Exam Bulletin - Motor Vehicle Representative

Department of Motor Vehicles

Exam Code: EX-1905

Examination Plans Included:

  • MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE: $3,530.00 - $4,412.00 (A) per Month
MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE: $3,791.00 - $4,742.00 (B) per Month
MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE: $4,082.00 - $5,117.00 (C) per Month

View the MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1905

For MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01905

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00101897 - MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 1040, fingerprint/criminal record clearance is required for these positions and to be eligible for appointment.

Either 1
One year of experience in the California state service performing clerical duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to an Office Assistant (General).

Or 2
Experience: One year of experience performing clerical, cashiering, sales clerk, or customer service work. (Academic education above the twelfth grade may be substituted on the basis of one year of general education being equivalent to six months of experience. Students who are enrolled in the last semester or its equivalent of course work, which upon completion will fulfill these requirements, will be admitted to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before being eligible for appointment.) and

Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.

Position Description

00101897 - MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE

Under direction, incumbents interpret, apply, and explain provisions of the Vehicle Code and the regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pertaining to the licensing of drivers, registering and titling of vehicles and vessels, licensing of vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and dismantlers, the performance of post licensing functions related to problematic drivers; and perform other related work. Incumbents typically work with customers in a fast-paced environment in departmental field and driver safety offices, call centers or headquarters’ processing units and assist the public in the issuance of identification cards, driver and occupational licenses, motor carrier permits, and the registration and titling of vehicles.

This is a multi-range deep class. Incumbents with twelve months or less in the class perform the least complex duties related to all processes in vehicle registration, titling, and/or driver license/identification. As they gain more time in the classification, and in accordance with established procedures, incumbents are assigned progressively more complex and difficult transactions duties in a variety of areas.

Positions exist statewide.

Special Personal Characteristics
Well-developed interpersonal skills including sensitivity, patience, and flexibility in order to communicate with internal and external customers in a friendly, courteous, and efficient manner.

Incumbents are expected to be dependable and punctual to provide quality customer service. Incumbents who have contact with internal and external customers are expected to present a business-like image.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

Note: This is a 120-minute timed examination. There is no way to pause, stop, or reset the timer once you start. A stable internet connection is recommended as no additional time will be provided for internet loss, power loss, or computer/browser issues. If you are unable to complete the timed examination, it is recommended you do not continue until you are able to do so.

The online multiple choice exam for the Motor Vehicle Representative consists of the following three (3) test sections:

Written Communication – This test section is designed to assess your knowledge and skill in constructing sentences and in using correct grammar, spelling, word usage, and sentence structure.

Arithmetic Calculations – This test section is designed to assess your mathematical and cashiering skills related to calculating monetary charges, counting money, and making change. Basic hand-held calculators will be permitted; however, they will not be provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Reading Comprehension – This test section is designed to assess your skill in reading, comprehending, and applying written information. You will be asked to interpret and apply information contained in a variety of written materials

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Modern office methods and equipment

Ability to:
  1. Read, write, and understand English at a level required for successful job performance 
  2. Learn, apply, interpret, and explain provisions of governmental rules and department procedures and policy
  3. Follow oral and written directions
  4. Evaluate situations accurately and take effective action
  5. Interpret and apply rules and regulations to specific cases
  6. Perform cashiering work of average difficulty involved in receiving, disbursing, and receipting of monies
  7. Operate various electronic office equipment 
  8. Input information accurately and efficiently into various databases 
  9. Meet and deal tactfully with the public

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the MOTOR VEHICLE REPRESENTATIVE Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Motor Vehicles

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Motor Vehicles

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@CalHR.CA.GOV

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
HRB - Talent Acquisition Unit
2415 1st Avenue, MS E678
Sacramento, CA 95818
Phone: (916) 657-7553

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Motor Vehicles reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)