Code Section Group

Vehicle Code - VEH

DIVISION 6. DRIVERS' LICENSES [12500 - 15326]

  ( Heading of Division 6 amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1615. )

CHAPTER 5. License Fees [14900 - 14911]

  ( Chapter 5 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )

ARTICLE 1. Imposition of Fees [14900 - 14907]
  ( Heading of Article 1 added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 13, Sec. 48. )

14900.
  

(a) Upon application for an original class C or M driver’s license, a fee of twenty-four dollars ($24), and on and after January 1, 2010, a fee of thirty dollars ($30), shall be paid to the department for a license that will expire on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application. The payment of the fee entitles the person paying the fee to apply for a driver’s license and to take three examinations within a period of 12 months from the date of the application or during the period that an instruction permit is valid, as provided in Section 12509.

(b) In addition to the application fee specified in subdivision (a), a person who fails to successfully complete the driving skill test on the first attempt shall be required to pay an additional fee of five dollars ($5) for each additional driving skill test administered under that application.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 10, Sec. 10. Effective July 28, 2009.)

14900.1.
  

(a) Except as provided in Section 15255.1, upon application for the renewal of a driver’s license or for a license to operate a different class of vehicle, a fee of twenty-four dollars ($24), and on and after January 1, 2010, a fee of thirty dollars ($30), shall be paid to the department for a license that will expire on the fifth birthday of the applicant following the date of the application. The payment of the fee entitles the person paying the fee to apply for a driver’s license and to take three examinations within a period of 12 months from the date of the application or during the period that an instruction permit is valid, as provided in Section 12509.

(b) In addition to the application fee specified in subdivision (a), a person who fails to successfully complete the driving skill test on the first attempt shall be required to pay an additional fee of five dollars ($5) for each additional driving skill test administered under that application.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 397, Sec. 6. (SB 810) Effective January 1, 2018.)

14900.5.
  

Upon application and payment of the fees for a driver’s license pursuant to Section 14900, an identification card may be issued to the applicant if it is determined that a driver’s license cannot be issued due to the applicant’s physical or mental condition. The identification card, unless canceled earlier, shall expire on the applicant’s sixth birthday following the date of application.

(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 607, Sec. 2.)

14901.
  

Upon an application for a duplicate driver’s license or for a change of name on a driver’s license, a fee of nineteen dollars ($19), and on and after January 1, 2010, a fee of twenty-four dollars ($24), shall be paid to the department.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 10, Sec. 12. Effective July 28, 2009.)

14902.
  

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), (g), and (h) of this section, subdivision (c) of Section 13002, and subdivision (c) of Section 14900, upon an application for an identification card a fee of twenty-six dollars ($26) shall be paid to the department.

(b) An original or replacement senior citizen identification card issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13000 shall be issued free of charge.

(c) The fee for an original or replacement identification card issued to a person who has been determined to have a current income level that meets the eligibility requirements for assistance programs under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of, or Part 5 (commencing with Section 17000) of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 18900) of Chapter 10 of Part 6 of, or Chapter 10.1 (commencing with Section 18930) or Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 18937) of Part 6 of, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be six dollars ($6). The determination of eligibility under this subdivision shall be made by a governmental or nonprofit entity, which shall be subject to regulations adopted by the department.

(d) A fee shall not be charged for an original or replacement identification card issued to any person who can verify their status as a homeless person or homeless child or youth. A homeless services provider that has knowledge of the person’s housing status may verify the person’s status for purposes of this subdivision. A determination of eligibility pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to regulations adopted by the department. A person applying for an identification card under this subdivision shall not be charged a fee for verification of their eligibility.

(e) All fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account.

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) A “homeless child or youth” has the same meaning as the definition of “homeless children and youths” as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et seq.).

(2) A “homeless person” has the same meaning as the definition set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et seq.).

(3) A “homeless services provider” includes:

(A) A governmental or nonprofit agency receiving federal, state, or county or municipal funding to provide services to a “homeless person” or “homeless child or youth,” or that is otherwise sanctioned to provide those services by a local homeless continuum of care organization.

(B) An attorney licensed to practice law in this state.

(C) A local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth designated as such pursuant to Section 11432 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or a school social worker.

(D) A human services provider or public social services provider funded by the State of California to provide homeless children or youth services, health services, mental or behavioral health services, substance use disorder services, or public assistance or employment services.

(E) A law enforcement officer designated as a liaison to the homeless population by a local police department or sheriff’s department within the state.

(F) Any other homeless services provider that is qualified to verify an individual’s housing status, as determined by the department.

(g) The fee for a replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate upon release from a federal correctional facility or a county jail facility is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible inmate” means an inmate who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The inmate previously held a California driver’s license or identification card.

(2) The inmate has a usable photo on file with the department that is not more than 10 years old.

(3) The inmate has no outstanding fees due for a prior California identification card.

(4) The inmate has provided, and the department has verified, their true full name, date of birth, social security number, and legal presence in the United States, or, upon implementation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12801.9, if the inmate is unable to submit satisfactory proof that their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, the inmate has provided proof of their identity pursuant to Section 12801.9.

(5) The inmate currently resides in a federal correctional facility or a county jail facility.

