As a new California resident, you have 10 days to transfer your driver’s license after establishing residency in this state. It’s important to schedule an appointment at the DMV to avoid waiting in line all day. Most DMV locations in California are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Schedule a DMV Appointmentįirst, you will need to schedule an appointment with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA DMV) to complete the driver’s license transfer. There are different steps you need to take to successfully transfer your out-of-state driver’s license in the state of California. How to Successfully Transfer Your Out-of-State Driver’s License to California The good news is, the transfer process is relatively easy. When you’re a new resident of California, you must transfer your driver’s license. How to Perform a CA Driver’s License Transfer Here’s what you need to know about getting your driver’s license and vehicle registration situated in the Golden State. When you move to California, as a new resident, you are required to get a new driver’s license by performing a driver’s license transfer, and you need to perform an out-of-state vehicle title transfer in order to register your vehicle.