What AB60 is
The license, the law, and what carriers actually do with it
California Assembly Bill 60 (signed 2013, effective January 1, 2015, with the DMV accepting applications starting January 2, 2015, codified atCalifornia Vehicle Code §12801.9) lets California residents get a driver's license without proving legal presence. The card looks like a regular CA license but reads “Federal Limits Apply” on the front and “Not for federal identification”on the back. That means AB60 doesn't work for TSA, federal buildings, or REAL ID, but for driving, registering a vehicle, buying insurance, and any traffic stop with California law enforcement, it has full legal weight. Per CA DMV data, more than one million AB60 licenses were issued between 2015 and 2024. In Orange County's Vietnamese community, AB60 is common for family-sponsored arrivals and for green-card cases still in processing. We file insurance for roughly 30 to 40 AB60 clients a year.
Per California Vehicle Code §12801.9(g), a carrier cannot deny or surcharge a policy solely because you hold an AB60 license or lack an SSN. They can, and do, rate you higher because there's no CLUE report, no California DMV driving record, and (if you don't have an SSN yet) no credit-based insurance score. That's the whole reason the non-standard market exists. The right path is to start there and migrate up.
Eligibility + documents
What to bring to the DMV for AB60
To get an AB60 license you must (1) be a California resident and (2) prove identity and California residence. There is no immigration-status or criminal-history bar specific to AB60; only an active license suspension or an unmet court requirement would stop you, the same as for any applicant. Bring:
- One proof of identity: passport from country of origin, certified foreign birth certificate, or consular ID (Vietnamese consular card, Matricula Consular).
- Two proofs of California residence: utility bill, lease agreement, bank statement, or employer letter, each showing your name and a current CA address.
For the Vietnamese community specifically: bring the English translation of your Vietnamese birth certificate (apostille or consular-certified). Some branches,Westminster DMV at 13700 Hoover St in particular, ask for an official translation. Book the appointment online at dmv.ca.gov first; walk-ins typically wait 2 to 3 hours. First-time U.S. license applicants take a 36-question written test (pass 30) and a roughly 20-minute behind-the-wheel test in your own car or a driving-school vehicle.
Fees + timeline
What the DMV actually costs and how long it takes
Per the CA DMV current fee schedule: one original Class C driver-license application fee (about $46) covers up to three knowledge-test attempts plus the drive test. There is no separate charge per knowledge attempt within that allowance. If you fail the drive test, the behind-the-wheel retest is about $9. Pass everything first try and the total is the single application fee.
Realistic timeline for a Vietnamese-American family just landing in Orange County: 1, 2 weeks gathering documents, 3 to 4 weeks until your DMV written-test appointment, 5 to 8 weeks practicing with a driving school (especially if you've only driven manual transmission in Vietnam, almost everything in the U.S. is automatic), 9 to 10 weeks for the behind-the-wheel test. Landing to plastic card: 8 to 12 weeks if you pass everything first try. The DMV issues a temporary paper license the same day you pass; the AB60 plastic card arrives in the mail 4 to 6 weeks later. Do not buy auto insurance before you have at least the temporary paper license. No carrier will bind a policy without a DL number.
International Driving Permit
When the IDP works, and when it doesn't
An International Driving Permit is the official translation of a foreign driver's license, issued by the country's motor-vehicle authority. In Vietnam, that's the Vietnam Directorate for Roads, through local transport departments. Per CA VehicleCode §12502, an IDP is valid in California for a maximum of one year and only for non-resident tourists or business visitors. Once you establish California residency (more than 10 days for non-tourist purposes), you must get a California license within 10 days.
In practice, many newly arrived Vietnamese drivers use the IDP for the first 1 to 2 months while AB60 is processing. Mercury, Bristol West, and Aspire all have IDP programs, but underwriting is strict and rates are typically top-tier. Our recommendation: if you can wait 2 to 3 weeks to bind with a temporary CA license instead, rates run 20 to 30% lower. If you need to drive to work immediately, bind a 1 to 2 month IDP policy and rewrite it once your CA license arrives.
