California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has revealed a significant issue affecting approximately 325,000 residents who need to update their REAL ID driver’s licenses. This problem originates from a software glitch that has lingered for over two decades. The REAL ID, which meets federal requirements for identification, was fully implemented in May 2025 following the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005.
In its recent announcement, the DMV acknowledged that it is reaching out to these individuals to guide them on rectifying their licenses. California DMV Director Steve Gordon stated, “We proactively reviewed our records, identified a legacy system issue from 2006, and are notifying impacted customers with clear guidance on how to maintain a valid California-issued credential.” He reassured Californians that the vast majority—about 99%—would not need to take any action.
The issue stems from a legacy software configuration dating back to 2006, during the administration of then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. As travelers are now mandated to present a REAL ID or a passport for air travel, this oversight has gained more attention. The DMV conducted a review anticipating the upcoming federal enforcement of REAL ID regulations and discovered that the 2006 software error affected certain expiration dates on a subset of REAL ID records.
The DMV clarified that this does not indicate any licenses were improperly issued to individuals who are ineligible. Under guidance from the Trump administration allowing REAL IDs for lawful migrants, the DMV confirmed that it correctly verified the legal status of all issued licenses. However, the antiquated coding led to an automatic application of standard renewal intervals for some holders instead of adhering to the expiration dates aligned with their authorized stays. Importantly, the DMV stated, “Separate and independent federally required safeguards against ineligible individuals registering to vote remained in place, consistent with the federal Motor Voter Act.”
The DMV plans to contact those affected in the upcoming weeks and months to begin the process of issuing new licenses. It has pledged to expedite this procedure and waive associated fees, demonstrating its commitment to addressing the situation promptly.
This revelation follows scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding a previous incident where the DMV was criticized for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to a considerable number of migrant drivers without proper domicile verification. As the DMV works to rectify this recent software issue, it will be crucial for the agency to maintain accurate records and ensure that all credentials issued are compliant with federal standards.
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