Newsom signed a new law in California that modifies several DMV procedures: more digital licenses

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 169 into law in California, marking a major overhaul of services offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The legislation introduces several key changes aimed at modernizing vehicle-related procedures, including expanding the use of digital driver’s licenses, enabling electronic title issuance, and modifying administrative costs and requirements. The bill expands the pilot program for digital driver's licenses, increasing participation from 15% to 60% of active license holders in the state. While the digital version will remain an optional alternative, it does not replace physical cards, which continue to hold validity. The new law also sets conditions for handling personal data, ensuring that location information or movement tracking cannot be collected through the system. Users will not need to hand over their phones to prove identity, and remote access to data requires explicit, real-time authorization. Another significant change allows the DMV to issue and accept vehicle titles in electronic format. This means certain processes can be completed without relying solely on printed documents. Drivers who provide an email address and agree to receive communications digitally will also get notices and documents via this channel. The law eliminates the requirement to distribute free copies of traffic laws summaries, which can now be accessed online. Administrative costs and requirements have also been modified. The $15 fee associated with certain expedited services at the DMV’s Sacramento headquarters has been removed. Additionally, the age of a person alone will no longer be considered sufficient justification for requiring a driving test during license renewal. The law authorizes the DMV to implement electronic vehicle titles, expand the use of digital driver’s licenses, and participate in national identity verification systems. Changes to renewal processes, Real ID, and driver registrations include eliminating the obligation to include written notifications about knowledge exams in renewal reminders. Modifications also apply to the design of disabled parking permits. California will now be able to join the State-to-State Verification Service (S2S), allowing cross-jurisdictional checks to identify duplicate records and ensure individuals do not already possess a valid Real ID elsewhere before receiving one in California. To meet federal Real ID requirements, the exchange of information will be limited to specific data points. These include names, addresses, dates of birth, and other basic identifiers. The use of digital identification remains voluntary and does not replace the necessity of issuing physical cards. The Department of Justice and the attorney general will oversee compliance to ensure data is used exclusively for its intended purposes. The law imposes strict limits on the use of personal data. The S2S system will not be used to share sensitive information such as addresses, photographs, gender markers, or biometric data. It also prohibits sharing whether an individual holds a license issued under Section 12801.9, which pertains to AB 60 permits for undocumented residents. These measures aim to protect privacy while streamlining administrative processes.