Carriers we shop for AB60
Which carriers actually accept AB60 + ITIN at the desk
In California, the non-standard carriers that routinely accept AB60 with an ITIN or passport are Bristol West (Farmers Group, has a Vietnamese-speaking claims line), Aspire General (the most competitively priced for new-immigrant cases), Kemper Specialty (flexible underwriting), Direct General, National General, and Dairyland. Mercury writes AB60 through its non-standard tier on a case-by-case basis and typically asks for at least 6 months of U.S. residency. Progressive and GEICO accept some AB60 cases in California, but their rates run 15 to 25% higher than the non-standard specialists because they aren't optimized for the segment. State Farm and Allstate captive agents generally won't write new AB60 business. Sometimes they'll accept if you're already on a home or life policy with them.
Both Aspire General and Bristol West tend to run below the industry-average NAIC complaint index, which makes them two of the steadier landing spots for new arrivals. We quote at least three carriers on every AB60 case because the same profile can swing $40 to $80 a month between markets (illustrative range, not a quote).
ITIN, SSN, or passport
Which tax ID you actually need
Insurance applications ask for “SSN or Tax ID.” If you don't have an SSN yet, three paths are common in California:
- ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number): issued by the IRS via Form W-7 for people not eligible for SSN but with a U.S. tax obligation. Processing takes 6 to 11 weeks. Once you have one, it works for insurance, banking, and most utilities.
- Passport number:some non-standard carriers accept it; rates run higher because there's no SSA or IRS verification path.
- Foreign tax ID (Vietnamese mã số thuế): almost never accepted, no U.S. verification.
Our recommendation: apply for an ITIN as soon as you land. The W-7 needs your passport copy and one U.S. tax document (you can file it together with your first 1040). ITIN opens up far more than insurance, bank accounts, apartment leases, utilities at lower deposits. Per California Vehicle Code §12801.9(g), a carrier can't refuse or surcharge a policy solely because you hold an AB60 license or lack an SSN. If you hear “no SSN no policy” from a producer, that's a violation. Report it to CDI at insurance.ca.gov.
Why premium runs high at first
The new-immigrant premium gap and how to close it
New-immigrant rates in California typically run 30 to 50% above the same profile with U.S. driving history (NerdWallet 2025 CA rate analysis). The reasons: no CLUE report, noCalifornia DMV at-fault or ticket history. Per Proposition 103 and its rating regulations (10 CCR §2632.5), California carriers cannot use credit history in auto rating at all (unlike most other states). What drives your rate here is your driving record, years licensed, annual mileage, ZIP, and vehicle.
Illustrative example: a 35-year-old male in Garden Grove (92840), 2018 Toyota Camry, California minimum 30/60/15. A clean profile with 5 years of U.S. driving prices at roughly $95 to $130 a month (Mercury, Travelers). The same profile on AB60 + ITIN with zero U.S. driving history typically runs $140 to $190 a month at Bristol West or Aspire (illustrative ranges, not quotes). After 6 months of clean U.S. driving record, carriers drop the tier ~10 to 15%. After 12 months of clean California driving history, you can usually move to Mercury non-standard and shave another 15 to 25%.
The 0 to 36 month playbook
When to switch carriers as your record builds
This is the path we run for newly arrived Vietnamese families in OC:
- Months 0, 6: bind a non-standard policy at Aspire, Bristol West, or Kemper. California minimum (30/60/15) to keep premium manageable. Pull your DMV driving record ($5) every 3 months to confirm no surprise tickets or errors.
- Months 6, 12: 6 months of clean California driving history → requote Mercury non-standard tier. Typical drop: 15 to 25%.
- Month 12: a full year licensed and claim-free → requote Travelers, Mercury standard, Progressive.
- Months 12, 24:two-plus years licensed and clean → bundle auto with home (if you've bought) or renters at Mercury or Travelers. Multi-policy discount typically cuts another 10 to 20%.
- Months 24, 36: stable at standard tier with a major carrier. Effectively pricing like someone with 10 years of U.S. history.
What to avoid the whole way through: never let the policy lapseeven for a day (you lose your continuous-coverage discount, though under Insurance Code §1861.02(c) a lapse by itself cannot legally be rated against you), avoid non-essential claims (a comprehensive claim sits on CLUE for 5 years), and don't hop carriers more than once a year (multiple prior carriers reads as a red flag at underwriting).
