Only Government Public Social Service Agencies and IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that serve low-income individuals and/or the unhoused can participate in the Reduced Fee and No Fee ID Card Programs. Neither for-profit nor not-for-profit organizations are eligible.
Note Individuals seeking a reduced-fee or no-fee ID card voucher should contact their local County Public Assistance Agency.
ID Card Program Overview
Under Vehicle Code (VC) §14902 and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 13, Article 2 §§15.07 and 15.08, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides reduced-fee or no-fee identification (ID) cards to individuals identified as low-income or unhoused by a government agency or a qualifying nonprofit organization.
Organization Requirements
This program serves low-income applicants eligible for county public assistance. Organizations are required to verify their clients’ income to confirm eligibility for public assistance and must indicate the specific programs for which they verify their clients’ eligibility through the following programs:
- California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act (CalWORKs) (§11200)
- Burton-Moscone-Bagley Citizens Income Security Act for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Californians (§11200)
- County or city general assistance programs (§17000)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh) (§18937)
- Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants and/or California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
- Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants and/or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) (§18937)
Organizations must verify clients’ income to confirm eligibility. Those unfamiliar with public assistance requirements should contact their local County Public Assistance Agency for guidance.
This program is for individuals who meet the definition of unhoused as outlined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §11301 et seq.) Government agencies and nonprofit organizations must verify and document an individual’s housing status and issue the No Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification form (DL 933).
For the No Fee ID Card Program, nonprofit organizations must provide either documentation of government funding to provide services to the unhoused or membership in the local Continuum of Care (CoC).
For CoC members, provide evidence of membership:
- Monthly membership email showing both organizations’ email addresses.
- Membership list from the CoC’s website showing the organization’s name.
- Other documentation from the CoC that shows your organization’s membership in the CoC.
For government-funded, provide specific pages:
- Front page(s) of the contract showing all parties involved in the contract.
- Contract dates that show beginning to end.
- Signature page showing the contract is executed.
- The Scope of Work/Services that list the services your organization is providing to the unhoused.
Registration & Form Orders
The DMV registers organizations to participate in the ID card programs. To apply:
- Complete the DL 932 Order Request Reduced Fee or No Fee identification Card Program (PDF).
- Nonprofit organizations must submit the required documentation.
- Email all requests to: dmv_lod_ppd_reducedf@dmv.ca.gov.
- Once approved to participate in the ID card programs, organizations will only need to submit their DL 932 Section 1-3.
Note Please ensure that all required documentation, including the DL 932 form, is submitted together.
Program Guidelines
- Organizations must comply with VC and CCR regulations or risk program restrictions.
- Forms must not be shared, photocopied, or uploaded online.
- Forms will be shipped only to the organization’s business location (no P.O. boxes, postal stores, or residential addresses).
- The organization’s name listed on the Approval email is how the organization name must be entered on the DL 932.
- Organizations in residential locations must provide proof of ownership or lease to the organization.
Acceptable Form Versions
| Form | Accepted Versions |
|---|---|
| FormNo Fee ID Verification (DL 933) | Accepted VersionsNEW 12/2015, REV 3/2016, REV 6/2016, REV 6/2023, REV 8/2023. |
| FormReduced Fee ID Verification (DL 937) | Accepted VersionsREV 12/2015, REV 3/2016, REV 6/2023, REV 8/2023. |
| FormOrder Request Reduced Fee/No Fee Identification Card Verification Forms (DL 932) | Accepted VersionsREV 8/2023 |
FAQs
DMV had previously asked organizations to self-certify their eligibility for participation in our ID card programs. However, to ensure compliance with VC §14902 and CCR Title 13, Article 2 §§15.07 and 15.08, it is required that a qualifying organization be a government public or social service agency, or a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that serves low-income and unhoused individuals to participate in the No Fee ID Card Program.
Organizations can register multiple addresses for their offices as long as they are located in the same county. If you wish to add an address in a different county, the organization must register that office by providing documentation that shows they are offering services to the homeless community in that county.
No, The Reduced Fee (DL 933) and the No Fee (DL 937) forms are only acceptable for a CA Identification Card.
Once your agency is registered for the ID Card Program, your order will be shipped. Please allow 7 to 21 business days for delivery.
All forms must be printed and legible (except for signature), filled out completely, with no errors or scratch outs, signed and dated, and submitted to DMV not more than 90 days after being issued.
The REAL ID is available to applicants who can provide the following documents:
- Identity document.
- Social Security Number (if applicable).
- Two proofs of California residency. The applicant may use the DL 933 and a letter on letterhead from a shelter for the unhoused, a shelter for abused women, nonprofit entity, a faith-based organization, an employer, or government agency within the US attesting the applicant resides in California.
For additional REAL ID information, visit Apply for REAL ID – California DMV.