Driver's license after a move: the rules by state

When you move to another state, your old state’s license only works for a while: each state gives you a deadline to switch and asks for its own documents. This guide is for people moving with family, with or without a Social Security number. We explain what REAL ID is, how much time you have in six states and which ones license people who cannot show lawful presence, always with what the official page says. We do not tell you what a filing means for an immigration case: only someone who knows your case can look at that.

Since that date, federal agencies only accept REAL ID licenses for official purposes

May 7, 2025¹

To exchange your out-of-state license after becoming a New York resident

30 days¹⁶

To get a North Carolina license after establishing a permanent residence

60 days²³

The cost of TSA ConfirmID to fly without a REAL ID or passport; valid 10 days

$45⁴

REAL ID in a nutshell

REAL ID is a license or ID card that meets federal standards. Since May 7, 2025, federal agencies do not accept a non-REAL ID license for official purposes, although they may phase in enforcement.¹ At airports, for example, the TSA has accepted only licenses with a star as identification since that date.¹⁴ You can tell a REAL ID by the star in the upper right corner, and your state decides the process and the documents to get one.⁴

Two federal rules explain why there are two kinds of license. First: a motor vehicle office may issue a REAL ID only to someone who presents satisfactory evidence of lawful status.² Second: states that also issue licenses not valid for federal purposes must say so on the face of the card and use a different design or color.³

REAL ID and standard license, side by side

With a star

REAL ID

• Works for domestic flights and to enter military bases and most federal facilities.⁷
• Only issued to people who present evidence of lawful status.²
• North Carolina and New Jersey ask for two proofs of address instead of one.²³²⁰

No star

Standard license

• Works for driving and as general identification.²²
• Says on its face that it is not valid for federal purposes.³
• To fly you need another accepted document, such as a passport.⁴

The North Carolina DMV says REAL ID is optional: you do not need it to drive, vote or go to a hospital.⁵

If you have neither a REAL ID nor another accepted document, USAGov explains that travelers 18 and older can pay $45 for TSA ConfirmID to have the TSA verify their identity; the verification is valid for 10 days from the departure date. And you can still get a license that is not REAL ID.⁴ The TSA does not require children under 18 flying within the country with an adult to show ID.⁵

How much time you have and what they ask for, state by state

This table comes only from the official licensing pages we could open and read today. Each cell says what the page says; when the page does not say, we note it. Documents are categories, not the full list: each state publishes its own.

State	Deadline after a move	License if you cannot show lawful presence	Documents (categories)
California	The DMV pages we checked do not state a license deadline	Yes: the AB 60 license, for people who cannot prove legal presence but can prove identity and California residency6	Identity, two proofs of California residency and a Social Security number, with exceptions9
Texas	You can drive on your out-of-state license for up to 90 days10	No license is issued until DHS verifies the period of lawful presence12	Citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency, identity, Social Security number, registration and insurance for your vehicles11
Florida	30 days from establishing residency13	The page does not mention a license without lawful presence; its lists are for citizens, immigrants, non-immigrants and Canadians14	Originals proving identity, Social Security number and address14 (the list for immigrants asks for two documents with your Florida address)15
New York	30 days from becoming a resident; living 90 days in the state counts as evidence of residency16	Yes: the Green Light Law standard license, regardless of citizenship or lawful status; marked NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES17	Name, date of birth and New York residency; an affidavit if you were never issued a Social Security number17
New Jersey	60 days, or before your license expires, whichever is sooner18	Yes: the basic license is for all eligible residents regardless of immigration status19	6 Points of ID, a New Jersey address, and a Social Security number, ITIN or affidavit20
North Carolina	60 days from establishing a permanent residence23	The page asks people not born in the U.S. for a document proving legal presence or lawful status23	Identity and date of birth, Social Security number, an address in the state, legal presence if not born in the U.S., and liability insurance23

Arizona and Illinois are not in the table: their official licensing pages did not load when we verified, and we do not publish rules we could not read at the source. If you live in one of them, or any other state, USAGov’s directory takes you to your state’s motor vehicle office.²⁵ For the rest of the move (notice to your landlord, mail, health coverage), use the checklist for moving to another state.

Licenses for people who cannot show lawful presence

Three of the states we checked issue a license that does not require lawful presence. Each has its own name and rules, and none of them is a REAL ID.

