- Software error forces reissue of roughly 325,000 California Real IDs.
- Issue tied to visa expiration dates not matching license renewals.
- DMV says undocumented residents never received California Real IDs.
A deeply embedded software glitch in California’s DMV systems has triggered an unexpected problem, with roughly 325,000 residents now needing new Real ID licenses to remain in compliance with federal regulations. According to the state DMV, the affected group includes immigrants with lawful presence. The issue surfaced during an internal review conducted by the agency
It turns out that many lawful immigrants in the state were mistakenly issued Real IDs that don’t expire in sync with their legal authorization to live in the country. The mismatch affects roughly 1.5 percent of Real ID holders across California, according to the DMV.
More: How the DMV Turns Your Data Into A Multi-Million-Dollar Business Behind Your Back
The DMV as attributed the problem to a legacy coding issue from 2006, which in some cases automatically applied the standard credential renewal interval instead of matching the expiration date of the holder’s authorized visa.
The department has confirmed it will notify all affected individuals about the steps required to obtain either a corrected Real ID or a non-Real ID driver’s license, free of charge.
“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,” DMV director Steve Gordon said. “For nearly 99% of REAL ID holders, no action is required. The DMV remains committed to serving all Californians and ensuring REAL ID credentials meet federal standards.”
The department also clarified that no Real IDs have ever been issued to undocumented individuals in California. This particular error only affects those who were legally residing in the U.S. and were issued licenses with incorrect expiration dates.
Truck Driver License Backflip
The Real ID revelation follows a separate licensing reversal by the DMV just weeks earlier. In that case, more than 17,000 commercial truck drivers were told they could keep their licenses, after initially being notified they would lose them. The department has confirmed it will notify all affected individuals with instructions on how to obtain either a corrected Real ID or a non-Real ID driver’s license, at no cost.
