Thousands of licensed California drivers who already passed their tests are now getting letters from the DMV warning that officials could cancel their licenses.
The DMV confirms it sent letters to 11,000 drivers after their written test results showed “irregularities.”
The letters warn recipients that they must retake the written test within 30 days, or they will lose their license.
Sacramento resident David Specht received one of these DMV warning letters, which stated his “written driver’s license test results indicate non-compliance with the driver testing criteria required by state law.”
“I know I didn’t cheat,” Specht said. “And I presume many of the other 11,000 residents of California who received the letter also didn’t cheat.”
The DMV confirmed it identified 11,000 people who took written driver’s license tests between July 2025 and April 2026 as needing to retake the tests within 30 days, or face license cancellation.
“Ensuring the integrity of our testing process is essential,” the DMV said in a statement. “Knowledge tests play a critical role in confirming that drivers understand the rules of the road before they are licensed to drive in California.”
Specht called the DMV to ask what irregularities showed up on his test.
“And they said a lot of people received it, we don’t really have an answer for you,” Specht said. “They didn’t accuse me of cheating directly.”
“But you’re inferring that they’re saying you cheated?” CBS Sacramento reporter Steve Large asked.
“I would imagine so, I mean, my other thought is that something is wrong with their system on the back end. Maybe they botched some data and now they can’t tell who passed, who failed,” he said.
Now thousands must retake their written tests or lose their license to drive.
The 11,000 licensed drivers must make an appointment to retake their written tests within 30 days. The paperwork also said the DMV allows no walk-ins; drivers must schedule an appointment and bring the letter with them.
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