DRIVERS LICENSE
Military members who are not California
residents must possess either a current, not expired, California driver's
license or a valid driver's license issued by the state of
residence. California residents on active duty must have a current,
not expired, California driver's license. Family members employed in
California must have a valid California driver's license. Sixteen and
seventeen-year-olds applying for an instructional permit will have to hold their
permit for six months before they can take a drive test for their provisional
license. Also, 16 and 17-year olds can't drive between midnight and
4:00 am for the first year they hold the license unless supervised by an adult,
and they also can't transport passengers under 20 years of age for the first six
months, unless supervised.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
closest to LAAFB is at 3700 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, which is about two
miles east of the base. The Hawthorne office offers registration and
driver license appointments only. Another DMV location is in San
Pedro, 1511 N. Gaffey, available for registration and driver license
appointments.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
Out-of-state
registration is valid if the vehicle is currently registered in the owner's
state of residence or last duty station. Out-of-state registration is
not valid if a military member purchases a vehicle from a non-resident, unless
the vehicle is immediately registered in the purchaser's state of residence or
California. Non-resident active duty military members and their
family members do not need to register their vehicles in
California.
CAR INSURANCE
California has strict
requirements regarding insurance, licensing, smog checks and vehicle
registration. You must carry accident insurance to cover all motor
vehicles you own ($15,000 for death or injury to any person; $30,000 for death
or injury to more than one person; $5,000 for property damage). For
quotes on insurance rates, call the Automobile Insurance Specialists (AIS),
(800) 772-4247. Rates vary according to your car's model and year and where you
will be living. AIS serves residents of Southern California - Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura Counties.
For
link to the California Department of Motor Vehicles web page for a California
Drivers Handbook, go to the Los Angeles AFB web page.