AB 60 License: What It Is, Who It's For, and How It Works in California

California's AB 60 driver's license gives residents who cannot prove lawful immigration status the ability to apply for a standard, non-commercial driver's license. Named after Assembly Bill 60, the legislation that created the program, this license type is specific to California and has been in effect since January 2015. It functions as a driving credential — not an immigration document — and comes with its own set of requirements and limitations that differ from a standard California driver's license.

What AB 60 Actually Is

An AB 60 license is a California Class C driver's license issued to individuals who are unable to submit satisfactory proof of legal presence in the United States. The license itself looks similar to a standard California driver's license but includes a specific notation on its face: "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY."

That notation matters. It signals that the card does not meet the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act and cannot be used for federal identification purposes — including boarding domestic flights or accessing certain federal facilities. For those purposes, a passport or other federally accepted document would be required instead.

The license is valid for driving in California. It also carries the same driving privileges and responsibilities as a standard California Class C license for the holder's residential use in the state.

Who Is Eligible to Apply

Eligibility for an AB 60 license centers on a few key criteria:

• California residency — Applicants must establish that they reside in California.
• Inability to establish legal presence — The applicant cannot provide documentation that satisfies California's standard legal presence requirement (such as a U.S. passport, green card, or valid visa).
• Driving competency — Applicants must pass the same written knowledge test and behind-the-wheel driving test required of any other California Class C license applicant.
• Vision requirements — Standard California vision screening standards apply.

Importantly, AB 60 does not apply to applicants who can establish lawful presence — those individuals go through the standard licensing pathway instead.

Documents Typically Required

Because AB 60 applicants cannot use traditional federal immigration documents to prove identity, California accepts a broader range of documents to establish identity and California residency. 🗂️

Common document categories accepted for identity include:

For California residency, applicants typically need two documents showing a California address — such as utility bills, bank statements, rental agreements, or official mail from a government agency.

The California DMV maintains the official, current list of accepted documents. Document requirements can change, and the DMV has the final authority on what it will accept at any given time.

The Testing and Licensing Process

The process for obtaining an AB 60 license follows the same general sequence as a standard California driver's license application:

1. Visit a California DMV office in person — AB 60 applications cannot be completed online or by mail.
2. Submit documentation — Identity, residency, and any other required documents are reviewed.
3. Pass the written knowledge test — Covers California traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices.
4. Pass a vision screening — Conducted at the DMV office.
5. Pass a behind-the-wheel road test — Scheduled separately; tests basic driving competency.
6. Pay applicable fees — Standard California Class C license fees apply.

Applicants who fail the written test may retake it, subject to California's rules on retakes and fees. The same applies to the road test.

What the AB 60 License Does and Doesn't Do 🚗

What it allows:

• Driving legally in California
• Serving as a driving credential when operating a vehicle in the state
• In some contexts, being accepted as a form of state-issued ID within California

What it does not do:

• Satisfy REAL ID requirements for federal purposes
• Serve as proof of legal immigration status
• Grant any immigration benefit or protection
• Serve as valid ID for boarding domestic flights (a passport or other REAL ID-compliant document is needed for that)

California law also prohibits any DMV employee from using information provided during the AB 60 application process for immigration enforcement purposes — a protection written into the original legislation.

How This Differs From Other California License Types

California issues several types of driver's licenses, and the differences matter depending on the applicant's situation:

An AB 60 license covers non-commercial driving. It does not qualify an applicant for a commercial driver's license (CDL), which carries separate federal requirements including proof of lawful status and medical certification under federal standards.

The Variables That Shape Each Application

No two AB 60 applications are identical. Outcomes can depend on which documents an applicant presents, whether those documents meet DMV verification standards, the applicant's driving history in California or elsewhere, whether a prior license was ever issued or suspended, and how individual DMV offices process specific document combinations.

California's DMV guidance, its accepted document list, and its procedures are subject to change. What the AB 60 program allows, requires, and how it intersects with a specific applicant's document profile and history — those are the pieces that determine how an individual application actually unfolds.