California's AB 60 driver's license — formally established under Assembly Bill 60 — allows individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the United States to apply for a standard California driver's license. Like other California driver's licenses, AB 60 licenses carry an expiration date, and renewing one follows a distinct process shaped by eligibility rules, documentation requirements, and DMV procedures specific to this license category.
An AB 60 license is a California-issued driver's license available to applicants who do not have an eligible Social Security Number or cannot prove lawful U.S. presence. It functions as a valid driving credential within California and carries a marking that distinguishes it from a standard license — specifically, it is not accepted for federal identification purposes and does not meet Real ID requirements.
Because it is not a Real ID-compliant credential, an AB 60 license cannot be used to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities. It is valid only as a state-issued driving authorization.
AB 60 licenses are generally issued with the same expiration cycle as standard California Class C licenses — typically valid for five years from the date of issue. The expiration date is printed on the front of the card.
Renewal notices are typically mailed to the address on file with the California DMV before the expiration date. However, the absence of a mailed notice doesn't change the expiration date or the requirement to renew.
Renewing an AB 60 license in California follows many of the same steps as renewing a standard license, but there are key differences tied to the documentation requirements that originally applied at first application.
When an AB 60 license was first issued, the applicant had to provide proof of California residency and identity documents that established identity in the absence of an SSN or lawful presence verification. At renewal, applicants typically need to demonstrate continued California residency.
The DMV may require updated or re-verified documents depending on what was submitted at the original application. Document requirements can shift based on changes to DMV policy, so what was accepted at initial issuance may not automatically satisfy renewal requirements.
🪪 Whether an AB 60 license holder can renew online or by mail — rather than in person — depends on several factors:
| Renewal Method | Typical Eligibility Factors |
|---|---|
| Online renewal | No changes to name/address, vision requirements met, no outstanding issues on record |
| Mail-in renewal | Similar to online eligibility criteria; DMV must offer this option for the license class |
| In-person renewal | Required when documents need re-verification, vision test is due, or online/mail options aren't available |
Because AB 60 licenses are tied to specific documentation conditions, in-person renewal is commonly required — particularly when residency documents need to be re-examined or updated. The DMV determines renewal method eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
California requires a vision screening at periodic renewal intervals. Whether a vision test is required at a specific renewal depends on the driver's renewal history and the DMV's cycle for that requirement. Vision tests are typically conducted at the DMV office during an in-person visit.
A written knowledge test is not always required at renewal for drivers who hold a full license. However, the DMV can require one under certain circumstances — for example, if a license has been expired for an extended period. The rules for when a knowledge test is required at renewal are determined by California DMV policy, not by the license type alone.
Driving with an expired license — regardless of license type — is a traffic violation in California. An expired AB 60 license does not automatically result in a different consequence than an expired standard license in terms of the driving infraction itself, but it does mean the driver is operating without a valid credential.
If a license expires and is not renewed within a certain window, the DMV may treat the renewal more like a new application, potentially requiring the full documentation and testing process to start again. The threshold for when an expired license becomes a lapsed application varies by how long the license has been expired.
No two AB 60 renewal situations are identical. Factors that affect the process include:
AB 60 renewal requirements — including what documents are accepted, which renewal methods are available, and what testing may be required — are set by the California DMV and subject to change. The general framework described here reflects how the process broadly works, but the details that apply to any specific driver depend on their individual documentation, driving history, and current DMV policy at the time of renewal. That's information only the California DMV can confirm for a specific situation.