Latest news with #CaliforniaDMV
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘You shouldn't have waited too long': REAL ID enforcement begins in California on May 7
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 in the wake of 9/11 to set a strict new standard for issuing driver's licenses, and other ID cards. Anyone 18 years old and older who plans to fly needs a REAL ID to enter commercial aircraft, certain federal facilities, and nuclear power plants. 'You shouldn't have waited too long,' Bakersfield resident Mickey Mahoney said. California DMV urges residents to get a REAL ID before upcoming deadline 'I went into Walmart one time to pick up some ammunition cause I was going to the range, and they wouldn't sell it to me because I didn't have the REAL ID card.' Mahoney said that was two years ago. Californians have been able to upgrade to a REAL ID since the California DMV began offering it in January 2018, according to the California DMV. 'After that I went, and applied. It was really simple,' Mahoney said. Mahoney went to the DMV website to find out more, but it wasn't so easy for Leslie Michael. 'I'm almost in tears trying to figure it out. You make a mistake you have to go back to the beginning, and go all the way through again,' Michael said. To get a REAL ID in California, you need to prove your identity with a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or permanent resident card. You need to provide your Social Security number with a card, W-2 form, or paystub. Flying without a REAL ID? Here's what to expect You need two proofs of California residency like your utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement. If you've legally changed your name, you'll need a name change document like a marriage certificate. Finally, you need to visit a DMV office and pay the $35 application fee. 'I didn't need to get mine yet because I can still apparently, I heard you can still get around with your passport on domestic flights,' Michael said. 'I will be getting a REAL ID.' Michael said. Other forms of acceptable ID's include: A passport Driver's license or state ID that meets REAL ID standards U.S. Military ID Permanent resident card Border Crossing card DHS-designated enhanced driver's license Native American tribal photo ID An airline or airport-issued ID Canadian Provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation Worker Identification Credential DHS Trusted Traveler cards As of May 1, 2025, almost 19.5 million Californians have a REAL ID driver's license or identification card — that's 58% of all cardholders, according to the DMV. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Remember, the easiest way to check if your license meets REAL ID requirements is to look for the star on the corner no matter what state it is. The DMV is offering extended hours in 18 select offices from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays (except Wednesday) and other offices will be open Saturday, May 3, to assist customers who want to get a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
REAL ID enforcement begins May 7: what you need to know
OAKLAND - Enforcement of the REAL ID requirements is set to begin on May 7, when the federal government says it will begin enforcing checks for the REAL ID card that can only be obtained by verifying U.S. citizenship and residency in order to board planes or enter some federal buildings. The REAL ID requirement was established in 2005, as a security effort after the 9/11 attacks. Over the past decades, some people have obtained REAL IDs, but there have been delays and postponements in implementation. REAL ID fact sheets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese here. The May 7 enforcement date has now set off a rush at California DMV offices statewide. "A few months ago, there were around 6,000 people per day that were getting their Real ID. And today, we're seeing in excess of 22,000," DMV Director Steve Gordon said. "My husband just did it, and it took him, I think he said, six weeks to get an appointment. And even though he had an appointment, it still took hours," Leslie Marsden, an Oakland Airport traveler said. "Still waiting. I've been here about an hour and a half," Kenneth Maxwell, said Tuesday, as he waited at the Oakland DMV office trying to get his REAL ID card. "It's been kind of hard getting in and getting out because you need several pieces of ID." The DMV has set up a website with a list of what documents you need to get your REAL Director Gordon says to speed up the process, people can go online to upload documents for pre-validation and make an appointment. Gordon says it's important people check the DMV list of documents you need to bring with you to the office. "Then you'll need to bring in those original documents to the DMV because the TSA still requires us to do a tactile review of the documents to make sure they are what they say they are," Gordon said. In the Bay Area, DMV offices in Fremont and Pleasanton have extended hours from 7:00AM to 8:00AM through June 27 to handle REAL ID requests. Other offices in Oakland and Concord will have special hours for REAL ID appointments on Saturday, May 3. In California, undocumented residents can get a driver's license. but they can not obtain a REAL ID. Some worry about friends who are not documented. "They're not going to be able to travel to see family members that live across the country. They won't be able to travel to some of their children's sports tournaments," Marsden said. "Those who don't have a REAL ID will be able to fly with a U.S. or foreign passport," Gordon said. "Forty-eight percent of Americans have a passport today, and so that's the highest form of identity across the nation. So if you have a passport, there's no need to get in line for a Real ID today. Just get it on your normal renewal cycle," Gordon advised. The TSA has a list on their website of other forms of ID that are accepted. "You can have a global entry card, a permanent residency card, a green card," Gordon said. So far,19-million people, or about 58% of Californians, have obtained the Real ID, Gordon said. "I think it was about a year or two ago," Olivia Benesch, an Oakland Airport traveler who has her REAL ID, said. "I don't remember about the process but I think it's pretty smooth." "We're pretty frequent travelers, so all of my kids have had REAL ID for over a year now, so we're luckily ahead of that giant push," Jim Ludovico, an Alamo resident, said. Jana Katsuyama is a reporter for KTVU. Email Jana at Call her at 510-326-5529. Or follow her on Twitter @JanaKTVU and read her other reports on her bio page.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As electric vehicle use grows in California, the state rethinks the future of its gas tax