A real Garden Grove case
The 12-month rate trajectory we ran in 2025
February 2025: anh L. in Garden Grove called the office. Just arrived via family sponsorship, had an ITIN from the prior year's tax filing, just got his AB60 license, bought a 2018 Toyota Corolla from a private party for $14,500. Two major carriers (GEICO, State Farm) had already rejected the application. We quoted three non-standard carriers: Bristol West at $185 a month, Aspire General at $172 a month, Kemper at $198 a month (illustrative, not quotes). He chose Aspire because it was the cheapest and had a Vietnamese-speaking claims line.
Six months later, with six months of clean California driving history, we re-shopped: Mercury non-standard tier wrote him at $135 a month, saving $37 a month. Twelve months later, a full year licensed and claim-free, Mercury standard tier wrote him at $98 a month. The twelve-month premium swing on the same driver in the same car works out to roughly $1,044 (illustrative). The difference between a $185 starting point and a $98 stabilized rate isn't hidden negotiation. It's patience plus re-shopping at the right milestones.
What Kevin gets asked
AB60 questions from Westminster intake
I just arrived and don't have an SSN, can I still buy auto insurance?
Yes, but you have to pick the right carrier. Per California Vehicle Code §12801.9(g), a carrier can't refuse or surcharge a policy solely because you hold an AB60 license or lack an SSN. Non-standard carriers, Bristol West, Aspire General, Kemper, Direct General, write with an ITIN or passport in California. Rates run 30 to 50% above an SSN-holder with the same profile, but it's a legitimate starting point. After 6 to 12 months with SSN and a clean record, we re-shop to a major carrier at a better rate.
How does AB60 differ from a regular California license for insurance purposes?
For driving and insurance, they're identical. Both are valid CA driver's licenses. The differences are federal: AB60 reads “Federal Limits Apply” and can't be used for TSA, federal buildings, or REAL ID. Once you get legal status (green card, citizenship), you can convert AB60 to a regular license at the DMV for $41. Carriers do not rate AB60 differently from a regular license.
How long after I get my SSN can I switch carriers for a lower rate?
Roughly 6 months of clean California driving history is the first sweet spot, Mercury non-standard or Progressive will typically come in 15 to 25% lower. After 12 months licensed and claim-free, Travelers, Mercury standard, and AAA come into range. The trap: never let the existing policy lapse during the transition. Bind the new carrier effective at least one day before canceling the old one - keeping continuous coverage preserves your continuous-coverage discount.
Does an International Driving Permit from Vietnam work in California?
For a limited window. The IDP is valid up to one year in California and only for non-resident tourists or business visitors (CA Vehicle Code §12502). Once you establish California residency (10+ days non-tourist), you must obtain a CA license within 10 days. Carriers will bind a short temporary policy on an IDP at top-tier rates. Realistically: use IDP as a 1 to 2 month placeholder while AB60 or a regular license is in process.
I'm on a dependent visa (F-2, H-4) without an SSN, same path?
Mostly. Dependents typically apply for an ITIN through IRS Form W-7. For auto insurance, ITIN is sufficient. If you only have passport plus visa stamp plus I-94, some non-standard carriers (Bristol West, Aspire) bind with passport as primary ID plus visa documentation. F-2 spouses don't have work authorization and therefore no U.S. employment history, but that doesn't affect your auto rate in California: under Proposition 103, credit and income are not auto-rating factors here at all.
I live with relatives in Westminster, how do I prove residence at the DMV?
Two paths. (1) The primary leaseholder writes a letter confirming you live there, attached to a copy of their lease and a utility bill, signed and dated, notarization not required. (2) Open accounts in your own name: bank statement (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase open accounts for ITIN holders), cell-phone bill (T-Mobile, Verizon accept ITIN), library card (OC Public Library issues free with proof of address). The DMV needs two independent documents, not two from the same source. Westminster (92683) and Garden Grove (92840) DMV branches are very familiar with the Vietnamese community and the process usually moves cleanly.
State coverage
California policies handled directly by Kevin Vu (CDI #4037122). New Jersey and Pennsylvania policies handled in cooperation with licensed partner producer Sean Vu (Allstate). QualitySpace Insurance Agency does not bind coverage in NJ or PA directly.
Get a quote
Talk to Kevin about AB60
We bind AB60 cases the same day in most situations. Bring your AB60 license number, ITIN or passport, vehicle VIN, and proof of California residence.