Ever rushed through airport security and flashed your California driver’s license, trusting it would be enough to get you on the plane? If you show up without a valid ID or passport, you could even end up paying an extra fee just to fly.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles says a long-hidden software error means about 325,000 REAL ID cards were issued with the wrong expiration dates, nearly twenty years after the code was first installed. That is only about 1.5% of REAL ID holders in the state, but the mistake matters now that these cards are required to board domestic flights and enter many federal buildings.
What went wrong with California REAL IDs
During a recent review of its technology systems, the DMV discovered that old computer code from 2006 was applying standard renewal periods to some REAL ID records instead of using the date of each person’s authorized stay in the United States. In simple terms, the cards still proved that the holder was in the country legally, but the printed expiration date did not always line up with what federal rules require.
Under federal law, immigrants with lawful presence such as permanent residents, green card holders, and many visa holders can get a REAL ID. Their card is supposed to expire when their legal permission to live or work in the country ends, not just on a usual renewal cycle.
Why The Timing Matters For Travelers
Since May 7, 2025, TSA agents at airport checkpoints have required either a REAL ID compliant license, a passport, or another approved document from travelers who are 18 or older for domestic flights. These rules turn the information printed on your license from fine print into something that can decide whether you make it onto a plane.
Starting February 1, 2026, people who reach the security line without any acceptable ID can still try to fly by paying a $45 fee for TSA’s new ConfirmID process, which uses extra checks to verify identity. The identity check can add extra time and does not guarantee that TSA will clear every traveler to fly, so no one wants to discover that surprise charge with a plane already boarding.
Who Has To Replace Their Card And What To Do
According to the DMV, about 325,000 people in California will be told they need a replacement REAL ID or a standard driver’s license. That works out to roughly 1.5% of all REAL ID holders in the state, meaning almost everyone else can keep using their card as usual.
Only customers who receive an official letter in the mail need to take action, and the DMV says notices will keep going out over the coming weeks and months. For those affected, the department promises to waive all replacement fees and to speed up processing so people are not left without valid ID for long. The DMV also warns it will not ask for payment or personal data by text, email, or unexpected phone call, so customers can spot scammers.
How Immigrants Are Affected And What Is Not Changing
The error mainly touches immigrants with lawful presence whose REAL IDs should have been tied to the end date of their immigration status. Many of them did everything by the book, from bringing thick folders of documents to DMV counters to waiting through long lines, so having to repeat the process feels like one more burden.
State officials emphasize that at no point were REAL IDs issued to people without legal status and that separate safeguards made sure ineligible residents could not use the process to register to vote. They say the message is simple and ask people to keep their documents current, watch for official mailers, and not ignore a DMV notice if they rely on their ID to travel or prove who they are.
The official statement was published on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website.
