California Department of Motor Vehicles Grants Extension to Commercial Driver’s License Holders

Media Contacts: 
Joshua Stickney, media@asianlawcaucus.org, (415) 209-5952 
Nim Kaur, media@sikhcoalition.org, (732) 823-9266

California Department of Motor Vehicles Grants Extension to Commercial Driver’s License Holders 

OAKLAND, Calif. — As of today, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA-DMV) has agreed to provide interim relief by delaying the cancellation of individuals’ commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

While roughly 20,000 drivers received notices in November and December that their CDLs would be cancelled early in 2026, the CA-DMV has extended that timeline to March 6, 2026, for all drivers who received these notices. This extension gives the parties more time to work towards a solution of reissuing corrected commercial driver’s licenses to all eligible drivers. During this period, drivers remain fully licensed to drive commercially, and we continue to strongly discourage drivers from taking any steps to downgrade or surrender their licenses.

The news comes after Asian Law Caucus, Sikh Coalition, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP filed a class-action lawsuit last week on behalf of five impacted drivers and the Jakara Movement to protect these drivers.

“This is an important step towards alleviating the immediate threat that these drivers are facing to their lives and livelihoods,” said Munmeeth Kaur, Legal Director of the Sikh Coalition. “We intend to remain fully engaged with the state of California to ensure that they find and publicize a permanent solution for these drivers and their families.”

“We commend the California DMV for listening to the thousands of drivers who have been demanding an extension of the deadline,” said Katherine Zhao, senior staff attorney at Asian Law Caucus. “I am glad to know that our client – one of many impacted drivers across the state – can greet the students on her school bus after winter break and continue to provide for her family. The state must continue to uphold due process and protect these workers as the process moves forward.”

To speak with a representative from any of the co-counsel or plaintiffs, please reach out to a media contact above.

About the organizations

Asian Law Caucus (ALC) was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights organization focusing on the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Recognizing that social, economic, political, and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society. www.asianlawcaucus.org

For nearly 25 years, the Sikh Coalition has fought to defend and expand Sikh civil rights in the United States. For more information about this lawsuit, the Sikh community’s impact on the U.S. trucking industry, or the Sikh Coalition’s additional work to fight for truckers’ rights, email media@sikhcoalition.org.

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for more than 90 years. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in the marketplace and a first-mover in the establishment of many significant practice areas. The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.