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Map Shows States Where Illegal Immigrants Can Get Driving Licenses
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A growing clash is emerging across the U.S. over whether undocumented immigrants can legally drive. Some blue states issue "drive-only" licenses, while Republican-led states are passing laws to block or criminalize the use of out-of-state licenses held by undocumented residents.
19 states and the District of Columbia permit undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. These licenses are typically labeled "Not for Federal Purposes" and are not accepted for federal identification or air travel.
Newsweek has created this map to show the U.S. states that allow migrants without legal status to get a driver's license.
Why It Matters
The policy has gained traction in Democratic-led states but faces growing opposition in Republican-led states, where critics argue that issuing these IDs could allow undocumented immigrants to obtain the same identification as citizens, potentially shielding them from ICE enforcement.
What To Know
States permitting undocumented immigrants to drive include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia. These licenses are usually marked "Not for Federal Purposes," meaning they cannot be used for federal identification or air travel.
Opposition has grown in several Republican-led states. Florida, Tennessee and Wyoming have enacted laws invalidating out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants, and Alabama is considering similar measures. These laws often target licenses from states that issue special "drive-only" licenses, with penalties ranging from fines to misdemeanor charges.
In 2023, Florida became the first state to invalidate certain out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants. Senate Bill 1718, introduced during the legislative session, passed both the Senate and House and was signed into law by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The law made it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine and possible jail time, to drive in Florida with a license "issued exclusively to undocumented immigrants" or with markings indicating the driver did not provide proof of lawful presence, reinforcing state control over who may hold a valid license.
Stock images of cars on a road in a wooded area.
Stock images of cars on a road in a wooded House Bill 749, signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on April 24, 2025, invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses issued exclusively to undocumented immigrants. Driving with such a license is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, and the law takes full effect on January 1, 2026.
Wyoming House Bill 116, signed on February 28, 2025, similarly invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses held by undocumented immigrants. Effective July 1, 2025, it makes driving with such a license a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $750 fine.
Oklahoma House Bill 1043, introduced in 2025 by Representative Molly Jenkins and Senator David Bullard, also aimed to invalidate out-of-state licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Alabama Senate Bill 55, which would have invalidated out-of-state licenses held by undocumented immigrants, passed the Senate on February 13, 2025, but stalled in the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and did not advance further.
New Hampshire Senate Bill 13 (SB13) sought to block out-of-state licenses for undocumented immigrants and prevent those with pending asylum claims from receiving a license. Although the Senate passed the bill and the House amended it, the measure stalled after the Senate rejected the House changes on June 12, 2025.
Montana House Bill 469, which would have invalidated out-of-state licenses for undocumented immigrants, died in a standing committee on May 22, 2025.
The legislative push comes amid broader debates over undocumented immigrants and driving. A truck driver, Harjinder Singh, has been charged with vehicular homicide after allegedly attempting an illegal U-turn that caused a crash, killing three people near Fort Pierce on the Florida Turnpike on August 12, authorities said.
Singh, an Indian national, entered the United States illegally in 2018. He could now face deportation following criminal proceedings, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) said.
