Direct answer
Can I get car insurance with an AB60 license in California?
Yes. AB 60 license holders can buy car insurance in California. State law sets auto rates by driving safety record, annual miles, years of driving experience, and other factors the Insurance Commissioner approves. Discriminating against you for holding an AB 60 license is a violation of law. Income-eligible AB 60 drivers can apply for the Low Cost Auto program (CLCA).
California Low Cost Auto (CLCA) offers affordable liability insurance to eligible California drivers, including qualifying AB60 license holders. Income, vehicle, and driving record requirements apply. Check eligibility at MyLowCostAuto.com and read the CDI CLCA pamphlet.
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. For the full legal background, see our AB60 driver license insurance guide.
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 rate you on the permitted California factors, so fewer years licensed, counting licensing in any state or country, can mean a higher price than a long-licensed driver pays. Credit score is not a California auto rating factor. We compare standard and non-standard carriers on your actual record.
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. The written knowledge test requires 80% to pass (the DMV's December 2006 test evaluation describes 36 questions for first-time applicants 18 and older and 46 under 18), followed by 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. An IDP is a translation, not a driver license. Adult nonresident visitors may drive with a valid license from their home jurisdiction. Once you establish California residency, obtain a California license within 10 days.
Ask carriers which foreign-license documents they accept. Compare premiums using permitted factors, including documented years licensed in any jurisdiction. Update your policy when your California license arrives; receiving it does not itself guarantee a lower rate.
AB60 carrier landscape
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), Direct General, and Dairyland. We compare standard and non-standard carriers using permitted factors. Holding an AB60 license itself does not justify a surcharge, denial, or non-standard placement.
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 price very differently between markets.
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. Ask which identity documents the carrier accepts. Compare premiums using permitted California rating factors.
- 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.
How California prices new arrivals
What drives the price for a new arrival
California auto premiums depend on permitted rating factors, including driving record, annual mileage, and years licensed in any jurisdiction. Bring documentation of foreign licensing experience. Missing U.S. insurance history alone does not justify higher rates. Per Proposition 103 and its rating regulations (10 CCR §2632.5), California carriers cannot use credit history in auto rating at all.
Example: a 35-year-old in Garden Grove (92840), 2018 Toyota Camry, California minimum 30/60/15. A newly licensed driver usually prices higher than a driver with 5 years licensed, because years of driving experience is a mandatory rating factor. Years licensed in another country can count when you can document them, so bring any foreign license. Prices vary widely by driver, vehicle, ZIP, and carrier, so we quote it live. Compare standard and non-standard carriers now; re-shop when permitted rating or underwriting facts change.
The re-shopping playbook
When to compare carriers as your record builds
Compare standard and non-standard carriers from the outset. Count documented licensing experience in any jurisdiction. Re-shop when permitted rating or underwriting facts change; an AB60 license does not require a starter policy or a waiting period. Pull your DMV driving record ($5) periodically to confirm no surprise tickets or errors.
What to avoid the whole way through: never let the policy lapse even for a day (under Insurance Code §1861.02(c) a lapse by itself cannot legally be rated against you, but you lose any loyalty or persistency credit with that carrier and an uninsured car creates DMV registration problems), and avoid non-essential claims. CLUE Auto can contain up to seven years of claims history. Compare carriers whenever useful, keeping coverage continuous.
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. He chose Aspire because it was the cheapest of the three and had a Vietnamese-speaking claims line.
Six months later, with six months of clean California driving history, we re-shopped: another appointed non-standard carrier wrote him for less. Twelve months later, with a full year licensed and claim-free, a standard tier wrote him for less again. The drop on the same driver in the same car isn't hidden negotiation. It's patience plus re-shopping at the right milestones.
What Kevin gets asked
AB60 questions from Westminster intake
Can I get car insurance with an AB60 license in California?
Yes. An AB 60 license is a valid California driver's license, and Vehicle Code §12801.9(g) makes it a violation of law to discriminate against a person because they hold or present one. Bring your license number, vehicle VIN, and an ITIN or passport if you don't have an SSN.
What do insurers use to set an AB60 driver's rate?
Under Insurance Code §1861.02(a), California auto rates are set by your driving safety record, the miles you drive each year, and your years of driving experience, in that order of importance, plus other factors the Commissioner adopts by regulation. The statute says using any criterion without approval is unfair discrimination.
Can I get California Low Cost Auto Insurance with an AB60 license?
Yes, if you meet the program rules. The CDI CLCA flyer lists a valid California driver's license, including an AB60 license, as the license requirement. You also need household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, a vehicle worth $25,000 or less, and a good driving record (Insurance Code §11629.73). AB 60 drivers with fewer than 3 years of driving history pay a program surcharge under §11629.72. See the full CLCA eligibility checklist.
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, Direct General, write with an ITIN or passport in California. Compare carriers now using permitted factors. Obtaining an SSN does not itself establish eligibility for a lower premium.
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.
When should I compare carriers again?
Compare carriers now using permitted factors. Obtaining an SSN does not itself establish eligibility for a lower premium. Re-shop when permitted rating or underwriting facts change, such as more years licensed or a clean record. 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. A gap leaves the car uninsured and can create DMV registration problems.
Does an International Driving Permit from Vietnam work in California?
An IDP is a translation, not a driver license. Adult nonresident visitors may drive with a valid license from their home jurisdiction. Once you establish California residency, obtain a California license within 10 days. Ask carriers which foreign-license documents they accept. Compare premiums using permitted factors, including documented years licensed in any jurisdiction; do not assume the highest rate tier.
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.