(6) The inmate has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets all of the following requirements:

(A) Be on federal correctional facility letterhead or county sheriff letterhead.

(B) Be typed or computer generated.

(C) Contain the inmate’s name.

(D) Contain the inmate’s date of birth.

(E) Contain the original signature of an official from the federal correctional facility or county sheriff’s office.

(F) Be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

(h) The fee for an original or replacement identification card issued to an eligible inmate upon release from a state correctional facility is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible inmate” has the same meaning as that term is defined under subdivision (b) of Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code, and meets both of the following requirements:

(1) The inmate currently resides in a facility housing inmates under the control of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(2) The inmate has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets the requirements described under subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, and (F) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (g) and contains the signature of an official from the state facility.

(i) (1) The fee for an original or replacement identification card issued to an eligible patient treated in a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals is eight dollars ($8). For purposes of this subdivision, “eligible patient” means a patient who is currently housed in a facility described in Section 4100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is preparing to be discharged unconditionally or through a conditional release program, and who meets either of the following sets of requirements:

(A) The patient has previously held a California driver’s license or identification card and all of the following requirements are met:

(i) The patient has a usable photo on file with the department that is not more than 10 years old or has a new usable photo taken.

(ii) The patient has provided, and the department has verified, their true full name, date of birth, social security number, California residence, and legal presence in the United States, or, upon implementation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12801.9, if the patient is unable to submit satisfactory proof that their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, the patient has provided proof of their identity pursuant to Section 12801.9.

(iii) The patient has provided the department, upon application, a verification of their eligibility under this subdivision that meets all of the following requirements:

(I) Be on State Department of State Hospitals letterhead.

(II) Be typed or computer generated.

(III) Contain the patient’s name.

(IV) Contain the patient’s date of birth.

(V) Contain the original signature of an official from the State Department of State Hospitals.

(VI) Be dated within 90 days of the date of application.

(B) The patient has not previously held a California driver’s license or identification card and all of the following requirements are met:

(i) The patient has verified and signed under penalty of perjury a completed application for an identification card.

(ii) The patient has a usable photo taken.

(iii) The patient provides a legible print of the thumb or finger.

(iv) The patient has provided acceptable proof of the information described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), subject to verification by the department.

(v) The patient has provided verification of eligibility as described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A).

(2) The State Department of State Hospitals shall reimburse the Department of Motor Vehicles for any actual costs incurred in providing assistance pursuant to this paragraph.

(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 40, Sec. 34. (SB 159) Effective June 29, 2024.)

14903.
  

(a) A fee shall not be charged for an in person original, renewal, or replacement driver’s license or identification card issued to any person who was exonerated, and was released from the state prison within the previous six months.

(b) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide a form to any person who was exonerated and released from the state prison within the previous six months. The form, along with a copy of a court order, if provided by the court, shall be taken by the individual to the Department of Motor Vehicles to qualify for the fee exemption in subdivision (a).

(c) For the purposes of this section, “exonerated” shall have the same meaning as in Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 403, Sec. 3. (AB 672) Effective January 1, 2016.)

14904.
  

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, before a driver’s license may be issued, reissued, or returned to the licensee after a suspension or a revocation of a person’s driving privilege ordered by the department has been terminated, there shall, in addition to any other fees required by this code, be paid to the department a fee sufficient to pay the actual costs of the issuance, reissuance, or return as determined by the department.

(b) This section shall not apply to any suspension or revocation that is set aside by the department or a court.

(c) This section shall not apply to any suspension or revocation based upon a physical or mental condition.

(Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1177, Sec. 2. Effective October 14, 1991.)

14905.
  

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, in lieu of the fees in Section 14904, before a driver’s license may be issued, reissued, or returned to a person after suspension or revocation of the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle pursuant to Section 13353 or 13353.2, there shall be paid to the department a fee in an amount of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) to pay the costs of the administration of the administrative suspension and revocation programs for persons who refuse or fail to complete chemical testing, as provided in Section 13353, or who drive with an excessive amount of alcohol in their blood, as provided in Section 13353.2, any costs of the Department of the California Highway Patrol related to the payment of compensation for overtime for attending any administrative hearings pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 14100) of Chapter 3 and Section 13382, and any reimbursement for costs mandated by the state pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 23612.

(b) This section does not apply to a suspension or revocation that is set aside by the department or a court.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 805, Sec. 20. Effective September 23, 2002.)

14906.
  

(a) In addition to the fees required by Section 14904, the department may require payment of a fee sufficient to pay the actual costs, as determined by the department, for giving any notices in connection with suspensions or revocations in accordance with Sections 22, 29, and 13106.

(b) This section does not apply to any suspension or revocation that is set aside by the department or a court.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1221, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 1995.)

14907.
  

In addition to the fees required pursuant to Section 14904, there shall be paid to the department a fee of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) to pay the costs of a departmental review when requested pursuant to Section 14105.5, following a hearing conducted pursuant to Section 13353 or 13353.2. The fee authorized under this section shall be collected in conjunction with any request for a departmental review received on or after January 1, 2003.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 805, Sec. 21. Effective September 23, 2002.)

VEHVehicle Code - VEH1.