No, you can’t print a temporary driver’s license in California. The DMV issues the paper temporary at the counter of a field office after you finish an in-person application, renewal, or replacement, and it covers you for up to 60 days while your permanent plastic card is manufactured and mailed. There is no downloadable version, no home-print option, and no blank form to fill in.
Why the DMV Won’t Let You Print One
The temporary license is a secure document tied to a specific transaction. The DMV generates it only after verifying your identity, processing your application, and confirming there’s no reason to refuse issuance. Each one is unique to the person and the visit, which is why even the paper application (DL 44) handed out at field offices isn’t available as a download. Printed copies carry a unique barcode.1State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License / ID Card Application Creating or altering a temporary license yourself would be fraud.
How to Get a Paper Temporary License
You start at a DMV field office. You can speed things along by filling out the electronic application (eDL 44) online beforehand and uploading your documents, but the issuance itself happens in person. At the office you’ll:
- Provide your Social Security number, which California law requires on every driver’s license application.
- Prove your identity with an original or certified document such as a valid passport or birth certificate. For a REAL ID, bring proof of California residency as well, like a utility bill or bank statement.
- Pass a vision exam.
- Pass the knowledge test. You get three attempts; fail the same test three times and the application expires.
- Take a driving test if you’re applying for an original California license, or in most cases transferring from another state.
- Have your photo taken and your thumbprint scanned.
Once everything clears, the DMV hands you the paper temporary before you leave.2State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s Licenses The temporary is included in the standard fee: $46 for a new Class C license or renewal, $37 for a replacement.3State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees
Renewing Online Doesn’t Give You a Paper Temporary
If you renew online, the DMV doesn’t mail or print a physical temporary. Its processing-time page describes an “instant” temporary license once online renewal requirements are met, which functions as a digital confirmation rather than something you can carry on paper. Online renewals do tend to arrive faster, about two weeks versus three to four weeks for in-person or mail renewals.4State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Processing Times If you want a paper temporary in your wallet, renew in person. The DMV will issue the same 60-day document after you complete the renewal at the counter.5State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License or ID Card Renewal
How Long It’s Good For and Where It Falls Short
A California temporary license is valid for up to 60 days from the date of issuance while the DMV verifies the identity and residency documents you submitted.6Cornell Law School. California Code of Regulations Title 13 16.14 – Temporary License It lets you drive. What it doesn’t do is show your photograph, and that creates most of the real-world friction.
Carry a separate photo ID alongside it when something more than a driving check is involved. A passport works. So does your expired California license. Together they usually satisfy anyone who needs to confirm both your identity and your driving privilege.
Air Travel
A temporary paper license is not accepted at TSA checkpoints.7Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint Since May 7, 2025, full REAL ID enforcement means only a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, or another TSA-approved document like a valid passport, will get you onto a commercial flight.8Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025 If you have a flight before your plastic card arrives, bring your passport.
Form I-9 at a New Job
A state-issued temporary driver’s license qualifies as a List B identity document for employment verification if it includes identifying information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address. Any conditions printed on it, like a requirement to carry your expired license with it, must be followed.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Questions and Answers You’ll still need a List A or List C document, since List B establishes identity only.
If You Lose the Paper Before Your Card Arrives
You can request a duplicate temporary from the DMV if yours is lost, stolen, or damaged. The replacement fee for a standard Class C is $37.3State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees You can start online or go to a field office, and either way you’ll verify your identity again.10State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Replace Your Driver’s License or ID Card
When the Permanent Card Should Show Up
The plastic license comes by mail to the address on file. The DMV’s current estimates:
- Online renewal: about 2 weeks
- DMV kiosk: about 2 weeks
- Mail renewal: about 4 weeks
- In-person application: 3 to 4 weeks
Some applications that need extra review run longer.4State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Processing Times If 60 days pass without a card, check the DMV’s Driver License and ID Card Status tool and confirm your mailing address in the DMV’s records. A stale address is the most common reason cards never arrive.5State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License or ID Card Renewal