring an original or certified document establishing your birthdate, true full name, and identity. The California DMV will not accept photocopies of these documents. They will only accept originals or certified copies of the original.
Here are some examples of acceptable documents to prove identity and receive a verified REAL ID:
U.S. birth certificate
U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad or Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
U.S. passport or passport card
Official U.S. Armed Forces Identification Card
Naturalization certificate
Certificate of U.S. citizenship
Permanent Resident Card
Passport from another country with a valid US visa and I-94 form
2. Social Security Number
You will need to provide your valid Social Security number for your driver’s license application at the California DMV. For the new REAL California ID, you will need to bring physical proof of your SSN.
3. Two California Residency Documents
You must provide two California residency documents to get your REAL ID. Unlike your proof of identity, the California DMV will accept copies of documents or paperwork printed from your computer to prove your California residency.
For a document to prove your residency, it needs to have your first and last name as well as your California address. The address on your residency document must match the address listed on your driver’s license application.
Examples of acceptable residency documents include:
Rental/lease agreement with signatures of the owner/landlord and the tenant/resident
Home utility bills (i.e. landline or cellular plans, electricity, water, gas)
A school document issued by a U.S. educational institution that includes the applicant’s date of birth, or a foreign school document sealed by the school that includes a photograph of the applicant at the age the record was issued
Medical documents
Insurance documents (i.e. medical, dental, vision, life, home, rental, or vehicle insurance)
Court document that lists the applicant as a resident of California
If you do not have any of these documents in your legal name, you can use your birth certificate to prove that your parents or guardians are legal residents of the address you are using on your driver’s license.
4. Application Fee
California charges a fee for applying for your first driver’s license. For an original Class C license, the fee is currently $45. If you need other services, check the DMV website for extra charges.
When paying in person at the DMV, you can use the following payment methods:
Cash, check, or money order
Credit or debit card
Apple Pay or Google Pay digital wallet
5. Driver’s Education Completion Certificate
You need to bring proof that you completed both driver's ed and your in-car lesson hours to get your driver’s license. If you take driver’s ed online, make sure the site you choose is accredited and accepted by the California DMV.
6. Current Proof of Registration and Insurance
You need to bring proof of registration and proof of insurance for whatever car you drive during the driving test. Keep these in your glove compartment so they are easy to access if you are ever pulled over or in an accident and need to produce them.
7. Your Signed Permit
If you are under 18, you need to have your learner's permit signed by a parent, guardian, or your course instructor to prove you met the time requirement for driving on your permit before you get your driver’s license.
Getting Your California Driver's License
Once you've gathered all of these items, you're ready to head to the DMV for your road test. Not confident in your skills yet? Try an online driver's ed course from Aceable to prepare you to get behind the wheel.
Updated 8/5/24