Can an Illegal Immigrant Get a Driver’s License in California?

Yes. An undocumented immigrant can get a driver’s license in California. Under Vehicle Code Section 12801.9, any California resident who cannot show proof of lawful presence in the United States can still apply for and receive a driver’s license if they meet the DMV’s requirements for identity, residency, and driving ability.¹ The license is called an AB 60 license, after the 2014 law that created it, and it grants the same on-road driving privileges as any other California license.

What the AB 60 License Is and Isn’t

AB 60 took effect on January 1, 2015. The point was public safety: get every driver tested, licensed, and insured instead of driving without any of those things. The license does not grant immigration status, work authorization, or eligibility for public benefits. The card itself states that it is issued “only as a license to drive a motor vehicle.”¹

For driving in California, it works like any other license. State and local law enforcement accept it the same way they accept a standard California license during a traffic stop or any other interaction.² The differences only matter at the federal level.

Who Qualifies and What Documents You Need

Eligibility turns on being a California resident who cannot provide proof of authorized presence in the United States. You do not need a Social Security number. You do need to prove two things with original documents: your identity and your California address.²

Identity

The cleanest option is a valid, unexpired foreign passport. A consular identification card, such as a Matrícula Consular issued by a Mexican consulate, also works. If you have neither, the DMV may accept a foreign birth certificate or other government-issued identity documents from your country of origin.

When documents fall short of the standard, the DMV runs a secondary review in which an investigator interviews the applicant to verify identity. That adds time, so bringing the strongest documents you have to the first appointment is worth the effort.²

California Residency

You need a document showing your name and a current California address. The DMV accepts utility bills, rental or lease agreements, mortgage statements, pay stubs or employer correspondence, medical or school records, bank statements, tax returns, insurance documents, and a U.S. Postal Service change-of-address confirmation, among others. If you have no formal paperwork tied to a fixed address, a letter from a homeless shelter, nonprofit organization, or employer attesting to your California residency is also accepted.²

How to Apply

Start on the DMV website. Fill out the driver’s license application and book an in-person appointment. At the appointment, you submit your identity and residency documents, give a thumbprint, have your photo taken, and pay the $46 nonrefundable application fee. That fee covers the written knowledge test and the behind-the-wheel driving test.³

After a vision screening, you take the written test on California traffic laws and road signs. The test and the California Driver Handbook are available in more than 40 languages.⁴ Passing earns you an instruction permit so you can practice driving with a licensed adult in the passenger seat.

The driving test is scheduled separately. You have to bring a vehicle that is currently registered and insured in California. A DMV examiner rides along and evaluates how you handle real traffic, including turns, lane changes, and signaling. Pass, and the DMV mails the physical license to your address.²

What the AB 60 License Can’t Do

The card looks different from a standard California license. The front reads “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY,” and the back states “This card is not acceptable for official federal purposes.” Those markings exist because the license does not meet the federal REAL ID Act’s requirements.

REAL ID enforcement has been fully in effect since May 7, 2025. In practical terms, an AB 60 license cannot be used to board a domestic flight. TSA checkpoints no longer accept non-REAL ID state licenses, so AB 60 holders flying within the United States need another accepted ID, such as a valid passport, passport card, or permanent resident card.⁵ It also cannot be used to enter most restricted federal facilities, which now require REAL ID-compliant identification or an acceptable alternative.⁶ A valid foreign passport serves as the alternative ID in both situations.

Privacy and Immigration Enforcement

California law provides strong protections for AB 60 applicant information, but those protections do not bind federal agencies, and that distinction matters.

Vehicle Code Section 12801.9 states that documents submitted by an AB 60 applicant to prove identity or residency are not public records. The DMV cannot disclose them except in response to a subpoena for individual records in a criminal proceeding or a court order. The statute allows a narrow law enforcement exception for an urgent health or safety need, and it explicitly says that immigration enforcement does not qualify as an urgent health and safety need. The statute also prohibits using an AB 60 license as evidence of a person’s citizenship or immigration status for any purpose. California state and local law enforcement cannot treat the fact that someone holds an AB 60 license as a basis for investigating, arresting, or detaining that person over immigration issues.¹

Federal law operates separately. The Driver Privacy Protection Act allows government agencies, including law enforcement, to access state motor vehicle records in the course of their functions.⁷ Federal immigration agencies have used a data-sharing network called Nlets to query state driver’s license data, and California’s restrictions on its own DMV do not necessarily block access through that channel. The state’s limits often apply to the DMV itself rather than to the state law enforcement agencies that connect to federal networks, which leaves a gap between the law’s intent and how data actually moves. Millions of Californians hold AB 60 licenses, and the legislature clearly meant to shield applicant information from immigration enforcement, but it is honest to say the interplay between state restrictions and federal data-sharing systems is still evolving.

Insurance You’ll Need

A license alone doesn’t let you drive legally. Every vehicle on the road in California must carry liability insurance. The state minimums are $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injury or death of more than one person per accident, and $15,000 for property damage, often written as 30/60/15.⁸

Finding affordable coverage can be harder without a U.S. credit history or prior insurance record. California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program provides liability coverage at reduced rates for drivers who meet income guidelines and have a clean driving record. It is open to all California residents regardless of immigration status, with annual premiums ranging from roughly $244 to $966 depending on the county. Applicants need a valid California driver’s license, including an AB 60 license, and a vehicle valued at $25,000 or less.⁹

Renewal

An AB 60 license is valid for five years. Renewing before the expiration date requires confirming that you still meet the identity and residency requirements. Letting it lapse means driving without a valid license, which can result in a citation and vehicle impoundment regardless of immigration status.²

1
California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 12801.9
2
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. AB 60 Driver’s Licenses
3
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees
4
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. The Testing Process
5
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
6
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Protective Service (FPS). ID Requirements for Federal Facilities
7
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 2721 – Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information From State Motor Vehicle Records
8
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Auto Insurance Requirements
9
State of California. California Low Cost Auto