Hundreds Of Thousands Forced To Get New CA REAL IDs: Here's Why

CALIFORNIA — A software glitch has prompted the California Department of Motor Vehicles to ask more than 300,000 residents to replace their REAL IDs, according to a statement released Friday.

The state will notify everyone who needs to obtain a new REAL ID in January. All fees will be waived, and you may not even need to visit a DMV facility to make the change, the statement assures.

Steve Gordon, CA's DMV Director, released a statement on the software issue, saying:

“We proactively reviewed our records, identified a legacy system issue from 2006, and are notifying impacted customers with clear guidance on how to maintain a valid California-issued credential," Gordon stated. “For nearly 99% of REAL ID holders, no action is required. The DMV remains committed to serving all Californians and ensuring REAL ID credentials meet federal standards.”

Only a fraction of California drivers will be notified, approximately 1%, they said. "Approximately 99% of the REAL ID Holders in California do not need to take any action."

The REAL ID has been required for anyone who wishes to fly in the United States or enter federal buildings, courthouses, and secure areas, including military bases.

The California DMV states it is fully compliant with federal REAL ID requirements and is taking steps to maintain compliance. "This was a limited technical issue involving the expiration date formatting in legacy software," they said. This issue is unrelated to voting or voter registration, according to the department. It is also unrelated to ineligible people receiving REAL IDs.

"People without legal presence are not eligible for a REAL ID and were not issued one," the department states. "This has no impact on non-REAL ID licenses."

How will you be contacted?

The DMV will notify all 325,000 individuals of the actions they must take in the coming weeks to take immediate steps to ensure compliance with federal requirements. The IDs will be expedited, according to the DMV.

"The DMV will not call, text, or email you asking for your personal information or payment to address this issue," they said. "If you need to verify DMV action, please call 1-800-777-0133."

Those affected can handle the change online, they said.

"The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels for tasks such as eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn about options to complete DMV tasks," the news release states.

To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov to opt in.