What is the process of getting a license?

What is the process for getting a CA license with a slightly expired out of state license?

• I recently moved to LA in February, and I realized a few weeks later that my Alabama driver's license had expired on the very day I left. I wish I had paid attention and could have gotten it renewed, but thus is life and now I'm stuck with a license that has been expired for 4 and a half months. I'm acquiring a car so I need to get a license. The DMV's documentation is unclear, with some of it implying that as long as you have a) been licensed in another state and b) have the license to surrender, the behind-the-wheel test is usually waived. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl22.htm Both of those things apply to me. Furthermore, I've seen conflicting information in my search results where some people say they have been in the same situation and only had to take a written test, and others saying that you have to go through the whole licensing process with both a written and behind-the-wheel test. Presumably that latter group have never actually done this and are instead relying on the equally vague information provided in the text linked above and the DMV's driving manual. I was wondering if anyone here is familiar with this issue, perhaps having dealt with it before. Or who knows, maybe someone here is a DMV worker! ;) In any case, I'm not particularly worried about having to take a behind the wheel test. I'm a bit out of practice, but the tests here appear to be fairly easy. I'm more concerned about knowing what the process is and how much trouble I'm going to deal with since I don't want to have to make 20 different DMV appointments and have to deal with work and such as well. EDIT: I will be going to the DMV on Friday and assuming there are no certain answers between now and then, I'll answer the question myself for posterity.

• Answer:

  New Residents For new California residents who have a license from a different state, a California license should be acquired within 10 days of becoming a permanent California resident. The license from the former state should be brought and surrendered to the DMV. Applicants must pass the written and vision exams, but the road skills exam won't be necessary. If the out-of-state license is expired, it is necessary to apply for a California interim license and do well on all required exams to obtain the license. Once you pass your driving test (or traffic laws and signs test for those not required to take a driving test) you will be issued an interim drivers license. This license is only good for 60 days. Your photo driver's license will come to you via the US mail. For this reason you need to make sure that your address is correct as given to the DMV. ***whatever you do...make an online appointment before going to the DMV****