A California lawmaker who leads the Transportation Committee in the state Senate is calling for more transparency from the Department of Motor Vehicles after 11,000 driver’s license applicants were told to retake their knowledge test.The DMV recently sent letters urging those who needed to retake the test in person at a field office to do so within 30 days. Those who fail to do so will have their license canceled. A statement from the DMV cited “anomalies” with the test results but did not detail the issue. “This has been a California DMV-led effort and is part of our regular internal monitoring process,” spokesperson Jonathan Groveman told KCRA 3 in a statement this week. “We can confirm that this is not AI related nor is it related to internal technical problems.”Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, said in a letter to DMV on Friday that the issue needed more transparency. Read the full letter here. “Many recipients understandably interpreted the letter as implying they had cheated on the knowledge examination, despite the notice not expressly making that allegation or explaining the basis for DMV’s determination,” the letter said. “Additionally, for some drivers, a trip to a field office to retake the knowledge exam is no small matter. Because the ability to legally drive is essential for many Californians to maintain employment, obtain medical care, and meet family obligations, actions that place a driver’s license at risk should be supported by clear, objective, and transparent processes.”The letter asked what safeguards were in place to make sure people were not targeted by mistake. It also asked for more details about the anomalies that were discovered and why the 11,000 drivers were selected. The letter also questioned why people were given 30 days to address the issue and whether the matter has been referred to law enforcement or other investigative agencies. KCRA 3 reached out to the DMV again for more explanation about the issue, and for a response to the senator’s letter.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

SAN JOSE, Calif. —

A California lawmaker who leads the Transportation Committee in the state Senate is calling for more transparency from the Department of Motor Vehicles after 11,000 driver’s license applicants were told to retake their knowledge test.

The DMV recently sent letters urging those who needed to retake the test in person at a field office to do so within 30 days. Those who fail to do so will have their license canceled.

A statement from the DMV cited “anomalies” with the test results but did not detail the issue.

“This has been a California DMV-led effort and is part of our regular internal monitoring process,” spokesperson Jonathan Groveman told KCRA 3 in a statement this week. “We can confirm that this is not AI related nor is it related to internal technical problems.”

Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, said in a letter to DMV on Friday that the issue needed more transparency.

“Many recipients understandably interpreted the letter as implying they had cheated on the knowledge examination, despite the notice not expressly making that allegation or explaining the basis for DMV’s determination,” the letter said. “Additionally, for some drivers, a trip to a field office to retake the knowledge exam is no small matter. Because the ability to legally drive is essential for many Californians to maintain employment, obtain medical care, and meet family obligations, actions that place a driver’s license at risk should be supported by clear, objective, and transparent processes.”

The letter asked what safeguards were in place to make sure people were not targeted by mistake.

It also asked for more details about the anomalies that were discovered and why the 11,000 drivers were selected.

The letter also questioned why people were given 30 days to address the issue and whether the matter has been referred to law enforcement or other investigative agencies.

KCRA 3 reached out to the DMV again for more explanation about the issue, and for a response to the senator’s letter.

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