If you declare California as your permanent residence, your car must be registered with the DMV within 20 days of arriving here. Your must be smog checked before you can register it. Take your smog certification, out-of-state registration, title, and checkbook to a DMV office. Your car will also have to be present so that a DMV officer can verify the VIN. If you tell the DMV that you have been in California more than 20 days before registering (including if you wait more than 20 days after your smog check!), you will be fined. More information about vehicle registration and smog checks (including smog testing centers) can be found at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr.htm. Note that AAA members can register their car at the AAA office (801 E. Union St., map), which is nearer to Caltech, much less crowded than the DMV, and generally much more pleasant.
A California driver's license can be obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV office closest to Caltech is at:
49 South Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena (Colorado & Rosemead, map)
General Information for the California DMV: (800) 777-0133
Or on the web: http://www.dmv.ca.gov
California allows you to pay for the test and take it on different days. Assuming you already have an out-of-state/country license, go to the DMV shortly before it closes, after the lines have disappeared, and pay for the written test ($24). You will get a receipt, which will allow you to go back and take the written test at your leisure, without waiting. You can also make an appointment to take the written test only on the DMV website (http://www.dmv.ca.gov), but be aware that the earliest appointment may be as long as six weeks away. You may need a passport or birth certificate in addition to your out-of-state license. The website also has additional information for new California residents, including the drivers manual and practice tests. The test takes some preparation as it is easy to fail even if you know how to drive. Luckily, they reuse a lot of questions, so if you take the practice tests, you'll be fine.
If you've never had a driver's license, you must pass the written test in order to get a learner's permit before taking driving lessons. Steps to follow are outlined below:
The Pasadena Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office is pretty crowded, so it is advisable to schedule an appointment and to do so up to a month before you intend to take the test. The number for scheduling all appointments is 1-800-777-0133 (regular business hours only); written tests may be scheduled on the DMV website at https://eg.dmv.ca.gov/foAppt/Welcome.jsp. To prepare, read the DMV booklet which is available free of charge from the DMV. The ISP office also has a copy of this as well as sample practice tests. The cost of the test is $24 payable on the day of the appointment. Once you have paid the fee, you get 3 chances at the written and driving tests. A typical test consists of 36 multiple choice questions of which you need to get 31 correct. After you pass the written test, you will get a permit which allows you to learn how to drive.
All driving schools offer free pickup and dropoff, and take you for the test when required at the same cost as a regular lesson. You may look at the yellow pages for more driving school listings but be warned that many of the cheaper schools do not advertise there. The DMV maintains a current listing of the licensing status of driving schools. This can be accessed at: https://eg.dmv.ca.gov/olinq/Welcome.jsp.
www.california-driving-school.com
For those over 18 who require training for the written exam, a study-only session is offered: an instructor comes to your home to review and explain the topics and give practice exams. The visits are expensive ($135 for 2.25 hours), but very helpful for those who have difficulty understanding the exam questions. Behind-the wheel training is offered as a 9-hour adult course (1.5 hrs. per day over six days) at a cost of $595. The lessons are private and can be scheduled M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and S 8 a.m.-6 p.m. At the end of the course, the instructor will accompany you to the DMV to take your driving test. They are accomodating for people who need either more or less time behind the wheel.
259 Sierra Madre Villa Ave., Pasadena, map; (626) 440-1669
Written test preparation for those over 18 is limited to a private class with the instructor who will review the material and administer practice tests. This is not too expensive ($75 for a day-long session), but usually requires reservations weeks in advance. Behind-the-wheel training runs $50 per hour or $240 for 6 hours, given in 2 hour segments per day.
Review (2004): World costs $50 for about 1:45 minutes of actual practice driving time. My instructor didn't speak very good English, but with patience, it was enough to get the point across (e.g. "corner left turn"). He let me know some of the tricks DMV testers employ and even took me for the test (without the month wait list) with the DMV for a modest $85.
Cars (excepting those imported from Europe) are a lot cheaper in the US than they are in some other regions of the world, so you may be able to afford a better one than you think. The first decision is whether to buy a new car or a used one. New cars start at around $9,000 MSRP. You can get a used car anywhere from a few hundred bucks upwards. The web has given you a tremendous advantage trying to buy either one, so the Technique online has links to a lot of good sites. Caltech has fleet pricing on many models - check the books in the Credit Union office (15-6, x6300) for more information. The Credit Union also has really good rates for car loans.
Getting a used car can be especially easy at university campuses around graduation time. Start by consulting edmunds.com to look at reviews and identify models you are interested in. Two other websites, http://losangeles.craigslist.org/car/, and autotrader.com are also excellent places to find used cars. The Recycler publishes a weekly magazine with photos of all vehicles it is selling. Do not buy a used car without having a mechanic you trust perform a thorough inspection of the car before you buy it. The seller has to pay for a smog test for the car, and the car must pass. You will need to pay for the registration of the car, which you can do at the DMV (or AAA if you're a member).
