THE COMMUNITY BETTER PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES. THE DMV IS MAILING OUT LETTERS TO THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS TELLING THEM TO RETAKE THE WRITTEN TEST, OR THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LICENSE. AS TOM JENSEN REPORTS, IT’S A MYSTERY WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TELLS NBC BAY AREA APPROXIMATELY 11,000 LETTERS WERE SENT OUT TO DRIVERS ACROSS THE STATE, TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO RETAKE THEIR WRITTEN EXAMS OR RISK HAVING THEIR LICENSES REVOKED. IT MAKES NO SENSE, RIGHT? I MEAN, I MEAN, COME ON, THEY DON’T THEY DON’T WANT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF FOOLPROOF SYSTEM. RICHARD DAVIS IS COUNTING HIS BLESSINGS. HE DIDN’T GET THE LETTER, WHICH ALSO SAYS IF THE RETESTS ARE NOT TAKEN WITHIN 30 DAYS, DMV WILL CANCEL THEIR LICENSES. I FEEL LIKE THESE KIND OF THINGS ARE ALWAYS ANNOYING WHEN IT’S LIKE SOME LITTLE HICCUP HAPPENS AND YOU’RE LIKE, STUCK IN LIMBO FOR LIKE MONTHS. ONE THING A LOT OF DRIVERS ARE ASKING IS WHETHER OR NOT CALIFORNIA DMV IS NOW USING AI TO TEST FOR THOSE ALLEGED ANOMALIES. I KNOW THAT LIKE PHONE, WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, IT’S LIKE AN AI CHATBOT. YOU HAVE TO TALK TO. AND IT DOESN’T IT DOESN’T WORK AT ALL. WHAT KIND OF ANOMALIES ARE THERE? THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD TO. BUT CALIFORNIA DMV DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW AND SENT US A WRITTEN STATEMENT WHICH SAID THE DMV IDENTIFIED ANOMALIES IN THE RESULTS OF SOME KNOWLEDGE TESTS. THEY SAID DRIVERS WILL HAVE TO RETAKE THE TEST WITHIN 30 DAYS, OR FACE HAVING THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSES CANCELED. THE DMV SAID THOSE TESTS ARE CRUCIAL IN MAKING SURE DRIVERS KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD BE
DMV says 11,000 people need to retake driver’s license knowledge test, citing result ‘anomalies’
Updated: 11:34 AM PDT Jul 8, 2026
The California Department of Motor Vehicles said it identified anomalies with its knowledge test results, and has notified about 11,000 people they will need to retake the test within 30 days. Those who fail to do so will have their driver’s license canceled.“Ensuring the integrity of our testing process is essential,” DMV said in a statement. “Knowledge tests play a critical role in confirming that drivers understand the rules of the road before they are licensed to drive in California.”A DMV spokesperson did not detail the anomalies but said it was not related to an internal tech issue. “This has been a California DMV-led effort and is part of our regular internal monitoring process,” spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said in a statement. “We can confirm that this is not AI related nor is it related to internal technical problems.”Who needs a knowledge test? People who first apply for their driver’s license in California must pass a knowledge test, which features multiple choice questions.The knowledge test is only available in person, DMV said. An online test that was previously available concluded in January 2025. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The California Department of Motor Vehicles said it identified anomalies with its knowledge test results, and has notified about 11,000 people they will need to retake the test within 30 days. Those who fail to do so will have their driver’s license canceled.
“Ensuring the integrity of our testing process is essential,” DMV said in a statement. “Knowledge tests play a critical role in confirming that drivers understand the rules of the road before they are licensed to drive in California.”
A DMV spokesperson did not detail the anomalies but said it was not related to an internal tech issue.
“This has been a California DMV-led effort and is part of our regular internal monitoring process,” spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said in a statement. “We can confirm that this is not AI related nor is it related to internal technical problems.”
Who needs a knowledge test?
People who first apply for their driver’s license in California must pass a knowledge test, which features multiple choice questions.
The knowledge test is only available in person, DMV said. An online test that was previously available concluded in January 2025.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google