11,000 Licensed California Drivers Must Retake Written Test Within 30 Days

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has notified 11,000 licensed drivers to retake their written license test within 30 days, citing “irregularities” in the testing process. The drivers, who took their written exams between July 2025 and April 2026, have been told that their test results showed “non-compliance with the driver testing criteria required by state law”. If they fail to retake the test, their licenses will be canceled. The DMV has stated that the move is intended to protect the integrity of California’s licensing process, but has not publicly detailed the nature of the irregularities. Affected drivers, such as David Specht, have expressed confusion and frustration, with some speculating that the issue may be due to alleged cheating, a testing center problem, or a broader administrative or data-processing error. The DMV has not provided further explanation, leaving drivers with more questions than answers.