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| California drivers must have a valid California driver’s license; upon arrival, you have 10 days to get the task taken care of. A California driver’s license is valid for up to five years and expires on the birthday of the license holder. You will be sent a renewal notice approximately two months before the expiration date. The renewal fee for standard Class C and/or M1/M2 license is $24. Bring the notice and your license with your when you renew. You may be eligible to renew your license by mail without taking a test, if you have a good driving record.
If you have an out-of-sate or out-of-county license, you must be at least 18 years of age, complete all the steps required for a permit, and surrender your valid out-of-state driver’s license. A driving test for license renewals or holders of out-of-state or US territory licenses is normally waived. However, a driving test is required for out-of-country holders.
In California, cars need to be registered and insured, and they must pass emissions inspection (smog check). As with licenses, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) web site is a good resource for those with questions about automobile registration. Residents who come for out of state need to register their vehicles in California within 20 days. Take your most recently issued auto registration, smog certificate, and purchase information to your nearest DMV office. Various fees are due upon registering your vehicle, amounts vary by vehicle- they include a registration fee of $31, a CHP fee of $9, a $1 plate fee, and a vehicle license fee. You can reduce your wait time by making an appointment by phone or their web site. You can go to a AAA (Triple A) office to renew your registration once you have a California registration and drive’s license.
California’s Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law requires every driver and every owner of a motored vehicle to have liability coverage. The minimum amount your insurance must cover per accident is: $15,000 for a single death or injury, $30,000 for death or injury to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage.
If you recently moved here form out of state, you should know that many out-of-state insurance companies are not authorized to do business in California. Before you drive here you should ask your insurance company if you are covered in case of an accident. Should you become involved in a accident in California before switching to an in-sate provider, the DMV requires all three of the following conditions be met to avoid suspension of your license: you must have insured the vehicle before you came to California; your insurance company must file a power of attorney, allowing the DMV to act as its agent for legal service in California; and your liability policy must provide bodily injury and property damage coverage that equals or exceeds the limits stated above. Be aware, Los Angles has some of the highest automobile insurance rates in the county. In fact, according to a survey conducted in 2004 by a cost-of-living analysis service, LA ranked as the second most expensive metropolitan area in the USA in which to run and operate a car; LA’s insurance rates being the largest contribution. To make bare-bones coverage affordable to low-income households, in 2000, the state started a pilot program for Los Angeles residents called the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan; call 800-622-0954 or go to www.aipso.com/lc for more information. The Sate of California Department of Insurance annually surveys auto and homeowner insurance providers in Los Angeles. For most auto-related information, including insurance, emergency road service, DMV registration renewal, and travel services, you may find it worth the $45 annual membership fee to join the Automobile Club of Southern California, the regional branch of AAA, 800-222-87-94.
We at Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates realize that you are in the information gathering stage of your purchase and we respect your privacy. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@valeriefitzgerald.com or call us directly at 310-285-7515. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, please note that we can provide detailed information and access to:
You can count on the services of Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates to provide you with information you can trust.
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