Q: What is a GO ID?
A: A GO ID is a unique number generated and assigned to an individual customer’s record by the Automated License Data System (ALDS), which customers access through CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services website. This number will appear on all documents purchased through the website and is one of several identification types that may be used to access a customer’s record.
Q: How do I verify my transaction is complete?
A: After you have submitted payment you will receive a link to "Download License / Print Receipts." These documents should be reviewed to verify that the purchases in the transaction are correct. You may also enter an email address and select to receive a confirmation email during the checkout process. Additionally, you may also access your customer record at any time to view all of your active licenses.
Q: To purchase a license online for myself, what information do I need to provide?
A: To purchase a license for yourself, you must provide your name, residence address, residency status, an accepted identity type (DMV ID, passport, green card, military ID, etc.), date of birth, height, weight, hair color, and eye color.
Q: How can I obtain a duplicate license if I lose my license that was purchased online?
A: To obtain a duplicate license, go to any license agent, CDFW license sales office, or log in to the Online License Sales and Services website.
Q: To purchase a license online for another person, what information do I need to provide?
A: To purchase a license for another person who does not already have a customer record on file with the Department, the person's name, residence address, residency status, Identification (DMV ID, passport, green card, military ID, etc.), date of birth, height, weight, hair color, and eye color are required.
If the person already has an existing customer record on file with the Department, the person's last name, date of birth, and Identification on file (GOID, DMV ID, passport, green card, military ID, etc.) are required.
Q: What devices and Internet browsers are supported?
A: The Online License Sales and Services has been designed and tested using recent versions of the following browsers:
- Safari
- Chrome
- Edge
- Firefox
Using internet browsers not listed here (e.g., Opera, Silk, etc.) or having plugins installed for the tested browsers listed above may cause inconsistencies and/or technical difficulties with the Online Sales Service.
Additionally, any browser used must utilize a minimum of 128 bit encryption when using credit/debit cards or make other financial or confidential transactions over the internet.
Q: What should I do if I receive a "come back later" message and am unable to complete my purchase?
A: Complete the following steps before attempting to purchase another license:
- Confirm that you are using a compatible browser (see prior question). Update your browser as needed.
- Clear your temporary internet files and cookies
Q: What forms of payment are accepted?
A: Online purchases may only be made with a credit or debit card displaying a Visa or Mastercard logo.
Q: Will I be charged a shipping fee?
A: No. You will not be charged a shipping fee when Standard Shipment is selected (default). However, if you elect to ship via Expedited Shipment, there is a $22.00 shipping fee. You may modify your preferred shipping method in the Checkout Page under Shipping Type.
Sport anglers in California have the option of signing up for automated renewal of their sport fishing licenses, report cards, and validations through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Online License Sales and Services website. If the customer chooses this option and has a current payment method on file with CDFW, their license and other selected items will be automatically renewed and mailed to them in subsequent license years.
Please see below for a list of frequently asked questions about Auto-Renewal.
How does it work?
Q: What is Auto-Renewal?
A: Auto-Renewal is an option that allows customers to authorize CDFW to automatically charge their credit card for annual sport fishing licenses, report cards, and validations prior to their expiration dates. This convenient option means that anglers no longer need to worry about lapses in licensure occurring during transitions to new license years.
Once a customer applies Auto-Renewal to specific sport fishing license items, those items will be automatically renewed 45 days prior to your current sport fishing license's expiration date and mailed directly to the customer. For example, applying Auto-Renewal to a 2023 sport fishing license purchased on January 15, 2023 will result in a 2024 sport fishing license being automatically purchased on December 2, 2023, and mailed to the customer before the 2024 license year begins on January 15, 2024.
CDFW will not enroll customers in Auto-Renewal without their consent; they must choose the option within the Online License Sales and Services website after logging in to their customer record. The process only takes a few minutes. Customers will be asked to validate their email address, set up a password, provide a payment method, and choose the items they want to have automatically renew. Customers may only apply Auto-Renewal to items they are purchasing online or have already purchased and are still valid.
