Getting a California driver's license without papers (AB 60)

This page is for California residents who cannot show proof of legal status and want to drive legally. It is general information, not legal advice. It does not tell you whether applying is safe for you.

We know a government office can feel scary. Here is what to expect, step by step.

Can I get a license without papers?

Yes. A state law called AB 60 lets the California DMV give a driver's license to people who cannot prove they are in the country legally (California DMV). You still have to show who you are and that you live in California. You also pass the same vision, written and drive tests as everyone else. If you are 15 to 17 and a half, you also need to finish a driver education course, as any teen does.

People call it an "AB 60 license." You renew it every 5 years. The DMV has an AB 60 checklist on the same page to help you see if you are ready.

What papers prove who I am?

The ones listed in the DMV's "AB 60 User Friendly Guide" (form DL 1065). When we checked in October 2026, the copy on the DMV website was dated January 2024. The list can change, so look at the DMV's copy again before your visit.

One document can be enough, such as:

• A California driver's license or ID card issued in October 2000 or later
• A Mexican voter card (the 2013 IFE card or the 2014 INE card, the versions the guide lists)
• A Mexican passport issued in 2008 or later
• A Mexican consular card (matrícula) from 2014 or 2022
• A passport from a country on the DMV's approved list, together with a Social Security number the DMV can check

Or bring two documents, such as a passport from an approved country or a national ID from a country on the DMV's list. The list includes cards from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Korea. Each one must be from a certain year or later, so check the guide.

If you do not have these, you still have a way. Ask for a "secondary review." This is an interview where DMV staff look at other papers to confirm who you are. Bring as many as you can, for example:

• A birth certificate
• School records with your birth date
• A marriage certificate or divorce papers
• An old passport, national ID, consular card or foreign driver's license
• U.S. tax returns or court papers with your name

Papers that are not in English may need a translation.

What papers prove I live in California?

Bring one document with your name and home address. The address must match the mailing address on your application. Examples:

• A signed lease or rental agreement
• A home utility bill or cell phone bill
• A mortgage bill or property tax bill
• A school, medical, work, insurance or faith based document
• A tax return
• A bank record

Nothing in your name? You still have options. A letter on letterhead from a shelter, a nonprofit, a faith group or your employer can work. So can a document for your spouse, parent or child, if you also bring a paper that shows your relationship, like a birth or marriage certificate.

What are the steps?

1. Start your application online. Create a MyDMV account on the DMV website and fill out the driver's license application there.
2. Study for the written test. The California Driver's Handbook is free on the DMV website. The written test is offered in more than 40 languages.
3. Make an appointment at a DMV office. You can schedule online. For help in your language or to book a drive test, call the DMV at 1-800-777-0133.
4. Go to the "Start Here" window when you arrive.
5. At the office, you pay the fee, take a vision test, have your photo and thumbprint taken, and take the written test.
6. If needed, do the secondary review interview before your drive test.
7. Take the drive test. You need an appointment. Bring proof of insurance and the car's registration. A California licensed driver age 18 or older must come with you. The car must be safe, with working lights, horn, brakes and seat belts.
8. Get your license by mail.

How much does it cost, and how long do I have?

Fees are from the DMV's licensing fees page, updated August 7, 2026.

• The fee is not refunded.
• Your application and fee are good for 12 months.
• You get three tries to pass each written test. After three fails on the same test, you must apply and pay again.

What can I use the license for?

You can use it to:

• Drive legally in California
• Show who you are as a photo ID

It cannot be used to:

• Board a plane for a flight inside the United States
• Enter secure federal places, such as military bases and federal courthouses
• Prove you have permission to work, vote or get public benefits
• Prove your citizenship or immigration status

The DMV says people who apply for an AB 60 license cannot get a REAL ID. Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID or another federally accepted ID, such as a passport, to fly inside the country. If you need to fly, check with the airline and the federal Transportation Security Administration about which IDs they accept.

What if I am stopped while driving?

When a California police officer asks, you must show your license and the car's registration (Vehicle Code 12951). Keep proof of insurance in the car too. Your AB 60 license is a valid California license, and it may not be used as proof of your immigration status. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or your status. For what to say and do, see What to do if ICE or police stop you on the street or in your car and Can a traffic ticket hurt my immigration case?

How is my information protected?

Partly. California law gives AB 60 applicants some privacy protections:

• The papers you show to prove who you are and where you live are not public records.
• The DMV may share those papers only for a subpoena in a criminal case, a court order, or an urgent health or safety need that police explain in writing. The law says immigration enforcement does not count as an urgent need.
• Information an employer gets from your license must be kept private.

Is there an ID for people who do not drive?

State law says that no later than July 1, 2027, the DMV must also offer a California ID card to people who cannot prove legal status. This is for people who do not drive but need a photo ID. As of October 21, 2026, the DMV has not announced a start date or which papers it will ask for. See Getting a California ID card.

Who can help?

These are public offices and nonprofit legal services. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• California DMV: applications, appointments and help in your language. Call 1-800-777-0133. AB 60 driver's licenses (dmv.ca.gov)

• DMV Redwood City office (for San Mateo County residents): 300 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City. Open weekdays. Book an appointment first. Redwood City office (dmv.ca.gov)

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: immigration legal help, including Know Your Rights talks and help for people facing deportation. It serves low income people who live in San Mateo or Santa Clara County only. Call 650-326-6440, or walk in at 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 1 pm. Ask about any cost when you call. Immigration (clsepa.org)

• Outside the Bay Area: find a nonprofit immigration legal service on the state's map of free immigration legal services, or the DOJ list of free legal providers in other states.

Getting licensed takes some papers and some patience. You can do this, one step at a time.

What should I ask a legal service or the DMV?