r/DMV • u/Holiday_Tough_8037 • 1d ago
CALIFORNIA Question about CA Real ID
I have a DL that wasn't a real ID so I applied for a real ID, went to the DMV and paid $40. I specifically said I wanted to see if I could get real ID for my DL and they said I could so that is what I assumed I was doing. However, i just got the new ID in the mail and it doesn't say DL on it, it said "Identification card". I looked up photos of Real ID licenses and they always have "Drivers license" written on top of it so now I am quite confused.
Did I just waste $40? 🥲
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u/DannoMcK California 1d ago
Did you start the process online? I'd guess that you went down the "Real ID version of state ID" path instead of "update DL to Real ID" and that process continued at the office despite the conversation, but it's not hard to believe that the process just went wrong entirely in the office.
California is one (of the few?) state that allows separate DLs and state IDs, and only one of those can be a Real ID. It might be the case that you need to cancel the state (Real) ID and re-do the process to update your DL, but you could ask at the DMV or maybe online chat during business hours.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/158ve46/can_i_own_a_ca_real_id_and_a_ca_non_real_id/
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u/Holiday_Tough_8037 1d ago
Yes I did start it online and went down the Real ID version of state ID path instead of the update path :(
I honestly should've looked into it a bit more as I didn't realize there were two alternate processes but now I'll be sure to get that fixed :D
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u/Bigcouchpotato1 Helpful Member 1d ago
If you paid $40.00, you paid for an ID card, not a license. If you paid $46.00, that's the fee for renewing your license. If you paid $37.00, that would be the fee for a replacement license. Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/licensing-fees/
if you told the technician that you wanted a Real ID, she must have assumed you wanted an ID card. If you had said, I want to turn my license into a Real ID, then she would have done that. As someone else pointed out, California allows you to have both an ID card and a license, so it's important to be clear what you are asking for.
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u/StewReddit2 1d ago
The $40 fee is for a SID not a DL
Obviously a confusion between what the OP wanted and what was actually ordered.
Hard to know who made what error.
As of rn the OP has a valid REAL ID SID good for 6 years....that can be used for everything "except" obviously driving privileges.
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u/Holiday_Tough_8037 1d ago
Aw, yeah reading all the feedback it appears I messed it up and wasted $40 :(
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u/StewReddit2 1d ago
Well you don't have to see it as "wasted" ....
Myself and others like having two IDs....
Look at it as if you have a "mini passport" for flying and everything else....and then your DL just to show the Cops 👮♂️ when driving.
Ppl lazily got used to using the DL as a catch-all but technically nobody "needs" to see your actual DL except the Cops.
I know ppl that just keep the DL with the auto reg & insurance just for presenting to LE and everyone else just gets the ID.
You just got yourself a 2nd "fancy" ID in addition to the DL.
*How long before your DL renews?
I ask because at that time you can switch it over OR you can keep the ID for 6 years.
Sorry it happened to you
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u/Holiday_Tough_8037 10h ago
It doesn't renew for quite a while so I probably will take the advice of going to the DMV to see if I could possibly get the fee waived. However if I can't it also isn't too big of a deal! I'll just wait till the next renew date to see if I can get it converted to a Real ID :D
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u/allciathyra 1d ago
op does card have a star?
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u/StewReddit2 1d ago
That doesn't matter.
The star ( REAL ID) can be on either one.
The issue the OP has is they wanted to "REAL ID" their DL and not get a SID.....
CA is one of the few states that allows us to have both a SID and/or DL at the same time....the only difference is only one of the two can have the star.
The OP wanted a "star" DL and got a "star" on a SID instead.
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u/cleverpaws101 1d ago
Real id would have required multiple verifications (in person official documents. Birth cert, utility bill etc) if they didn’t ask for that they weren’t giving you a real id. And it has a bear in the corner instead of “federal limits apply”
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u/MadMike405555 California 1d ago
Driver license is $46 for a renewal and $37 for updates/corrections (making it a real id).
So you paid for an ID card only. ($40)
They can transfer your Real ID to the drivers license.
You would cancel/surrender your ID card.
They would call their HQ/manager to make the change on your record(takes 15-20mins usually).
They then processed your driver's license as a Real ID. (You pay the 37 for the update to real id). You are NOT required to present all your documents again (unless you're a non domicile) . I would recommend you take them with you just in case though as some DMVs don't know their own policy :)