The California Department of Motor Vehicles reminds consumers to avoid scams involving driver license applications, such as efforts to charge for services that the DMV offers for free.
“Paying someone who promises to speed up the process of obtaining a California Driver License will only waste your time and money,” said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto in a press release issued last month. “It is easy to get a new driver license by making a free appointment at your local DMV office, so do not waste your money paying anyone to help you.”
Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60) allows the DMV to issue a California Driver License – regardless of immigration status – to those who can prove identity and California residency.
Applicants must also meet all other qualifications for obtaining a driver license, including passing a written test, vision test and behind-the-wheel exam.
The DMV began issuing driver licenses under AB 60 on Friday. The only necessary fee is $33 payable to the DMV.
Following are some tips from the DMV on how to avoid driver license scams.
• Do not pay for help with driver license applications. The DMV has free assistance and free appointments at the local DMV office, so do not pay for these services. The California Driver Handbook and practice tests are available in many languages free of charge. If you need an interpreter, call (800) 777-0133 and indicate the foreign language.
• Do not pay fees to anyone except the DMV. It costs only $33 to obtain a California Driver License and this fee must be paid directly to the DMV. Do not pay anyone except the DMV.
• The fast way to get a license is to make an appointment. Appointments are free and can be made by phone or online.
• Do not waste money on unnecessary document translation. Of the dozens of ways an applicant can prove identity, only three require an English translation: (1) A marriage decree written in another language; (2) a divorce decree written in another language; and (3) the Apostille authentication of a foreign birth certificate. No other documents require translation.
Anyone who suspects a scam involving the new driver license application process is urged to notify the DMV Investigations Division at its fraud hotline at (866) 658-5758, email the inquiry to [email protected] or report the scam on the DMV Investigations Division’s record of complaint form.
For more information on AB 60 – including the accepted proof of identity documents, how to make an appointment, sample interactive tests, the Driver Handbook and information on how to obtain a new driver license – visit apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/index.html.
DMV warns of license-application scam