Q: What items are eligible for Auto-Renewal?
A: Only the following items are currently available for Auto-Renewal.
- Sport Fishing Annual Licenses
- Resident
- Nonresident
- Disabled Veteran
- Recovering Service Member
- Lifetime
- Developmentally Disabled (Developmentally Impaired)
- Mobility Impaired
- Blind (Visually Impaired)
- Voucher Redemption (automatically renews as a fee-based resident sport fishing license)
- Report Cards
- North Coast Salmon
- North Coast Salmon Lifetime
- Steelhead
- Steelhead Lifetime
- Sturgeon
- Validations
- Ocean Enhancement
- Ocean Enhancement Lifetime
- Second-Rod
- Second-Rod Lifetime
- Recreational Crab Trap
Q: Why isn’t Auto-Renewal available for my Low-Income Senior or Native American Sport Fishing License?
A: Certain items that require proof of eligibility are not available through Auto-Renewal. These items must be purchased in person at a CDFW office or by mail. If license counters are closed, please call or email your local CDFW office for more information.
Q: Why can’t other types of licenses issued by CDFW be automatically renewed (hunting licenses, commercial fishing licenses, falconry licenses, etc.)?
A: At this time, Auto-Renewal is a pilot program limited to sport fishing items. CDFW will be evaluating its effect on staff workload as well as talking to customers about their experiences and looking for ways to refine the process and improve customer service. CDFW expects to expand Auto-Renewal to other CDFW items in the future.
Q: After logging in to my customer record online, why don't I see the option to add Auto-Renewal to a sport fishing item I am trying to purchase online or have already purchased online, from a license agent, or through a CDFW license sales office?
A: To enable Auto-Renewal, you must first set up the Customer Record Security Settings (CRSS) by verifying your email address and establishing a password for your customer record. The password is a required security feature, in addition to your personal information already used to access your customer record, due to the storage of your credit card information.
Q: How do I know Auto-Renewal is secure?
A: To enable Auto-Renewal, customers are required to enable Customer Record Security Settings (CRSS). CRSS requires customers to validate their email address and add a password to their customer record. Once CRSS has been enabled, the customer will be prompted to enter the password each time they access their customer record online.
Q: Can you remove items from Auto-Renewal, once it’s selected?
A: Yes. You can remove items from Auto-Renewal, by deselecting the items from the Auto-Renewal List or you can remove all items by selecting the “Disable Auto-Renewal” button and opting out Auto-Renewal. For assistance, contact CDFW at (916) 928-2537 or LRB@wildlife.ca.gov.
Q: I’ve applied Auto-Renewal to my annual sport fishing license and second rod validation but have decided I only want the sport fishing license to be renewed automatically. Can I cancel the Auto-Renewal of my second rod validation?
A: Yes. You can remove any items you’ve applied Auto-Renewal to by deselecting the items from the Auto-Renewal Selection List under your customer record. You can also cancel Auto-Renewal for all items by selecting the “Disable Auto-Renewal” button and opting out of Auto-Renewal entirely. For assistance, contact CDFW at (916) 928-2537 or LRB@wildlife.ca.gov.
Q: If I have a Lifetime License, will I be automatically enrolled in Auto-Renewal?
A: No. If you have a Lifetime License you will have to manually log in to your customer record through the Online License Sales and Services website and choose the Auto-Renewal option. You will also be required to enter your credit card information even though no fee will be charged for the renewal of your lifetime license. Your stored credit card information can be used for subsequent purchases of other license items sold through the Online License Sales and Services website.
Q: Can I set up Auto-Renewal when buying a license from a license agent or at a CDFW license sales office?
A: No. The only way to enroll in Auto-Renewal is through our Online License Sales and Services website. License agents, CDFW sales offices, and telephone sales representatives cannot set up the required Customer Record Security Settings and credit card information for a customer’s record. However, regardless of how you purchased your license, you have the ability to enroll the license in Auto-Renewal at a later date by logging into your customer record through our Online License Sales and Services website.
