Driver’s licenses by US state — guide for immigrants
Driving is essential in most of the US, and whether you can get a license depends entirely on the state you live in. As of now, 19 states plus Washington, D.C. issue a standard driver’s license or a “driving privilege” card regardless of immigration status, while 31 states still require proof of lawful presence. This guide lists both groups and explains what to expect.
At a glance
| States that issue regardless of status | 19 states + Washington, D.C. (list below) |
| What they issue | A standard (non-REAL-ID) license or “driving privilege” card |
| Typical documents | Foreign passport or consular ID, proof of state residency, often an ITIN |
| Still required | Written test, road test, vision test, and standard fees |
| Can it be used to fly? | No — a standard license is not a REAL ID; use a passport for domestic flights |
Find your state’s exact rules, accepted documents, and fees on its page — start from the lists below.
States that issue a license regardless of immigration status
- California — AB 60 (2013)
- Colorado — SB 251 (2013)
- Connecticut — HB 6495 (2013)
- Delaware — SB 59 (2015)
- District of Columbia — B 275 (2013)
- Hawaii — HB 1007 (2015)
- Illinois — SB 957 (2012)
- Maryland — SB 715 (2013)
- Massachusetts — HB 4805 (2022)
- Minnesota — HB 4 / SB 27 (2023)
- Nevada — SB 303 (2013)
- New Jersey — A 4743 (2019)
- New Mexico — HB 173 (2003)
- New York — S 1747 (2019)
- Oregon — HB 2015 (2019)
- Rhode Island — S 2006 / H 7939 (2022)
- Utah — SB 227 (2005)
- Vermont — S 38 (2013)
- Virginia — HB 1211 / SB 34 (2020)
- Washington — HB 1444 (1993)
States that currently require proof of lawful presence
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
State laws change — check your state’s page for the current rule before applying.
The license is only part of the picture: car insurance is governed by separate state laws, and the financial-responsibility duty attaches to the vehicle’s owner as much as to whoever drives — how that works, and where the official sources are simply silent, is covered in car insurance without a driver’s license. Title, registration and plates are documents about the vehicle rather than the person, with their own Social Security number rules that Texas has just changed, explained in registering a car and getting plates without a Social Security number.
Last verified: 2026-06-03.
General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal advice. State driver’s-license laws change — verify with your state DMV or a local immigrant-rights organization before applying.
Related procedural information
- ITIN — taxpayer ID often used for a license
- ITIN-friendly bank accounts — a license makes opening one easier
- Know your rights at a traffic stop
- License points & reinstatement fees by state — how many points suspend a license, and the cost to get it back
- What a California traffic ticket really costs (2026) — official base fine vs. the total you actually pay, code by code
- Consulate of your country — for the passport or consular ID you’ll present
Related immigration cases & rulings — where they stand
General information on litigation, not legal advice. Checked: 2026-09-09.
Data on this topic
Datasets we maintain and keep current, with official sources cited. Free to download and embed.
- Which states issue driver's licenses regardless of immigration status (2026): 19 states and DC do, 31 do not
- As few as 4 points can suspend your license — and reinstatement runs $10 to $250 by state
- A $35 fine becomes a $233 ticket — California's official 2026 schedule of what traffic tickets really cost