<p>Calmom- from the DMV site it looks like you need a permit if you are over 18 and have never been licensed. You do not have to have taken any Driver’s ed course. It looks like you fill out an application for a license and take the written test and the vision exam. You are then given a permit. The requirement being that with the permit you must drive with someone over 18 who is a licensed driver.
Many of my son’s friends who waited till 18 to get a license because it saves you the cost of Drivers Ed and training.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea for Dad II’s daughter to get her license ASAP in any case. Stanford students can use Zipcar, but they have to have been licensed at least a year to qualify. Zipcar is a great deal if she needs occasional access to a car in the future – but obviously due to her current non-licensed status, that’s at least a year away.</p>
<p>Parents of high schoolers might take note – I raised the issue awhile back in another thread (another context) about my view that driving ability was one of those life skills that was useful to pick up while still in high school. This is also a reason why licensing would be important. It seems that Dad II engaged in a false economy. If his d. had gotten her license in the summer before college, Dad II would have had to pay for her insurance for only a few months – but she’d have that license in hand and the privileges that go with it. I dropped my kids from my policy when they left the state to go to college. I’d note that the number of years that a young person has been licensed along with a clean driving record will also impact future insurance rates – so time while licensed, but away at college without a car, is an easy way to rack up a clean driving record for insurance purposes. (They don’t ask how much practice the insured has, they just ask how many years licensed and whether the person has any tickets or accidents).</p>
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<p>Nah–in California, you don’t need proof of residency–but you do need to prove that you are in the country legally and that you are 18 or older.</p>
<p>I agree with you, calmom, that getting that auto license is a good thing to get done the summer before kid goes off to college, at the latest.</p>
<p>Agree with Calmom- She should have a legal drivers license in one state or the other. Especially since she already knows how to drive. A license is one of those things you never know if you will need it in an emergency.</p>
<p>Plus it makes getting through airport checkout lines easier. Once you are 18, you have to have official ID–a lot of kids don’t have passports or military ID cards, so the DL works well.</p>
<p>Just a word of warning to those of you thinking of dropping your college-age kid from your policy. We dropped our D from the policy and our rates went way up. Turned out that she was listed as the primary driver of one of the cars. When she was dropped her younger brother became the primary driver. I called the agent and told her to put it back to the way it was before. D is listed as an occasional driver, very cheap.</p>
<p>I helped my niece get her CA licence after she turned 18. First step is to go to the DMV, pass the written test, and get the permit. You need legal ID (I think she used her passport) and a valid SSN. The name for the SSN has to match the name on the ID exactly. I don’t recall a residency check. Before taking the test it’s a good idea to review the driver’s handbook, as there are some driving laws that are strictly applicable to CA. </p>
<p>Before you take the driving test, the tester checks the car to make sure that it’s in good working order. I heard of one kid who wasn’t allowed to test because the brake light was out. Also, as previously pointed out, the car must be registered and insured. The tester asks you to demonstrate how all the controls work, so if she’s borrowing a car she needs to review with the owner where the lights, emergency flashers, defroster, etc. are located and how they operate. The DMV has a booklet with a check-list that will tell her what skills are tested. Thankfully they don’t test parallel parking any longer!</p>
<p>MarinMom describes the test to a T. Adding that they also ask you to show them the hand signals. If she decides to get a license in Ca she should ask around and find out if there is an easier DMV. In our area we have a choice of 2. It is well known that the downtown DMV is a tougher course for first time drivers. Also tell her that she should make an appointment. DMV workers in Ca can be very cranky. They prefer you to have an appointment and all your documents in order!</p>
<p>Dad II…you need to research this more carefully. Where I live, all drivers must have insurance…period. IF they live more than 100 miles from home (my insurance) they get an away at school discount IF THEY ARE NOT DRIVING regularly. If they are driving a car for business purposes, there is actually an extra fee on my insurance. </p>
<p>I would suggest that your daughter come home and take the driving test where you live. Why would you want her to have an OOS driver’s license? You might want to check whether or not she can still be considered a dependent for tax purposes IF she has a driver’s license in another state. You are supposed to have your driver’s license where your permanent RESIDENCE is…and for you D that is not CA. This could also affect her dependency for things like your health insurance. If he is a resident of CA…can she be covered under YOUR health insurance?</p>
<p>My D also attends school in CA. She has a driver’s license from OUR state. She does occasionally borrow a roommate’s car…but she has her OWN insurance in case there is an issue while she is driving. This is very important.</p>
<p>I am on the same page as thumper1. In NJ, I couldn’t even drop my daughter from my insurance even if I wanted to.</p>
<p>got more info from DD. A valid DL is part of the job requirement but the students will be driving golf carts only. She has a passport and someone will let her use their car with proper insurance to take the DL road test.</p>
<p>I will pass alone the tip about CA only laws and getting use to the controls.</p>
<p>many thanks</p>
<p>Always remember that the policy follows the car, not the driver. If you are driving somone else’s car their insurance will kick in first if someone is hurt. Your policy may be secondary if there is not enough coverage on the car. Since you do not really want your insurance to be tapped, it is nice to know if the car you are borrowing is properly insured. Many people only carry the minimum limits - not enough in most accidents. Also, because there are so many uninsured or underinsured motorists on the road, do not save money by carrying too little uninsured motorist coverage. You need more than the minimum.</p>
<p>As to being licensed in your state or not, it all depends on the insurance company whether or not it is allowed.</p>
<p>We have had various family members and various cars attached to different states simultaneously, no problem with USAA, my parents could not have a policy through State Farm or Allstate, one of those state ones, unless the car was licensed in the same state the policy was written, this made things complicated when they were moving and buying a new car and the timing was imperfect.</p>
<p>USAA will not allow a dependent to NOT be on our policy, so once again it depends on the company.</p>
<p>My DD’s Canadian friend at Berkeley has a CAL DL and drives a campus vehicle as his job, so residency appears to be a non-issue</p>
<p>Thumper1, in Calif. the vehicles are insured, not the drivers. You can’t even add drivers to a policy unless they already have a valid driver’s license. So unless someone owns a car or has regular access to one they don’t need auto insurance.</p>
<p>I can’t see why having an out-of-state dl would affect a student’s dependancy status or health insurance, but it would probably be good to check. I can guarantee that it won’t make her a CA resident. CA makes it really hard for a student to become a resident - they don’t want the OOS tuition to go away.</p>
<p>DadII, any job that involves driving a golf cart sounds really fun! The Stanford campus in summer is like living at a country club. Swimming, tennis, golf, horseback riding… Although I imagine that the latter two cost extra.</p>
<p>Companies will typically require anyone who lives in the household to be listed on the policy. They will not be considered a permissive driver. That is why we all have to add our kids to the policy and the rates go up.</p>