• Approximately 325,000 people will have to replace their Real IDs.
• The DMV will not charge costs for replacements.
• The error is due to a “legacy coding” issue from 2006.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles said this week that approximately 325,000 Californians will need to replace their Real ID licenses due to a software bug.
In the coming weeks, DMV officials said, about 1.5% of Real ID holders will be notified that they “need to take action” to “ensure continued compliance with federal REAL ID regulations.”
“The DMV is informing affected individuals of the steps they should take,” officials said in a news release issued Wednesday. Fees associated with IDS reissuance will not apply to those affected.
DMV officials said the issue was discovered after a review of technology systems revealed that some legal immigrants had been issued Real IDs that did not expire at the same time as their authorization to remain in the country.
The Real ID Act was enacted in 2005 and established security standards for state-issued IDs for things like boarding airplanes. But implementation was repeatedly delayed, with the requirement finally taking effect in May 2025. DMV officials said they found that a “small subset” of Real IDs issued to lawful permanent residents “applied the standard credential renewal interval in some cases, rather than the expiration of the REAL ID holder's authorized stay.”
“We proactively reviewed our records, identified an issue in the legacy 2006 system, and are notifying affected customers with clear guidance on how to maintain a valid credential issued in California,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “For nearly 99% of REAL ID holders, no action is required. DMV remains committed to serving all Californians and ensuring REAL ID credentials meet federal standards.”
Officials said the issue arose due to “legacy 2006 coding.” But the statement added that all those who had been issued Real IDs received them only after the federal system had verified their legal presence in the country, and that no one who was undocumented obtained one.
