Location:
San Luis Obispo CampusBuilding 3100Office 3131B (inside the Transfer Center)
Phone:(805) 592-9030
Email:international@cuesta.edu
If you will be driving in California or you plan to purchase a motor vehicle (a car, scooter or motorcycle), we recommend that you get a California driver's license. Many insurance companies will provide coverage or offer you better rates only if you have one, and having automobile insurance is a legal requirement.
Tourists may drive rental cars in California for one year as long as they have a valid driver’s license from their home country. See the Department of Motor Vehicles for complete details.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the latest California Driver Handbook, forms, and instructions on how to apply for a California driver license. Check out the helpful section in the handbook for frequently asked questions and residency requirements.
If this if your first CA driver’s license, you are required to schedule an appointment. Cuesta's International Student Office (ISO) recommends you make an appointment at the San Luis Obispo DMV.
Please NOTE: An F-1 student or F-2 dependent is NOT required to have a social security number to be eligible for a driver license.
For California, the paperwork may include these documents:
NOTE: If you are not planning to drive, the DMV also issues the California Identity Card with your photo and date of birth information on it. This is an easily recognizable form of identification used for cashing checks, proving your age, etc. Plan on making an appointment before going to the DMV.
Driving in the United States
Auto Insurance
An International Student's Guide to Driving in the U.S.
August 7, 2024
August 12, 2024
September 2, 2024
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