License from one state to another

[Roman Legion]

There is a high probability I am moving out to California on my motorcycle (I don't really own anything, so this is possible.) How long until I have to change a Virginia driver's license to a California one and do I have to retake the tests? I'm leaving my car with my parents, I won't have to get new plates and such for the car that I'm leaving in Virginia since it isn't going to be used in California, right?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Probably your best bet is to look up and call the California DMV directly. Get the correct info the first time instead of asking for opinions here.

[Dodsfall]

The way I read it at the DMV website, is that you can simply take the written test for the car license, but must either pass the CHP course or take the motorcycle written test and skills test at the DMV to get the M1 certification.

A call to them might help make it more clear.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#two505

[WintrSol]

Last time I had to deal with this, both CA and MO law said you should get new license and tags within 30 days of changing your address. Only vehicles brought into the state require licensing in that state. That said, I spent 7 months in the desert with MO tags and license, but I could argue that I was a temporary resident; a judge may have seen it differently, but I never had to test that.

[Massey]

This is going to depend on your status with the state of CA. Say if you are a student you then do not claim residency you will not have to change your plates or DL so long as you are enrolled in school. If you are going to claim residency and live there for good then you have somthing like 3 or 6 months to get everything changed over and depending on how long you have been driving/riding is going to determine what testing you are going to need. Regardless of the testing needed you will have to pay the fees from CA.

Massey

[ralphlong]

I moved from NC to CA last year. All I needed to do was reregister and get new plats for my vehicles and take the writtens. No driving or riding tests required.

Process was pretty easy, just annoying, because the CA DMV, just like most state DMVs, is not the most efficient or customer friendly organization. But if you have patience, and just do what they tell you to do, things work out. It does no good to question or buck the system.

Everything you need to know is on the DMV website.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr.htm

Registration fees and taxes were not cheap. I forget what I had to pay, but it was shocking. CA is not a cheap place to live.

It is, however, a great place to live. I love it here. Where in CA will you be going?

Ralph

[ralphlong]

Oh, I almost forgot. You will also need to tell your insurance company of your move. Your rates will change. They most likely will not go down.

[Roman Legion]

I moved from NC to CA last year. All I needed to do was reregister and get new plats for my vehicles and take the writtens. No driving or riding tests required.

Process was pretty easy, just annoying, because the CA DMV, just like most state DMVs, is not the most efficient or customer friendly organization. But if you have patience, and just do what they tell you to do, things work out. It does no good to question or buck the system.

Everything you need to know is on the DMV website.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr.htm

Registration fees and taxes were not cheap. I forget what I had to pay, but it was shocking. CA is not a cheap place to live.

It is, however, a great place to live. I love it here. Where in CA will you be going?

Ralph

I am going to try Job Corps out there and I'll either stay there or with a relative in Vacaville.. The job corps is the one in San Francisco. I guess I'll keep my Virginia license and tags if I can.. I just hate this state and would like to get rid of anything that says Virginia.

[Massey]

I just hate this state and would like to get rid of anything that says Virginia.

I hated the place too, The stupid state inspection and all the other strange things they tax you for. I can see paying tax on something once but every single year and then have to pay more fees just to be able to drive!! I kept my license and vehicle tags attached to my home state of WA for the entire 8 years I lived in VA

Massey

[ralphlong]

No safety inspections in CA. Just smog test for cars. No smog test for bikes.

We are a helmet state.

Ralph

[Roman Legion]

We are a helmet state.

As is Virginia.. So in states like Illinois and Colorado.. et cetera You can basically drive around with no helmet and in some others if you are over a certain age you can drive without one? Odd..

I hated the place too, The stupid state inspection and all the other strange things they tax you for. I can see paying tax on something once but every single year and then have to pay more fees just to be able to drive!! I kept my license and vehicle tags attached to my home state of WA for the entire 8 years I lived in VA

Massey

Virginia is rediculous!

[Dodsfall]

Illinois is one of the few states that allows all riders to be without a helmet. It is also the only state that doesn't allow citizens to carry a firearm.

Michigan recently changed it's helmet requirements and is not shown on this map correctly:

[Roman Legion]

Illinois is one of the few states that allows all riders to be without a helmet. It is also the only state that doesn't allow citizens to carry a firearm.

Michigan recently changed it's helmet requirements and is not shown on this map correctly:

So are the grey states ones where you have to be a certain age to ride without one?

[Roman Legion]

Do I have to report to the DMV that I can barely hear crap?

[ralphlong]

Do I have to report to the DMV that I can barely hear crap?

Hmm.... Well, technically probably yes. But I think that deaf people can be licensed.

My 78 year old dad is pretty deaf. He was able to get his license renewed. But he wears hearing aides.

There may be something about this on the CA DMV website. The site is pretty good.

Ralph

[Roman Legion]

Hmm.... Well, technically probably yes. But I think that deaf people can be licensed.

My 78 year old dad is pretty deaf. He was able to get his license renewed. But he wears hearing aides.

There may be something about this on the CA DMV website. The site is pretty good.

Ralph

I don't have hearing aides, I just have a VERY hard time hearing things.. Especially people speaking at normal room level.

[Dodsfall]

So are the grey states ones where you have to be a certain age to ride without one?

Those states are mostly age-restricted. Some states allow no helmet if a safety course is passed and/or if the rider has a certain amount of experience.

[ralphlong]

I looked at the CA DMV website for info on hearing impaired driving. Amazingly, you can be deaf and still be licensed.

Ralph

[Hawkeye]

Illinois is one of the few states that allows all riders to be without a helmet. It is also the only state that doesn't allow citizens to carry a firearm.

Michigan recently changed it's helmet requirements and is not shown on this map correctly:

Iowa... best of both worlds. No helmet laws at all and we can open/concealed carry whatever we want! :)