California's AB 60 driver's license program — established under Assembly Bill 60, signed into law in 2013 — allows individuals who cannot prove legal presence in the United States to apply for a standard California driver's license. These licenses are issued by the California DMV and authorize driving on California roads, but they carry specific limitations that affect their validity and accepted uses. Understanding what those limitations mean — and how to verify your license status — matters whether you're the cardholder, an employer, or someone navigating a reinstatement situation.
An AB 60 license is a California driver's license, not a separate document class in terms of driving privileges on public roads. It authorizes the holder to operate a motor vehicle in California under the same traffic laws that apply to any other licensed driver in the state.
What distinguishes it from a standard California license is what's printed on the card itself:
This distinction matters because many situations that look like "license validity" questions are actually questions about what the license can be used for, not whether the license is currently active or suspended.
Like any California driver's license, an AB 60 license can be:
AB 60 cardholders are subject to the same suspension and revocation rules as other California license holders. A DUI conviction, too many points on the driving record, an unpaid traffic fine, or a failure to appear in court can result in suspension regardless of how the license was originally issued.
The California DMV offers a driver's license status check through its online portal. To look up status, you'll generally need:
The status check will show whether the license is valid, suspended, revoked, or expired. It will not always show the reason for a suspension — for that, you may need to request a driving record.
A California driving record (also called a DMV record or H-6 printout) shows:
You can request a driving record online, by mail, or in person at a California DMV office. A fee typically applies, though amounts vary.
No two drivers are in exactly the same situation. Factors that shape whether an AB 60 license is currently valid — and what steps may be needed to restore it — include:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Expiration date | AB 60 licenses expire on a standard cycle; renewal requires re-meeting documentation requirements |
| Court orders or fines | Unpaid fines or a failure to appear can trigger a DMV hold on the license |
| Point accumulation | California uses a point system; exceeding thresholds can trigger a negligent operator suspension |
| DUI or drug-related offenses | These carry mandatory suspension or revocation periods |
| Insurance requirements | SR-22 filing may be required for reinstatement after certain suspensions |
| Renewal documentation | AB 60 renewal requires re-verifying identity documents showing California residency and date of birth — the same documents required at initial application |
If an AB 60 license has been suspended, the reinstatement process generally follows the same procedures as any California license reinstatement:
The AB 60 origin of the license does not create a separate reinstatement track. However, when it comes time to renew a suspended or reinstated AB 60 license, the applicant must again meet the identity and residency documentation requirements that apply to AB 60 applicants specifically — which are distinct from what standard license holders are required to show.
Knowing that an AB 60 license is currently "valid" tells you the license hasn't been suspended, revoked, or expired. What it doesn't tell you is whether the license is acceptable for a specific purpose — because that depends on the context in which it's being presented.
Federal agencies, TSA checkpoints, and employers bound by federal I-9 verification requirements follow different rules than a state traffic stop or a California court proceeding. The "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY" designation is the functional dividing line.
For reinstatement situations specifically, the exact requirements — fees, timelines, program completions, and documentation — depend on why the license was suspended and what California's current DMV procedures require for that specific trigger. Those details aren't uniform, even within California, and they shift based on individual driving history and case circumstances.