Q: Can I enroll in Auto-Renewal if I already purchased my CDFW item(s)?
A: Yes. If you already purchased a CDFW item that is eligible for Auto-Renewal, you can enroll for the following year by logging into your customer record through the Online License Sales and Services website.
Q: If I apply Auto-Renewal to a report card and forget to report my harvest at the end of the year, will I still be automatically issued the same report card the following license year?
A: Yes. For report cards that require non-reporting fees if harvests are not reported by their specified deadlines, the report cards will be automatically renewed and you will be charged the associated harvest non-reporting fees. The only report card currently subject to a non-reporting fee is the Spiny Lobster Report Card. The following report cards may be purchased more than once in a license year: North Coast Salmon Report Card, Spiny Lobster Report Card, and Steelhead Report Card.
Customers who are enrolled in Auto-Renewal will receive two reminder emails listing all items scheduled for Auto-Renewal. The emails will be sent approximately 28 days and 14 days prior to the scheduled Auto-Renewal. The emails will include the cost for each item, the total dollar amount to be charged to the credit card on file (including harvest non-reporting fees if applicable), and the address the items will be mailed to before the start of the next license year.
Q: If I apply Auto-Renewal to my Steelhead Report Card and purchase a second Steelhead Report Card later during the same license year, will I automatically receive two Steelhead Report Cards the following license year?
A: No. Applying Auto-Renewal to a report card will only result in a single report card being automatically renewed the following license year, regardless of you purchasing additional report cards for the same species. The following report cards may be purchased more than once in a license year: North Coast Salmon Report Card, Spiny Lobster Report Card, and Steelhead Report Card.
Payment
Q: What methods of payment are accepted?
A: At this time, only credit or debit cards displaying a Visa or Mastercard logo are acceptable.
Q: If I choose Auto-Renewal, will I be notified before my credit card is charged?
A: Yes. Sport fishing items are available for purchase 45 days prior to your current license's expiration date. Customers who are enrolled in Auto-Renewal will receive two reminder emails listing all items scheduled for Auto-Renewal. The emails will be sent approximately 28 days and 14 days prior to the scheduled Auto-Renewal. The emails will include the cost for each item, the total dollar amount to be charged to your credit card, and the address to which the items will be mailed after the Auto-Renewal occurs.
Q: If I want to cancel Auto-Renewal, do I have to do it by a certain date?
A: Yes. All sport fishing items enrolled in Auto-Renewal will be processed 45 days prior to the item's expiration date. Any cancellations or modifications must be completed the day before Auto-Renewal is processed to prevent your credit card from being charged.
Q: How can I update my credit card information?
A: You must log in to the Online License Sales and Services website to modify your credit card information.
Q: What happens if my credit card expires before the next license year?
A: The credit card must be updated the day before the Auto-Renewal is processed. Auto-Renewal occurs 45 days prior to the item's expiration date. If your credit card is not updated, Auto-Renewal items will not be processed. You can update your credit card information after logging in to your customer record using the Online License Sales and Services website.
Q: How will I know my CDFW items were successfully processed through Auto-Renewal?
A: You will receive an email containing the cost of each item, confirmation that the method of payment was accepted with the total dollar amount charged, the Auto-Renewal was successfully processed, and the address to which the items will be mailed to within the following 15 business days.
Q: I added my credit card to my customer record and later saw a $0.01 charge against the card from RAO*CA HUNT&FISH. Why did this happen?
A: To ensure your credit card is valid, a $0.01 preauthorization check is completed and immediately credited back to your card. The charge and credit will both appear on your statement as RAO*CA HUNT&FISH.
Q: Can a friend or family member apply their credit card to my customer record to be used for Auto-Renewal and/or the purchase of additional items online?
A: The system requires the following information to apply a credit or debit card to a customer record: name printed on the card, card number, expiration month and year, and three-digit security code. If the aforementioned information is provided, any valid card displaying the Visa or Mastercard logo may be used.