Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires proof of residency for driver’s license applications. You can use a rental agreement, utility bill, tax return, or mortgage bill to prove residency.

To apply for a
California driver’s license
, you need to establish proof of California residency, as well as proof of identity and Social Security Number.
Common documents used to establish California residency include rental agreements, house deeds or titles, mortgage bills, and more.
Just because a document has your California mailing address on it doesn’t mean it counts as proof of residency.

What counts as proof of residency?

In the state of California, the following can be used as proof of residency:

Rental or lease agreement

Deed or title to residential property

Mortgage bill

Utility bill

A school document issued by a U.S. educational institution that includes the applicant’s date of birth

Medical document

Employment document

Faith-based document with the name and California address of the issuing organization

Insurance documents

Income tax return

Documents issued by an authority governing over a political subdivision of a country or state that is typed and contains the agency name, department name, state seal, or is on official letterhead

California vehicle

Certificate of Title

California

motor vehicle registration

Change of address confirmation from the USPS

California property tax bill or statement

Bank statement from any state or national banks, state or federal savings associations, trust companies, industrial loan companies, state or federal credit unions, and any institution or entity that has issued a credit card

Court documents that list the applicant as a California resident

Letter or affidavit from a homeless shelter, shelter for abused women, nonprofit entity, employer, faith-based organization, or government within the U.S. attesting that the applicant is a resident of California, as long as it is on letterhead

Voter registration confirmation letter or postcard

Proof of payment of resident tuition and enrollment at a California university

Original copy of an approved Claim for Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption form

An acceptable No Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification form DL 933

Keep in mind: While you only need one of these documents for proof of residency when applying for a California ID or driver’s license, you will need two of them when applying for a

California REAL ID card

If you’re not a U.S. citizen: Read the CA DMV’s

guidelines for non-citizens

seeking a REAL ID card.

In most cases, a photocopy of a residency document will be accepted. However, photocopied documents will not count when it comes to proof of identity and birthdate.

Documents that do not qualify as proof of California residency

The list of acceptable proof of residency in California is long, but it isn’t all-inclusive. There are some documents that won’t satisfy the requirements for establishing physical presence and residency requirements in the Golden State:

Bond receipts

Business card

California auto registration card

Check cashing card

Club or fraternal organization membership card

College or university ID card

Cell phone bill

Unofficial (i.e. commercially produced) ID card

Department of Human Services (DHS) card

Fishing license

Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) card

Handwritten ID or employment card

Hunting license

Instruction permit or receipt

Insurance card

International driving permit

Library card

Personal mail

Ticket from a

traffic citation

or arrest

Loan papers from an unlicensed financial institution

Video club membership card

Wallet ID

MORE:

California minimum car insurance laws

Documents that establish proof of identity in California

In addition to proof of residency, you will also need to bring a document establishing proof of identity and a document establishing proof of Social Security Number. Plus, if the name on your documents doesn’t match the name on your application, you’ll need to bring a document to establish your true full name.

Proof of identity: U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, U.S. Armed Forces ID Cards, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, or a foreign passport with a valid I-94.

Proof of Social Security Number: A social security card, which can be laminated or metal. If you’re applying for a commercial driver’s license, this is the only acceptable SSN proof. For a REAL ID, you can bring a social security card, W-2 form, SSA-1099 form, non-SSA-1099 form, or a paystub including your full SSN.

True full name verification: Home utility bill, cell phone bill, insurance documents, California vehicle title or registration, or record of a financial institution.