The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced that select offices will be open for REAL ID appointments on Saturday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. These appointments are mandatory and will exclusively cater to REAL ID services during this period. Other DMV services will not be available.
For those who do not currently possess a REAL ID, the DMV advises waiting until their driver’s license is due for renewal to upgrade. In the interim, individuals can use other federally accepted documents like a valid passport or permanent resident card for domestic flights.
The enforcement of the REAL ID Act by the federal government began on May 7, 2025. This act mandates that individuals present a REAL ID or another approved federal document, such as a current U.S. passport, when boarding domestic flights and accessing secure federal facilities. Californians may continue applying for their REAL IDs after this enforcement date.
The following DMV offices will be operational by appointment only on Saturday:
– Concord (2070 Diamond Blvd.)
– Fullerton (909 W. Valencia Drive)
– Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd.)
– Oakland (5300 Claremont Ave.)
– Poway (13461 Community Road)
– Riverside East (6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd.)
– Roseville (7200 Galilee Road)
– San Clemente (2727 Via Cascadita)
– San Jose (111 W. Alma Ave.)
– Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida De Los Arboles)
– West Covina (800 S. Glendora Ave.)
Californians are encouraged to visit REALID.dmv.ca.gov to initiate their online application and upload necessary documents before visiting an office with physical copies to complete the process. The DMV strongly recommends making an appointment and completing the online application in advance to minimize wait times.
In addition to these services, the DMV has expanded its digital offerings so that most tasks do not require an office visit anymore. Customers can perform simple self-service transactions online instead of visiting an office physically. Eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals can also be completed through these channels.
Customers interested in paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices should sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov and opt-in accordingly.
