Department of Motor Vehicles - DMV

The California Department of Motor Vehicles proudly serves the public by licensing drivers, registering vehicles, securing identities, and regulating the motor vehicle industry in pursuit of public safety. Our vision is to deliver an outstanding experience to all our customers, powered by our people and technology.

The two functions of the DMV that most people are familiar with are registering vehicles and licensing drivers. There are approximately 36 million registered vehicles in California and more than 27 million licensed drivers. In addition, the DMV maintains and oversees many other functions including:

• Issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses and identification cards
• Recording ownership (certificate of title) of registered vehicles
• Maintaining driving records (collisions and convictions) of licensed drivers
• Issuing identification cards
• Registering and recording ownership of vessels
• Licensing and regulating driving and traffic violator schools and their instructors
• Licensing and regulating vehicle manufacturers, transporters, dealers, distributors, vehicle salespeople, and dismantlers
• Administering the Financial Responsibility Law
• Investigating consumer complaints related to identity theft, financial fraud, document counterfeiting, illegal computer access, and sale of confidential personal information
• Collects approximately $12 billion in revenues annually

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