California (AB 60). The DMV says the AB 60 license is for people who cannot prove legal presence but meet the requirements and can prove their identity and California residency. There is a knowledge test, offered in more than 40 languages, and a drive test; if you need an interpreter, you call 1-800-777-0133.⁶ The driver’s handbook sums it up: California offers licenses to all residents regardless of immigration status.⁷ People applying through AB 60 cannot apply for a REAL ID card.⁸

New York (Green Light Law). Since December 16, 2019, all New Yorkers 16 and older can apply for a standard, non-commercial license or permit regardless of citizenship or lawful status. If you were never issued a Social Security number, you sign an affidavit. There is a written test for the permit and a road test for the license, and fees range from $64.50 to $107.50. The law does not apply to non-driver IDs.¹⁷ Without proof of a Social Security number or lawful status, the license does not comply with REAL ID and cannot be used to board a domestic flight. The DMV explains that the law limits data sharing, including with immigration agencies, and requires telling you if those agencies ask for your data; it also says the law does not change who can vote (only citizens) or provide a pathway to citizenship. The Office of New Americans hotline, 1-800-566-7636, is toll-free, confidential and available in more than 200 languages.¹⁷

New Jersey (basic license). The MVC says the basic license is available to all eligible residents regardless of immigration status. If you have neither a Social Security number nor an ITINITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)An ITIN is a nine-digit number the IRS, the federal tax agency, issues to people who need a U.S. taxpayer identification number to file taxes and are not eligible for a Social Security number. It is for tax purposes only: it does not authorize you to work in the United States, does not qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and says nothing about your immigration status. You apply with Form W-7, and it expires if it goes unused for several years. Some lenders accept an ITIN for a mortgage.See the full definitionClose, you submit an affidavit.¹⁹ Among the primary identity documents it accepts your country’s passport and an ID card issued by a consulate, such as the matrícula consularconsular ID cardA Matricula Consular is an official Mexican government ID document issued by Mexico's consulates in the United States. Other countries offer similar IDs, sometimes called consular identification (CID) cards. According to the CFPB, many banks require a U.S. or state government-issued photo ID; if you do not have one, some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and consular IDs such as the Matricula, but not all, and the CFPB suggests asking first. You usually also need another document, such as a bill with your name and address, and an interest-bearing account requires an SSN or ITIN.See the full definitionClose; the affidavit is notarized or signed in front of an MVC employee.²¹ A standard license no longer works for domestic flights, but it does work for driving and general identification.²²

The documents: what almost every state asks for

Although each state has its own list, the categories repeat: who you are, where you live and your Social Security number (or whatever that state’s law accepts instead). Florida asks for original documents proving your identity, Social Security number and address, with different lists depending on whether you are a citizen, immigrant, non-immigrant or Canadian.¹⁴ Its list for immigrants includes, for example, the permanent resident card, and asks for two different documents with your Florida address.¹⁵ California asks for proof of identity, two proofs of residency and the Social Security numberSocial Security number (SSN)A Social Security number (SSN) is the nine-digit number on a Social Security card. It is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA), a federal agency, and you need it to work and to collect government benefits. The IRS also uses it as your taxpayer identification number on tax returns. You apply with Form SS-5 and proof of identity, age and U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status, and the service is free. People who must file taxes but cannot get an SSN use an ITIN. Identity thieves look for this number; the government advises keeping the card in a safe place and not carrying it in your wallet.See the full definitionClose, with exceptions.⁹ Texas also asks for proof of citizenship or lawful presence, and proof of registration and insurance for your vehicles.¹¹

Two details keep you from being sent home. First, language: New Jersey requires a certified translation of documents not in English,²⁰ and Texas requires foreign licenses not in English or Spanish to be translated before you arrive in the state.¹⁰ Second, Puerto Rico birth certificates: Texas does not recognize those issued before July 1, 2010 as proof of identity or lawful presence.¹² The guide what you can do with an ITIN, passport or matrícula explains what each document is good for outside the licensing office.

