Living in San Diego

Taking a Bus
A bus pass costs approximately $75 per month and provides unlimited use of the public buses and trolleys in San Diego. Please contact us at ipinfo@ucsd.edu for the most current bus pass options and locations where you can purchase a bus pass.

Visit the San Diego Public Transit website to see the bus route maps and schedules.

UC San Diego Shuttles
UC San Diego offers free shuttle bus services Monday through Friday, all year (except holidays). Some shuttles run through the academic year only, with reduced services during academic breaks and summer. To learn more about the operation times and maps please see UC San Diego shuttle routes.

Renting a Car
Renting a car might be your easiest option if you do not plan to live close to campus. You will need a valid driver’s license to drive in the U.S. Come into the International Student Services Office in Building E and ask for information about renting a car.

Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website for more information about driving in California.

Riding a Bike
A bike is a good choice for those planning to live on or near campus. There are several places in San Diego where you can buy a bike, including  the Campus Bike and Skate shop, located at the Student Center.  You'll find a great selection of bikes and skateboards, plus accessories, parts, and a full-service repair shop. If you plan to live in San Diego for a while, you may choose to buy a bike. UC San Diego has partnered with SPIN to offer shared bikes and eScooters on campus. These shared bikes and scooters are available for use on-campus only.

If you are a visitor in California over 18 years old and have a valid driver license from your home state or country (where you live permanently), you may drive in California without getting a California driver license as long as your home license remains valid. However, because local police may not be able to verify a foreign license as valid or current, you may still be cited for driving without a driver license. Therefore, UC San Diego recommends that you obtain a California driver license if you plan to drive while you are a student here. An international driver license is not the same thing as a license from your country and it is not recognized by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

If you would like a California driver license, follow these steps:

• Make an appointment through the DMV website.
• Go to the DMV on your appointment day with your passport, I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, and Address Verification. You may request an Address Verification from ipinfo@ucsd.edu. You must have these documents to prove your identity and legal status.
• You will be asked to complete an application, give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and pay the $41 application fee.
• You will also be asked for a Social Security Number (SSN). If you have an SSN, you must provide it. If you don’t have one, tell the DMV clerk that because you have a non-immigrant visa and you don’t have a job, you are not eligible for an SSN, and therefore you are exempt from this requirement.
• You must pass a vision exam and a test about traffic laws and signs. See an example of a test and download a study guide.

After you pass the written test, you must make an appointment to take a driving test. To take the driving test, you will need to:

• Make a behind-the-wheel driving test appointment on the DMV website here. To make an appointment over the phone, you can call 1-800-777-0133 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Driving tests are not given without an appointment.
• Provide proof of auto insurance. You must have liability car insurance to drive in California.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
The DMV issues driver licenses and picture identification (ID) cards. If you purchase a car, it is also the place to go to have the ownership title put in your name and to register it. Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website for more information. The DMV has several offices in the San Diego area.

Opening a Bank Account
In the United States it is easier and safer to use checks and credit cards, rather than using cash. We advise you not to carry large amounts of cash with you. It is best to open an account at a bank. This way you can take money out of the account whenever you need it. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Some also are open half days on Saturdays. In order to open an account at most banks, you will need to have two valid I.D.s. A passport and a UCSD photo I.D. are usually sufficient.

Full Service Banking nearest to UC San Diego

• University Credit Union
  9500 Gilman Drive (on campus first flow of Price Center)
  (800) 828-4510
• BluePeak Credit Union
  9375 Russel Lane, Ste. 120 (on campus first flow of Gilman Parking Structure)
  (866) 873-4968
• Chase Bank
  8807 Villa La Jolla Drive
  (858) 554-0091
• Bank of America
  8813 Villa La Jolla Drive (on Nobel Dr.) 
  (858) 552-4055
• US Bank
  4660 La Jolla Village Drive
  (858) 551-4750
• Wells Fargo
  4315 La Jolla Village Drive (at UTC) 
  (858) 250-2410
• Wells Fargo
  8657 Villa La Jolla Drive (inside Ralph's)
  (858) 455-9590 
• Citibank
  8813 Villa La Jolla Drive
  (858) 926-5626

UC San Diego Resources

Academic Calendar
Bookstore
Campus Map
Chancellor’s Office
Global Education Center
Graduate School of Global Policy and Strategy
Graduate Studies and Research
Housing and Dining
LGBT Resource Center
News Media information
Rady School of Management
Salk Institute
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Transportation and Parking
University of California Systemwide Information
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Courses and Programs 
UC San Diego Schedule of Classes
Women’s Center

Library

Geisel Library

Recreation and Entertainment

UC San Diego Events Calendar
UC San Diego Recreation
UC San Diego Tritons Athletics
Mission Bay Aquatics Center – (water sports)
Birch Aquarium
Cross Cultural Center
Guardian – UC San Diego Newspaper, Online
La Jolla Playhouse