Registry entry

California Driver's License Renewal

Renew an individual's California driver's license through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This document describes the renewal-method branch (online, by mail, or in person), the conditions that force an in-person renewal, and the licence-holder inputs. It pairs with the published us/ca/dmv/vehicle-registration-renewal to show one authority with multiple processes. It does not submit the renewal; the live dmv.ca.gov source is always authoritative (see verification).

Registry entry

us/ca/dmv/drivers-license-renewal

Jurisdiction
United States · California (subnational)
Version
1.1.0
Verification
draft
Authority
California Department of Motor Vehicles

GovSchema spec v0.3

Authoritative source DL renewal notice (DL 410)

Machine access

Schema document
registry/us/ca/dmv/drivers-license-renewal/1.1.0/schema.jsonapplication/schema+json
Registry catalog
registry/index.jsonone record per schema id

Field reference

16 fields across 3 steps, read from the published schema.json — names, types, requiredness, and validation as the document states them. The live government form remains the authoritative source.

Identify your licence

  • driverLicenseNumber string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. A California DL number is one letter followed by 7 digits, e.g. D1234567.

    pattern
  • lastName string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Your name as it appears on the current licence.

    length: 1–100
  • firstName string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 1–100
  • middleName string optional

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 0–100
  • dateOfBirth date required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Full date, YYYY-MM-DD. Drivers turning a qualifying age (generally 70 and older) may be required to complete part of the renewal in person; the live source states the current age rules.

    classification: sensitive-pii
  • last4SSN string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Used by DMV to verify identity for an online or mail renewal.

    patternclassification: sensitive-pii
  • licenseExpirationDate date required

    Full date, YYYY-MM-DD. Online renewal is available from 90 days before to 12 months after this date; outside that window a different path applies. This timing rule is recorded here but cannot be enforced as a v0.1 constraint.

Choose how to renew

  • renewalMethod enum required

    online = renew on the DMV website (eligible only if no address change, no REAL ID upgrade, and within the timing window); by_mail = renew using the mailed renewal notice when eligible; in_person = renew at a DMV field office (required for the triggers below).

    enum: online | by_mail | in_person
  • upgradingToRealId boolean required

    A first-time REAL ID requires an in-person visit with original identity, Social Security, and residency documents. If true, renewalMethod must be in_person.

  • addressOrNameChange boolean required

    A change of address or personal description generally cannot be completed in the basic online renewal and may require a different DMV transaction or an in-person visit. If true, check the live source for the correct path.

  • visionOrMedicalChange boolean required

    Recent vision surgery (such as LASIK) or a new disability/medical condition affecting safe driving generally requires an in-person renewal with a vision exam. If true, renewalMethod must be in_person.

Address

  • residenceAddressLine1 string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Your California residence address.

    length: 1–120
  • residenceAddressLine2 string optional

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 0–120
  • residenceAddressCity string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 1–80
  • residenceAddressPostalCode string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. 5-digit or ZIP+4 format, e.g. 90210 or 90210-1234. The state is California (US-CA).

    pattern
  • mailingAddressDiffers boolean optional

    If true, provide a separate mailing address on the live source where the new licence should be sent.

Version history

Independent and non-affiliated

GovSchema is an independent, open-source project. This reference is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by California Department of Motor Vehicles or any government. The authoritative source is always the live government form and its official instructions.