California AB 60 Driver's License Guide (2026) — Requirements, Documents & Process

What Is the AB 60 Driver's License?

California's Assembly Bill 60 — signed into law in 2013 and in effect since January 1, 2015 — allows California residents to apply for a driver's license regardless of immigration status. It is for people who cannot prove legal presence in the United States but can prove their identity and that they live in California.

The AB 60 program is still active and operating as of April 2026. It is a California state law, and the California DMV continues to issue AB 60 licenses to eligible applicants who meet all requirements.

The license looks almost identical to a standard California driver's license with one visible difference — the words "Federal Limits Apply" printed on the front, and "Not Acceptable for Official Federal Purposes" on the back.

Who Qualifies for an AB 60 License?

To be eligible you must meet all of the following:

• Be a California resident — you must live in California; visitors or tourists are not eligible
• Be at least 16 years old — same minimum age as a standard California license
• Be unable to prove legal US presence — if you can prove legal presence, apply for a standard or REAL ID license instead.Check this guide on everything about REAL ID
• Prove your identity — through accepted foreign documents (see Documents section)
• Prove California residency — through accepted residency documents
• Pass the vision test, knowledge test, and behind-the-wheel driving test — the same tests required for all California license applicants

What an AB 60 License Can and Cannot Be Used For

Use	AB 60 License
Driving legally on California roads	✅ Yes
Identification with California state and local law enforcement	✅ Yes
Obtaining car insurance	✅ Yes
General state ID purposes (bank account, lease, etc.)	✅ Yes
Boarding domestic flights within the US	❌ No
Entering federal buildings requiring ID	❌ No
Presenting to federal officials (ICE, TSA, CBP)	❌ No — use a passport instead
Proof of work authorization	❌ No
Voter registration	❌ No
Presenting to law enforcement in other states	❌ Not recommended

Documents You Need

The AB 60 document requirements are different from a standard license — you are not required to prove legal US presence. The DMV accepts an expanded list of identity documents specifically for AB 60 applicants.

Proof of Identity — Accepted Documents

• Valid foreign passport — any country; must contain an embedded photo
• Expired foreign passport — may be accepted together with a foreign birth certificate translated into English
• Consular identification card — such as the Mexican Matrícula Consular; Mexican IFE/INE card from 2006 or later and Mexican passport from 2008 or later are specifically accepted
• Foreign birth certificate — must be accompanied by an Apostille authentication and translated into English
• Documents reflecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) benefit eligibility
• California Identification Card — if you already have one issued by the DMV

Proof of California Residency — Accepted Documents

• Rental or lease agreement with signatures of owner and tenant
• Utility bills — gas, electric, water, cable, or cell phone
• Bank statements
• School records or transcripts
• Medical records or insurance documents showing a California address
• Employment documents showing a California address
• State or federal tax returns showing a California address

Documents must show your name and current California address. P.O. boxes are not accepted as your address of record.

If You Don't Have Standard Documents — Secondary Review

Not having a passport or consular ID doesn't automatically disqualify you. If you cannot provide a standard primary identity document, the DMV has a Secondary Review process — an in-person interview where you present a combination of supporting documents to establish your identity.

Supporting documents for Secondary Review can include:

• School documents that include your date of birth and a photograph
• Documents issued by or filed with the United States government
• Official documents such as a marriage license or domestic partnership registration
• Divorce decrees
• A foreign driver's license

