California DMV Gears Up for Undocumented Driver License Applications

DMV officials say the agency will hold public hearings around the state as it develops regulations on how to apply for the new licenses. Extra staff may also be hired.

DMV spokesperson Jan Mendoza says they will be “looking at all those things like what the person is going to have to bring in and prove and how we’re going to authenticate those documents.”

Mendoza says the new licenses will be nearly identical to standard licenses except they will have a DP marker, which stands for “driving privilege” instead of the standard DL for “driving license.”

“This is only for driving privilege and can’t be used for federal programs and identification and that sort to thing,” says Mendoza. “This is just allowing you to drive legally on California highways.”

The new law goes into effect January 1, 2015.