You can schedule a California DMV permit test appointment three ways: online at dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments, by phone at 1-800-777-0133, or by walking into any DMV field office. Online is the fastest and gives you the widest choice of dates and offices. Before you book, though, get your documents and application together, because showing up without the right paperwork means rebooking, and popular offices fill up weeks ahead.
Get These Ready Before You Book
Everything below needs to be in hand at the appointment. Gather it first, then schedule.
Proof of Identity
One document showing your full legal name and date of birth. Accepted options include a valid U.S. passport, an original or certified U.S. birth certificate from a city, county, or state vital statistics office, a permanent resident card, a certificate of naturalization, or a valid foreign passport with an approved I-94 form.1State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Checklist If you already hold a California ID card, that works too.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permits
Two Proofs of California Residency
Two different printed documents showing your California mailing address. Both must display your first and last name with the same address you list on the application. A home utility bill, cell phone bill, bank or credit union statement, insurance document, rental or lease agreement, or tax return all qualify.1State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Checklist
Social Security Number
You will need to provide your SSN on the application. Limited exceptions exist for applicants who do not have one.3State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Driver Handbook – Getting an Instruction Permit and Driver’s License
Driver Education (Ages 15½ to 17½ Only)
If you are between 15½ and 17½, bring a certificate of completion from an approved driver education course, or a certificate of enrollment in an integrated driver education and driver training program.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permits Adults 18 and older do not need this.
Age requirements: 15½ is the youngest you can apply; adult applicants must be at least 18.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permits
The Application
Complete a Driver’s License or ID Card Application before your visit. The easiest route is the electronic version on the DMV website, which lets you fill it out ahead of time. A paper version is available at any DMV field office, carries a unique barcode, and cannot be printed from the internet. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian signature, and the online form has a section for that.4State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License / ID Card Application
The $46 Fee
The non-refundable application fee for an original Class C license is $46.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees That single payment covers the application, the permit, and up to three attempts at the knowledge test. Your application stays valid for 12 months; if the year passes before you finish the process, you reapply and pay again.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permits
REAL ID or Not
As of May 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license or ID is required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.6Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If you plan to fly on your eventual license, apply for a REAL ID from the start. The document list above already meets REAL ID standards. Non-REAL-ID permits are still issued with lighter document requirements if federal-purpose compliance is not something you need.
Booking the Appointment
Online
Go to dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments. Choose “Driver’s License/Permit” as the service, pick the office nearest you, and select an available date and time. You will get an email confirmation. This is the fastest method and typically the only way to land an early slot at a busy office.
By Phone
Call 1-800-777-0133. The automated system runs around the clock and can book the appointment without a representative.7State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Services A live representative is available during business hours. Have your preferred office and a date range in mind before calling.
Walk-In
You can walk into any DMV field office without an appointment, but wait times are much longer and there is no guarantee you will be seen before closing. If you have any schedule flexibility at all, book online first.
Changing or Canceling the Appointment
If your plans shift, log back into the same online portal where you booked, pull up the reservation, and either pick a new date or cancel. Confirming a new appointment cancels the old one automatically, and there is no waiting period between the two. You can also call 1-800-777-0133 to make changes.7State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Services No-showing does not carry a penalty, but it burns a slot someone else could have taken.
What Happens at the Appointment
The visit covers several steps in one sitting. Arrive early enough to check in before your scheduled time.
Document Review and Payment
A DMV employee reviews your application, verifies your identity and residency documents, and collects the $46 fee. You will also be given the option to register as an organ and tissue donor and, if eligible, to register to vote. Neither happens automatically from the application alone; each requires your affirmative choice at the counter.4State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License / ID Card Application
Vision Screening
Before the written test, you complete a vision screening. The standard is 20/40 with both eyes tested together. If one eye is weaker, you need at least 20/40 in one eye and no worse than 20/70 in the other.8Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 13, 20.03 – Vision Screening Glasses and contact lenses are fine. Failing the vision screening stops the process for the day; you will not be allowed to take the knowledge test.
Photo and Thumbprint
Your photo and thumbprint are taken during the visit and go on the permit once you pass the knowledge test.
The Knowledge Test
The test is multiple choice, drawn from the California Driver Handbook, and you need 80% to pass.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permits The handbook is free online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Armenian, Hindi, Punjabi, and as an ASL video, with a Quick Reference version for focused review.9State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s Handbooks The DMV also posts practice tests in the same format as the real exam. The test itself is offered in more than 30 languages, and accommodations such as audio versions, paper tests, person-to-person oral exams, and pre-recorded ASL DVDs are available on request when you check in.10State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities
If You Fail the Test
You get three attempts on a single application. Applicants under 18 must wait at least seven days before retaking, not counting the day of the failed attempt.11State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Driver Handbook – The Testing Process Adults can retake sooner. Fail all three attempts and you start over, which means a new application and another $46.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees