Full Breakdown
California DMV to Share License Data with AAMVA
4/29/2026, 11:30:13 PM
DMV Data Transfer
California DMV will upload driver-license records, including AB 60 licenses for undocumented residents, to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ State-to-State Verification system to meet Real ID requirements.
AB 60 & Real ID
AB 60, enacted in 2013, allows undocumented Californians to obtain a driver’s license while barring use of licensing data for citizenship decisions. 2005 Real ID Act sets standards for ID acceptance at airports.
Data Scope & Cost
Over 1 million Californians hold AB 60 licenses. Shared fields include name, birthdate and last five digits of a Social Security number, or “99999” for those without an SSN. Transfer costs $55 million.
Key Actors
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office (spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo), DMV Director Steve Gordon, AAMVA CEO Ian Grossman, and advocacy groups The Identity Project, Oakland Privacy, American Friends Service Committee, Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Official Statements
Governor’s office spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo says California leads in supporting immigrant families and protecting data. AAMVA CEO Ian Grossman says authorized state staff may access records and bulk searches are barred. DMV Director Steve Gordon noted state sought a non-SSN identifier and must proceed.
Opposition
Advocates claim the data sharing violates AB 60’s privacy shield, risking deportation of undocumented drivers. They cite past local law-enforcement data transfers to ICE and warn that AAMVA’s private status and gag-ordered subpoenas limit oversight.
Quotes
> “Once this data is uploaded to AAMVA, it's out of California's control, no matter what California wants, no matter what protests we may make.” — Ed Hasbrouck, The Identity Project
> “It’s unclear how extreme the danger people are being put into by this decision but there’s no doubt we told people with AB 60 licenses this would never happen, but it’s happening, and that’s a direct betrayal.” — Tracy Rosenberg, Oakland Privacy
> “a betrayal of California’s commitment to protect and defend all its residents, especially those who have an AB 60 driver's license.” — Pedro Rios, American Friends Service Committee
> “It just seems like we’re missing the bigger picture of this moment in time.” — Becca Cramer-Mowder, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Conflicts
AAMVA says bulk searches are prohibited and California will be notified of requests, yet advocates note gag-ordered subpoenas could block alerts. California law limits SSN sharing to tax, parking or child-support purposes, raising uncertainty. An Oklahoma lawsuit challenges data-sharing.
Implications
The shared data could let agencies flag undocumented drivers via the “99999” placeholder, raising deportation risk. If California fails to meet Real ID, DHS may reject its IDs at airports, affecting all travelers.
Next Steps
The $55 million transfer budget requires legislative approval. Lawmakers are reviewing the plan amid the Oklahoma lawsuit and DHS action on Real ID compliance. Stakeholders anticipate further negotiations on safeguards and potential court challenges.
