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Old 03-29-2013, 04:52 AM
 
Location: Bordeaux(France), soon at Tampa Bay
41 posts, read 171,871 times
Reputation: 118

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Hello everybody,

I'm a french citizen, but I will live few months in california, and I would like have my california driver license.
do I need to live for a while ?
as I'm not a US citizen, can I have the driver license ?
what is the cost of the driver license ?
(I already have my french driver license, since many years)

thanks
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Old 03-29-2013, 09:06 AM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
23,507 posts, read 23,980,674 times
Reputation: 23935
I do believe that you will need a social security number to apply for a CA Driver's License, since it is a identity document. Do you have one?
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Old 03-29-2013, 10:16 AM
 
Location: Lafayette, CA
2,518 posts, read 4,008,838 times
Reputation: 624
Of course you can get a DL. You don't even need a SS. Plenty of illegals from Mexico already get one in California, and they don't have SS numbers.
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Old 03-29-2013, 10:44 AM
 
Location: East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area
23,507 posts, read 23,980,674 times
Reputation: 23935
Are you sure? The CDL application requires a valid SS number, per DMV website:


Social Security Number (FFDL 08) - Social Security Number Requirements for a Driver License or Identification Card

I believe the illegals drive without a license.


Quote:
Originally Posted by DocGoldstein View Post
Of course you can get a DL. You don't even need a SS. Plenty of illegals from Mexico already get one in California, and they don't have SS numbers.
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Old 03-29-2013, 10:53 AM
 
Location: Lafayette, CA
2,518 posts, read 4,008,838 times
Reputation: 624
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccm123 View Post
Are you sure? The CDL application requires a valid SS number, per DMV website:


Social Security Number (FFDL 08) - Social Security Number Requirements for a Driver License or Identification Card

I believe the illegals drive without a license.
That's for a 1st tier DL. Illegals get what's called a "2nd tier" license. There is a quota though (don't remember the exact number). Whatever it is, at least in California, law makers are trying to increase it:
California lawmaker pushes driver's licenses for more illegal immigrants - latimes.com

Also Obama passed a law now that requires them to have a work permit. Before it was basically the wild wild west. It still kind of is, in California.
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Old 03-29-2013, 11:29 AM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,183 posts, read 107,774,599 times
Reputation: 116077
Quote:
Originally Posted by vince33 View Post
Hello everybody,

I'm a french citizen, but I will live few months in california, and I would like have my california driver license.
do I need to live for a while ?
as I'm not a US citizen, can I have the driver license ?
what is the cost of the driver license ?
(I already have my french driver license, since many years)

thanks
You can get an International Driver's LIcense in France, and it will be accepted in CA for your temporary stay.
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Old 03-29-2013, 12:40 PM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
702 posts, read 953,481 times
Reputation: 1498
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth View Post
You can get an International Driver's LIcense in France, and it will be accepted in CA for your temporary stay.
^This. It should be good for up to 12 months past the date of issue.
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Old 03-30-2013, 05:38 PM
 
7,280 posts, read 10,942,523 times
Reputation: 11491
Quote:
Originally Posted by ketch89 View Post
^This. It should be good for up to 12 months past the date of issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth View Post
You can get an International Driver's LIcense in France, and it will be accepted in CA for your temporary stay.
Absolutely wrong. Why do people put out bad info when the correct info is sitting there waiting to be read:

From the California DMV website: (simple search -international driver license california)

"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 Vehicle database.

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

For more information about travel and driver licensing requirements outside of the US, visit the US State Department Road Safety Overseas website at: http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html"



Now, had the OP following the bad advice, he/she would have paid good money for something not needed. Geesh people, at least Google what you post before giving bad info.
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Old 03-31-2013, 03:24 AM
 
Location: Bordeaux(France), soon at Tampa Bay
41 posts, read 171,871 times
Reputation: 118
ok, thanks for all replies.
I'll contact directly the DMV and explain exactly my situation
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Old 03-31-2013, 11:08 PM
 
7,280 posts, read 10,942,523 times
Reputation: 11491
Quote:
Originally Posted by vince33 View Post
ok, thanks for all replies.
I'll contact directly the DMV and explain exactly my situation
You do not need to contact the DMV for anything. Your driver licensed issued in France allows you to drive in California. You don't need to buy anything, pay for any service, just show up and you can drive in California.

Make life easy, not hard.
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