Section 14902.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 14902.
in effect(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.
References
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 3007.05.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4100.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 13002.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 14900.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 13000.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 11200.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 12000.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 17000.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 18900.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 18930.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 18937.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 11432.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 12801.9.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026