Driving in California

DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA

Nonresident persons do not need to get a California driver license. The state

recognizes out of state and foreign driver licenses for nonresident individuals.

Section 12502 and 12505 (reported below) of the vehicle code defines

nonresident based on the individual's state of domicile which is defined as: "the

state where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home and

principal residence and to which he or she has manifested the intention of

returning whenever he or she is absent."

Vehicle Code

Section 12502

(a) The following persons may operate a motor vehicle in this state without

obtaining a driver license under this code:

(1) A nonresident over the age of 18 years having in his or her immediate

possession a valid driver license issued by a foreign jurisdiction of which

he or she is a resident, except as provided in Section 12505.

Section 12505

(a) (1) For purposes of this division only and notwithstanding Section 516,

residency shall be determined as a person’s state of domicile. "State of domicile"

means the state where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home

and principal residence and to which he or she has manifested the intention of

returning whenever he or she is absent.

Prima facie evidence of residency for driver licensing purposes includes,

but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Address where registered to vote.

(B) Payment of resident tuition at a public institution of higher education.

(D) Other acts, occurrences, or events that indicate presence in the state

is more than temporary or transient.

(b) The presumption of residency in this state may be rebutted by satisfactory

evidence that the licensee’s primary residence is in another state.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d06/vc12505.htm

Grounds Requiring Refusal of License

Section 12805 The department shall not issue a driver license to, or renew a

driver license of, any person:

(f) Who holds a valid driver license issued by a foreign jurisdiction unless the

license has been surrendered to the department, or is lost or destroyed.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d06/vc12805.htm

If you are in California with a J-1 visa and you drive without a California driver

license, it could be a good idea to keep a printout of the above information in

your vehicle at all times. Foreign drivers should also keep with them a copy of

their visa. Hopefully, these documents might help you explain why you do not

have a California driver license in the event the police question you.

International Driving Permits

The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP)

as a valid driver license. California does recognize a valid driver license that is

issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license

holder is a resident.

The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver

license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California. Citations

issued to a person in California who has an IDP, but does not have a California

driver license will be placed on the Department of Motor Vehicles database.

The IDP is also called an International Driver License, International License, etc.

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