As more drivers turn to zero-emission vehicles and California continues to invest in clean transportation, the state's gas tax could be a thing of the past. California's gas tax, which stands at 59 cents, is the primary source of state funding for highways and roads. However, revenue from the gas tax has fallen. The most recent report from the National Association of State Budget Officers found that gas taxes raised 41% of transportation revenue in fiscal year 2016, but that percentage had fallen to about 36% in fiscal year 2024. California DMV releases proposed rules for autonomous heavy-duty trucks, large vehicles On average, Californians pay about $300 a year in state gas taxes, in addition to other state fees that support transportation. To combat that, the state has explored implementing a California Road Charge, which 'could replace the gas tax with a mileage-based user fee charged to drivers who use the roads,' according to the program's website. Essentially, residents who drive more would pay more, and those who drive less would pay less. The state says it's working 'to develop a road charge program that is fair, transparent, and sustainable so that it meets our road maintenance needs now and in the future.' As the state continues to explore alternatives to the gas tax, it continues to invest in clean transportation. Here's how California's license plates will look different next year In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California has more public and shared private electric vehicle chargers installed statewide than gasoline nozzles. A total of 178,549 public and shared private EV chargers are installed statewide, while the number of gasoline nozzles across the state stands at 120,000. Results from a pilot program to test the road charge system launched in August 2024 and concluded in January. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Out
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
California is running out of license plate numbers—here's what happens next
It's official: California's love affair with cars is so intense, we're about to literally run out of license plate numbers. After nearly 45 years of the trusty old format—one number, three letters, three numbers (think: 1ABC234)—the California DMV is preparing for a historic switch-up. Starting next year, newly registered vehicles will sport a fresh sequence: three numbers, three letters and one number (something like 123ABC4). Why now? Blame a perfect storm of fast-tracked car sales and a little geopolitical drama. Thanks to fears of soaring vehicle prices triggered by trade wars (yes, tariffs strike again), Californians have been snapping up new cars at record rates. The California New Car Dealers Association reported an 8.3% jump in new vehicle registrations in early 2025 compared to last year. That surge pushed the DMV's plate inventory into the fast lane toward depletion—about a year earlier than expected. For context, California's current numbering system kicked off way back in 1980 with '1AAA000.' It was designed to crank out more than 158 million unique combinations, but 13.2 million cars (and counting) later, even that massive stockpile is drying up. As of now, plates are being issued in the '9UBA000–9UBZ999' range, racing steadily toward the finish line at '9ZZZ999.' And no, you won't suddenly be stuck without a plate. The DMV has the next system lined up and ready to roll. It's a simple reshuffle, not a revolutionary redesign. (Though, seriously, can we please bring back those retro '80s sunset plates already?)
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
California is running out of license plate numbers. Here's the license plate sequence starting next year
With the state running out of its current combination of license plate numbers and letters, California plans to launch a new license plate sequence for newly registered vehicles starting next year. The threat of a trade war sparked by President Trump's tariffs has played a role in the state's license plate quandary. California's standard automobile license plates have a configuration of one number, followed by three letters, followed by three numbers, according to Ronald Ongtoaboc, spokesperson for the DMV. The standard license plate, used to connect registered vehicles to their owners, is issued to all passenger vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, permanent trailers, trailer coaches and park trailers. The first edition of this sequence began in 1980 with "1AAA000." Different sequences were used in prior years. The latest sequence is project to end sometime in 2026 with the final license plate 9ZZZ999, "due to the dwindling number of available combinations," Ongtoaboc said. Read more: California DMV opens early for those needing a Real ID before the May 7 deadline The agency is currently processing license plates in the 9UBA000-9UBZ999 range, according to the DMV. Once the state runs out of that license plate sequence, the next sequence will be three numerals, followed by three letters and one numeral. For example, it will look like "000AAA0." The state is running out of the 1980s-era sequence about a year earlier than expected, the Sacramento Bee reported. Part of the reason the state expects to run out of the sequence so quickly is that California's rate of issuing new plate numbers is increasing more rapidly than originally anticipated, the DMV told the Bee. What's getting newly registered cars on the road so fast is the fear that the Trump administration's trade wars will starkly increase car prices, prompting motorists to buy new cars before the anticipated price hike. A recent report from the California New Car Dealers Assn. found that new vehicle registrations increased by 8.3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same time last year. "Initial reports indicate a surge in new vehicle purchases in the months of March and April in anticipation of the implementation of these tariffs, however, it remains to be seen if they will result in higher vehicle prices," the report stated. Analysis predict the number of new vehicle registrations will fall due to the fluid nature of the current trade policy negotiations. The report stated that the total number of registrations for the year 2025 is expected to drop by 2.3% and coming in at an estimated 1.71 million. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