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your AB 60 License

1. Use the AB 60 Wizard first — go to dmv.ca.gov/portal/assembly-bill-ab-60-wizard/ before anything else. This tells you exactly which documents you need. Don't skip this step.
2. Gather your documents — identity document, proof of California residency, and payment. Give yourself 1–2 weeks — finding and organizing documents takes longer than expected.
3. Complete the DL 44 application — start online at dmv.ca.gov or fill it out at a DMV office. If you do not have a Social Security Number, check the appropriate box. Never write a false number.
4. Book a DMV appointment — at dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments or by calling 1-800-777-0133. If you need an interpreter, mention it when you call. Select "Office Visit Appointment."
5. Visit the DMV — go to the "Start Here" window when you arrive. Staff will check your documents, take your photo and thumbprint, conduct a vision screening, and administer the knowledge test. If documents pass verification, your instruction permit is issued the same day.
6. Secondary Review (if needed) — if your documents cannot be verified on the spot, a Secondary Review interview will be scheduled. Complete the interview before proceeding to book your driving test.
7. Practice driving — with a licensed California driver in the passenger seat at all times. For adults, there is no mandated minimum number of hours — practice until you are genuinely ready. For drivers under 18, all standard provisional requirements apply including the 6-month permit hold and 50 hours of supervised practice.
8. Book and pass the behind-the-wheel driving test — appointment only at dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments. Bring proof of insurance for the vehicle you'll use. See our Driving Test Guide for full preparation details.
9. Receive your license — a temporary license is issued on the spot, valid for 60 days. Your permanent AB 60 license arrives by mail within 3–4 weeks. If you haven't received it within 60 days, call 1-800-777-0133.

Knowledge Test and Driving Test

AB 60 applicants take the same knowledge and driving tests as all other California license applicants — there are no different or easier versions for AB 60.

Knowledge Test

• Drivers under 18: 46 multiple choice questions, passing score is 80%
• Drivers 18 and over: 36 multiple choice questions, passing score is 80%
• Available in many languages — including Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Armenian, Tagalog, Korean, Punjabi, Farsi, and Russian. Request your language when booking your appointment
• An audio version is available for those who need it
• 3 attempts total; under 18 must wait 7 days between attempts, 18+ can retest the next business day
• Tests are not administered after 4:30 PM — book a morning appointment

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Test

• Appointment only — no walk-ins at any California DMV office
• Bring proof of insurance for the vehicle you'll use during the test
• If using a rental vehicle, your name must be listed on the rental contract
• The vehicle must meet all standard DMV safety requirements
• 3 attempts included in your application; if you fail, wait 14 days before retaking

Fees

The AB 60 license costs exactly the same as a standard California Class C driver's license.

• Application fee: $46 — non-refundable, valid for 12 months from application date
• Covers: instruction permit, up to 3 knowledge test attempts, and the first behind-the-wheel driving test
• Paying in person: cash, check, or money order — no surcharge; credit/debit card accepted with a 2.1% service fee added
• If your 12-month application period expires before you complete the process, you must reapply and pay again

Privacy and ICE — What You Need to Know

This section is one most guides either skip or oversimplify. Here is an honest, evidence-based summary of what the situation actually is.

What California Law Says

California law explicitly prohibits state and local law enforcement from using an AB 60 license as a basis for investigation, arrest, citation, or detention related to immigration status. If you are stopped by a California police officer or the California Highway Patrol and present your AB 60 license, they cannot use that license to initiate immigration enforcement action against you.

What the DMV Database Actually Contains

The California DMV does not maintain a separate database for AB 60 licenses. All driver records — AB 60 and standard — are in one combined system. That system does not flag whether someone has an AB 60 license, and it does not include immigration status. What the DMV database contains for every license holder is: name, date of birth, address, and photo.

What Federal Agencies Can Access

Federal law enforcement agencies including DHS and ICE can access DMV records through established law enforcement channels — specifically the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) and the Cal-Photo program — if they are already looking for a specific individual by name. The database does not tell them you have an AB 60 license, but it can provide your current address and photo to agents who already have your name.

What the AB 60 License Does Not Do

• It does not grant any immigration status or protection from federal enforcement
• It does not give you the right to work, vote, or receive any benefits you weren't already entitled to
• It does not protect you when dealing with federal law enforcement

What Not to Do

• Never use a false Social Security Number — this is a federal crime; if you don't have an SSN, check the appropriate box on the DL 44 form
• Never present your AB 60 license to federal officials — including ICE, TSA, CBP, or any federal law enforcement; use a foreign passport instead
• Do not try to board a flight using your AB 60 license — it is not accepted; use a valid foreign passport
• Do not pay anyone for help applying — the process is free through the DMV; paid "services" are unnecessary and potentially illegal under California law
• Do not submit fraudulent or altered documents — all documents must be authentic; fraudulent documents can result in criminal prosecution
• Do not apply if you have concerns about outstanding orders without first consulting an attorney

Frequently Asked Questions

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This guide is for informational purposes only. Always verify current requirements at dmv.ca.gov before your appointment.