California DMV waives written test for drivers 70 and older

Good news for drivers 70 or older looking to renew their license: the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced that beginning Oct. 1 people in that age group whose licenses expire after 2024 will no longer have to take a written exam.

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

According to the DMV, thousands fewer needing to come into an office will make it much easier to get people who need to be physically present for a transaction in and out as fast as possible.

Drivers 70 and older, however, will still need to visit the office for a vision exam and update of their license photograph. There are some notable exceptions: First time drivers, people new to California, and those with poor driving records will still be required to take a written knowledge exam.

The DMV says you can start your application online to shorten the amount of time it takes to complete your renewal in the DMV office. The DMV has directed resources in recent years to digitizing and updating online services, so you can start this process on a phone, tablet, laptop or computer. The following transactions can be completed through the aforementioned methods:

• Vehicle registration renewals that are not past the due date nor require an address change
• Driver’s license renewals that do not require an in-person visit
• Requests for copies of vehicle registration records, which show a vehicle’s ownership history
• Requests for copies of driver’s license records, which show a driver’s history
• Replacing a lost or stolen driver’s license

For more on the new process, go here.