Appointment day: tests, your old license and what you pay

With a valid out-of-state license, you often skip the tests. Texas does not require them if you surrender a valid license from another state, a territory or Canada.¹⁰ North Carolina says they may be waived with a valid out-of-state license,²³ and New Jersey that they are waived with a valid, non-probationary license, though a vision test is required.¹⁸ In Florida you take a vision test and may not need the written or road test.¹³ In California, people arriving with another state’s license take the knowledge tests, with three attempts.⁸

You usually surrender your old license. New York asks you to surrender it at the exchange, which is in person only,¹⁶ and New Jersey when you receive the new one.¹⁸ In North Carolina, applying for a license cancels licenses from other states.²⁴ Fees vary too: in Florida, an initial Class E license costs $48.00 plus a $6.25 service fee at most tax collector offices;¹³ in New Jersey, a standard license costs $24 and a REAL ID $35.²²

Example with real numbers

Example: you move from Texas to North Carolina

A family with valid Texas licenses moves to North Carolina. This is what the North Carolina DMV says today:

Deadline for the new license

60 days from establishing a permanent residence²³

Written and road tests

May be waived because their Texas licenses are valid²³

Documents

Texas license, Social Security number, North Carolina address and, if not born in the U.S., proof of legal presence²³

While the card is in the mail

A 60-day temporary certificate that only works for driving²⁴

Their Texas licenses

Canceled when they apply for North Carolina licenses²⁴

This is an example using the rules published today. Before your appointment, check the official page of the state you are moving to.

Watch out for middlemen

Appointments and license filings are handled by your state’s office, not a middleman. The New Jersey MVC says it plainly: do not pay anyone to get you an appointment, because only the MVC schedules them, and a site that is not .gov may be a scam. It also reminds you that an ITIN is processed for free directly by the IRS.¹⁹ If someone offers to “fix” your license or your status for money, remember that a notary publicnotary publicIn the United States, a notary public is a person authorized by law to administer oaths and witness signatures on legal documents; the notary verifies who is signing and certifies the signature. The rules for becoming a notary vary by state. It is not the same as a "notario público" in many Latin American countries, where the title means someone with the equivalent of a law license. Here, a notary who is not a lawyer cannot give you legal advice or help you with immigration paperwork. Some states, such as Oregon, forbid them from advertising as a "notario" or "notario público".See the full definitionClose or immigration consultant is not allowed to practice law.²⁶ The guides notario is not a lawyer and impostor calls and messages explain how to spot these offers, and how to get an ITIN explains how to apply for free.

If this is you

What matters most for your situation

You do not have a Social Security number

In New York you sign an affidavit;¹⁷ in New Jersey an ITIN or an affidavit works.¹⁹ In Florida, check the FAQ page for customers without a number.¹⁵

You were born in Puerto Rico

Get a certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010: Texas does not recognize older ones.¹² The guide from Puerto Rico to Florida explains how to request it.

You travel with your children

The TSA does not require children under 18 flying with an adult to show ID, but the adult does need it.⁵

You prefer to do it in your language

California offers the test in more than 40 languages and interpreters at 1-800-777-0133;⁶ New York's hotline helps in more than 200 languages.¹⁷

Costly mistakes

The mistake and what to do instead

• Mistake: Paying someone to get you an appointment.

  Instead: Book it yourself on your state's .gov page; in New Jersey only the MVC schedules appointments.¹⁹

• Mistake: Bringing photocopies or untranslated documents.

  Instead: Florida asks for originals;¹⁴ New Jersey, a certified translation of anything not in English.²⁰

• Mistake: Assuming your standard license works for flying.

  Instead: To fly you need a REAL ID, a passport or another accepted document.⁴

• Mistake: Waiting for your old license to expire.

  Instead: The deadline starts with the move: 30 days in New York¹⁶ and 60 in North Carolina.²³

• Mistake: Asking a notario or consultant for immigration advice.

  Instead: Look for an attorney or a Justice Department accredited representative.²⁶

What to do this week

1. Find your new state in USAGov’s directory and open the official licensing page.²⁵
2. Write down your state’s deadline: for example, 30 days in Florida¹³ or 60 in North Carolina.²³
3. Decide whether you need a REAL ID: not to drive; to fly, yes, or a passport.⁴
4. Gather original identity documents, proof of address and your Social Security number or the alternative your state accepts, with a certified translation if needed.²⁰
5. Book the appointment yourself on the .gov site, without middlemen.¹⁹
6. If you have questions about your immigration situation, look on EOIR’s list for an accredited representative or a recognized organization.²⁶ The free legal aid guide explains how to find help at no cost, and housing prices in your new state are under Places.