California Cancels 13,000 Non-Domiciled Commercial Licenses

CALIFORNIA — The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) canceled approximately 13,000 non-domiciled commercial driver licenses effective March 6, 2026. Drivers received cancellation notices in advance of that date. Licenses not affected by the order remain valid until their normal expiration dates, although renewal and modification options are now restricted.

Non-domiciled commercial driver licenses are issued to individuals who are not United States citizens or lawful permanent residents. The group includes people on various visas as well as refugees and asylees. Federal regulations have long allowed states to issue licenses when applicants can prove legal presence and work authorization.

Audits by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealed serious problems with many active licenses. The agency found that approximately 25 percent of non-domiciled commercial licenses issued in California violated federal regulations already in effect at the time of issuance. Common issues included licenses with expiration dates extending beyond a driver’s authorized period of stay in the United States and credentials granted to ineligible individuals.

The FMCSA required states to correct the improper issuances. The agency threatened to withhold federal highway funding if states failed to comply. The United States Department of Transportation withheld approximately $160 million in federal highway funds from California after the state missed an earlier deadline to complete the revocations.

Separately, the FMCSA issued a new final rule on February 13. The agency acted after identifying 17 fatal crashes, resulting in 30 deaths, in 2025 involving non-domiciled commercial drivers whose qualifications could not be fully verified. The new rule takes effect on March 16 and sharply limits eligibility for new and renewed non-domiciled commercial driver licenses. Only individuals holding specific employment-based nonimmigrant visas qualify. Eligible categories include H-2A visas for temporary agricultural workers, H-2B visas for temporary non-agricultural workers, and E-2 visas for treaty investors.

States must verify applicant status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system. License validity periods must match the exact length of each driver’s lawful presence. Audits revealed non-compliance rates as high as 25 percent in California and even higher in states such as New York and Texas.

Cancellations took effect on March 6 for drivers who received notices. The DMV processed the revocations under state law without prejudice. Drivers can reapply for commercial credentials immediately.

A ruling from the Alameda County Superior Court in the case of Doe versus Department of Motor Vehicles requires the department to accept reapplication submissions. Current federal restrictions prevent the issuance of new non-domiciled licenses. Applications remain pending for up to one year.

Drivers who need to operate passenger vehicles or light trucks can apply for a standard Class C noncommercial California driver’s license instead. Individuals should begin the process online and schedule an appointment at a field office. Applicants must surrender canceled licenses and provide required identity and residency documents during the visit.

The DMV offers priority appointments for affected drivers by calling (916) 306-5153. A nonrefundable application fee applies to new requests. Most routine DMV services continue to operate normally through the department website.

California has challenged the federal requirements in court. The DMV requested an emergency stay from the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to allow issuance of corrected licenses. The court denied the request during the first week of March. Advocacy organizations, including the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus, obtained the state court order requiring acceptance of reapplications.

California DMV Director Steve Gordon addressed the situation in an official statement. “This federal administration is using their war on immigration to remove qualified, hardworking commercial drivers from our workforce who meet language and safety rules,” he said, adding, “There are no guarantees that additional solutions will become available to help these drivers and their employers.”