Buying a car, changing your name or moving to a new address?
Adding or updating information with the California Department of Motor Vehicles can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.
All California residents need state-issued driver’s licenses and vehicle registration to operate on roads in the Golden State.
Follow our guide to get your paperwork in order:
Traffic crawls on an eastbound ramp to Highway 50 in East Sacramento on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com Who is considered a California resident?
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, you are considered a California resident if you:
Live in California for six months or longer within a 12-month period.Are registered to vote in California.Are employed in California or your place of business is in California.Pay resident tuition at a public university or college in California.Have dependents who attend a primary or secondary school in California.Are a homeowner with a property tax exemption in California.Rent a property in California as your primary residence.Claimed California resident to obtain a license or another benefit non-residents can’t obtain.Have a current California driver’s license or ID card.Do I need a new driver’s license after moving to California?
You must get a California driver’s license or identification card within 10 days of becoming a California resident, according to the DMV.
You can apply for a California Real ID or a standard driver’s license or ID card.
You have 20 days to register your car in California after becoming a state resident.
An example of the REAL ID driver license. As of January 22, 2018, you can apply for a California driver license that will be compliant when airplane-boarding ID rules change on October 1, 2020. The new license costs $33, the same as a regular license. (DMV/TNS) DMV TNS Do I need a California Real ID?
In May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security started requiring people to have a federally approved document — such as a passport or a Real ID driver’s license — on hand for domestic plane travel, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
You also need the special state-issued ID card to access federal facilities and nuclear power plants, the Department of Homeland Security said on its website.
The law applies to everyone age 18 years or older.
You can check if you have a California Real ID by looking at the top right corner of your California driver’s license, The Bee previously reported.
If it’s a Real ID, you’ll see a gold bear with a white star.
You can still use a standard driver’s license or ID card as “photo identification, the DMV said.
How do I change my driver’s license to California?
To apply for a California driver’s license — or renew, replace, correct or update your old one — you need to submit an online application.
Before you begin, the DMV said you should follow these steps:
Create a MyDMV account online.Have your social security card, name, address and date of birth handy.If applying for a Real ID, gather documents that prove your identity or residency, such as a passport, birth certificate, utility bills and bank statements.
The DMV said it takes about 9 minutes to complete the application online, with your session timing out at 15 minutes. However, the system will save your progress if you need to finish your application later.
After you complete your online application, you’ll need to visit a DMV field office to finish the process.
What documents do I need to bring with me?
If you’re getting a Real ID, standard driver’s license or an ID, you’ll need to bring the same documents you uploaded as part of the online application process to the DMV field office.
Specifically, you’ll need
Social security cardProof of identity: Valid passport, original or certified copy of birth certificateTwo different proofs of residency: Utility bill, cellphone bill, lease, mortgage, bank statement, insurance documents or employment documents. 
A California license plate. Getty Images How do I register my car in California?
If your vehicle was previously registered in another state or country, you’ll need to register it in California before driving, the DMV said.
To register a nonresident vehicle, you’ll need the following:
A completed application for a title or registration form signed by all registered owners or lessors.A California driver’s license for each registered ownerThe last issued out-of-state registrationThe last issued out-of-state title or a bill of saleA completed Verification of Vehicle form signed by a DMV employee, law enforcement officer or another authorized personSmog certification from a California smog check stationThe unexpired out-of-state license plate
The fee to register a nonresident vehicle varies. You can use the DMV’s registration fee calculator to determine your costs.
What if I need to renew my car registration?
To renew your vehicle registration, you will need the vehicle’s license plate number, the last five digits of the Vehicle Identification Number and a payment method.
Renewals can be done online only if you have all personal and vehicle information needed, car insurance, electronic smog certification on file with the DMV and no outstanding parking citations.
You can change your address on your vehicle registration online, by mail or in person.
You can only correct or change your name on your vehicle registration in person or by mail, the DMV said.
The process varies depending on whether you have your title or it was lost, stolen or damaged, according to the state agency.
How can I make an appointment with the California DMV?
The DMV has 218 field offices across California, check with your local DMV for hours.
Although not required, appointments can be made online. You can also add yourself to a waitlist.
Self-service kiosks are available inside DMV offices or at select retail locations.
At these kiosks, you can complete your registration renewal, get a replacement registration sticker, pull up driver and vehicle records and more.
You can find the closest DMV NOW kiosk using the online locator.
How long will my new driver’s license or registration take?
Depending on whether you applied online, at a DMV kiosk or by mail, it will take about two to four weeks to receive your new California driver’s license, the DMV said.
You can expect your new vehicle registration in one to two weeks if you renewed it online, by phone, or by mail in. DMV kiosks issues your registration immediately if all renewal requirements are met.
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Alexiah Syrai Olsen is a service journalism reporter for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and design from The New School in New York City.