California DMV Eliminates Written Tests for Most Drivers 70 or Older

Traffic on a Los Angeles freeway on Jan. 25. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Drivers age 70 or older with clean records will no longer have to take a written knowledge test to renew their California licenses, officials announced Sept. 30.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the policy change for older drivers whose licenses expire this year and beyond as a way to ease wait times at their offices. The new rule kicked in Tuesday.

“All drivers have been required to take a written test once they turn 70 as a policy requirement and not a requirement of law,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a press release. “We are eliminating the written knowledge test for those without traffic violations on their record to improve customer service.”

If fewer people need to visit DMV offices and can spend less time at the DMV, the offices can better serve customers, according to Gordon.

That might be good news for nearly 3.7 million people over 70 who live in the Golden State—according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data.

In the United States, there were about 34 million licensed drivers 70 and older in 2022, according to Federal Highway Administration (FHA) data. Drivers 65 and older drove an average of 7,600 miles per year in 2022, the FHA reported.

With the new California rules, an office visit, vision exam, and updated photos are still required for 70-year-old drivers.

Some renewal notices for licenses that expire in 2024 may say the driver needs to take a knowledge test, but that requirement will be waived during the office visit, according to the DMV.

The DMV encourages people to start the application process online to minimize the amount of time it takes to complete the process in the office.

First-time drivers, and anyone who is new to California, will still be required to take a knowledge test. Anyone with a poor driving record will also have to take the test upon renewal.

Drivers who have points on their record will be eligible to take the eLearning course, which is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Drivers whose records meet any of the following conditions are still required to take the knowledge test:

Older drivers with poor records will still need to take the written knowledge test. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

• Two or more accidents during the last two years before the license expires.
• Three or more accidents during the three years immediately before the license expires.
• A license suspension after driving while intoxicated during the two years before the license’s expiration date.
• More than one point on their driver’s record within two years before the license expires.

The knowledge test can be taken online.

The DMV has digitized and improved services and made almost all transactions available via mobile devices and desktop computers, according to the department.