AB 639 Summary

• Authorizes the California Department of Motor Vehicles to waive the driving test for applicants with valid foreign driver's licenses when applying for a noncommercial class C license, provided the foreign nation has a reciprocal agreement with California and the applicant's driving record shows no impediments.

• Requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, provide proof of California residency, submit a notarized copy of their foreign license and five-year driving record with English translation, and surrender or destroy their foreign license.

• Limits the California license issued to applicants with foreign commercial or class A and B licenses to noncommercial class C only, regardless of their foreign license classification.

• Requires the DMV to determine that the foreign nation's driving examination is substantially similar to California's examination standards before granting a waiver.

• Defines "foreign nation" as any jurisdiction other than U.S. states, territories, possessions, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and sunsets this provision on January 1, 2027.