Buying a New Car
Getting a new car is especially good around September, when the new model year arrives and dealers are anxious to get rid of older models. If you are interested in a new car, use the web to narrow down your choices, then check out the cars in person and test drive the ones you like most. When you have chosen a car, use edmunds.com to find the invoice price, and whether there are currently any dealer incentives or rebates for it. Then go to the dealer and tell him that you know what the invoice price is, and that you are willing to pay $X above it. A reasonable low X is about $400 for a $20k car that is not in unusually high demand. If you can not negotiate an acceptable price, look for another dealer or make a deal online. Before finalizing the purchase, make sure you look at the bottom line price to ensure no unwanted costs have been added.
The Thomas Guide, a map in book form, is indispensable for driving in LA. A combined LA/Orange County guidebook is available if you intend to travel often to Huntington Beach, Disneyland, Angel Stadium, or other Orange County attractions. The guide is well worth its hefty cover price (about $45), and can be bought at a discount from Target stores. AAA members may obtain free maps and other travel information (see the description below). If you have time to plan your trip in advance, log on mapblast.com or mapquest.com to print out the route to get to your destination. These services are very useful but are not always completely trustworthy in the "shortest" or "fastest" departments.
Live traffic maps showing current freeway conditions can be found at http://www.sigalert.com/map.asp?Region=Los+Angeles. Radio stations KNX 1070-AM and KFWB 980-AM have traffic reports every six minutes for the LA area. The freeways are often clogged during rush-hour times (5-9 a.m. and as early as 3-7 p.m.) and even at very odd times, so it is a good idea to listen to a traffic report before heading out (especially to the airport).
Offers services to members which include emergency road service, discounts to attractions and hotels, free maps, tour books, campground directories, trip planning, passport photos, and traveler's checks. AAA also sells car insurance at pretty good rates, and they offer discounts for people with a science degree. You can register your car at AAA, which is much more pleasant than dealing with the DMV.
Street parking is available in most cities in California. Look at the street signs for parking regulations. Generally, fire lanes and red zones are no parking at any time, yellow zones are for loading and unloading, green zones are limited time parking from 3 minutes to 15 minutes (or longer). Parking violations are cited and fined (for $25 in Pasadena). If you get a citation and do not agree, go to Campus Security and Parking Services (200-63) to get a form to contest on-campus violations.
Caltech has parking lots in which students can park for free. On Wilson, there are two 3-story parking structures east of the Catalina Housing Complex. There is another parking structure on Holliston Ave, between Del Mar and San Pasqual. There are also several surface lots on campus. In all parking lots and structures, parking spots with names painted are reserved for faculty and organizations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
In order to park at Caltech without getting towed, you need to get a Caltech parking tag from the Campus Security and Parking Services or at the Holliston parking structure (24 hours). Temporary guest parking is available. Inquire at the Security Office (x4701) for details. Parking near specific buildings is almost impossible, except loading zones. A few spots available are either reserved or for the disabled. Make sure you do not park in a fire lane (you might be blocking the way of a firefighter) or a red zone. Caltech security can and will give you a citation. It is generally possible to find an on-street parking space near Caltech or in one of the parking structures, unless you arrive at peak hours (from roughly 9 a.m.-2 p.m.).
More information about campus parking can be found at http://www.atc.caltech.edu/CIT_Parking/home.htm.
Most street parking in Pasadena have a two-hour limit with some exceptions (e.g. around Caltech on California Blvd., on Wilson Ave. and on Hill Ave.) Beyond the two hours on the same day, you will have to move your car to a different block to avoid citations. Pasadena has an overnight parking ordinance, which prohibits parking on city streets between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. except by permit. Permits are available, for a fee, through Municipal Service at City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, room 121. The city streets surrounding Caltech are subject to citation for this violation. The streets include Wilson Avenue, Del Mar Blvd., Hill Ave., California Blvd., and Catalina Ave. If you have more questions about parking in Pasadena, call 744-6470 or check out the Pasadena webpage http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us.
Parking in Old Town can be very stressful, particularly on weekends and evenings. The two best options are two parking structures, one on the corner of Green and Raymond (aka Schoolhouse Garage), and the other on the corner of Green and Delacey. Both are well situated for easy access to movies, restaurants and shops in Old Town. For both, the first 90 minutes are free, with very reasonable rates thereafter (less than $5 per evening). Other parking structures include a structure on Union and Fair Oaks and a structure on Union and Delacey that is $5 flat-fee, with ample parking even on weekends. Parking near the new Paseo Colorado outdoor mall has its own underground structure, and the shops validate for an hour of parking even without purchases (Macy's gives 2 hours).