Does the number mean anything or is it just a chance thing? How do they come up with the number on your driver’s license? Why is your driver’s license the most significant element in your wallet? Read to know more about driver’s license numbers and how it’s different for each state in the USA.
What Does a Driver’s License Number (DLN) Mean?
A driver’s license number is a unique number that the government agency that gives out licenses gives to each driver. This number is usually required to be written on a person’s state-issued driver’s license.
When a driver’s license is given out, most states give each person a unique number that can be used to identify them. The state gives a person a driver’s license if they are allowed to drive on public roads. Most of the time, this license has the driver’s license number written on it.
Some states use a person’s social security number as his or her driver’s license number, while other states have their own rules for giving each driver a unique number. People who can’t or don’t want to get a driver’s license can still try to get a number for an ID card that can be used as official identification.
How Is Your Driver’s License Number Made Up?
In some states, your license number has your name, gender, and date of birth written in it. Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois are among these states. The way these states code things is the same or very similar.
If you have a driver’s license number from one of these states, you can make good guesses about a person’s name and know for sure what gender they are and when they were born. You can guess some or all of someone’s driver’s license number if you know their name, date of birth, and gender.
For example, without the hyphens, it can be broken into the following parts: SSSSFFFYYDDDNN
Here’s a breakdown of what each segment represents:
- SSSS: Soundex code of your last name
- FFF: Encoded first name and middle initial
- YY: Year of birth
- DDD: Day and month of birth and gender
- NN: Overflow to differentiate those who could have the same license number
However, most states with encoded driver’s license numbers follow the same or a similar system so that a specific license number is assigned to each driver.
Keywords for Each State
| Data Identifier | Definition | Keyword |
Alabama
|
Driver’s license numbers in Alabama comprise seven digits. For example, 6995134. |
Alabama AL |
Alaska |
Driver’s license numbers in Alaska consist of seven digits. For example, 6242414. |
Alaska AK |
Arizona |
Arizona driver’s license numbers can be either nine digits. For example, 113474424, or Include one letter and eight numbers, such as B13658524. |
Arizona AZ |
Arkansas |
Arkansas driver’s license numbers always start with 9 and contain a total of nine digits. For example, 986000120. |
Arkansas AR |
California |
California driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and seven numbers. For example, A0002144. |
California calif CA |
Colorado |
Colorado driver’s license numbers follow the format of ##-###-#### and consist of nine digits. For example, 94-33-0101. |
Colorado CO |
Connecticut |
Driver’s license numbers in Connecticut consist of nine digits. For example, 782815129. |
Connecticut CT |
Delaware |
Delaware driver’s license numbers have seven digits. For example, 1232805. |
Delaware DE |
Florida |
Florida driver’s license numbers contain one letter and 12 digits. They can be presented either in an unformatted sequence, like G544063719250, or in a formatted version such as G544-391-73-432-0. |
Florida FL fla |
Georgia |
Driver’s license numbers in Georgia consist of nine digits. For example, 09999999. |
Georgia GA |
Hawaii |
Hawaii driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and eight numbers. For example, H70008762. |
Hawaii HI |
Idaho
|
Idaho driver’s license numbers include two letters, six numbers, and one final letter. For example, AA127456Z. |
Idaho ID |
Illinois
|
Illinois driver’s license numbers are formatted as L###-####-####, consisting of one letter and 11 numbers. For example, D403-7836-0001. |
Illinois IL |
Indiana |
Indiana driver’s license numbers follow the format ####-##-#### and comprise 10 numbers. For example, 0209-21-6908. |
Indiana IN |
Iowa |
Driver’s license numbers of Iowa is either nine digits, like 123456789, or can be a combination of three digits, two letters, and four digits, such as 123AB9755. |
Iowa IA |
Kansas |
Kansas driver’s license numbers follow the format L##-##-#### and include one letter followed by eight numbers. For example, K00-09-5321. |
Kansas KS |
Kentucky |
Kentucky driver’s license numbers are formatted as L##-###-### and include one letter followed by eight numbers. For example, V12-495-432. |
Kentucky KY |
Louisiana
|
Louisiana driver’s license numbers consist of nine digits. For example, 007000100. |
Louisiana LA |
Maine |
Maine driver’s license numbers have seven digits. For example, 0015000. |
Maine ME |
Maryland |
Maryland driver’s license numbers include one letter and 12 unformatted numbers. For example, S714756316977. Alternatively, Maryland driver’s license numbers may follow the format L-###-###-###-###, comprising one letter and 12 numbers. For example, S-514-778-616-977. |
Maryland MD |
Massachusetts |
Massachusetts driver’s license numbers include one letter followed by nine numbers. For example, M999890801. |
Massachusetts MA |
Michigan
|
Michigan driver’s license numbers consist of one letter followed by 12 unformatted numbers. For example, P800000224322. Alternatively, Michigan driver’s license numbers may follow the format L ### ### ### ###, comprising one letter and 12 numbers. For example, P 756 432 867 225. |
Michigan MI |
Minnesota |
Minnesota driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and 12 numbers, unformatted. For example, P806758224322. |
Minnesota MN |
Mississippi
|
Mississippi driver’s license numbers are nine digits and are formatted like a Social Security number, appearing as ###-##-####. For example, 675-01-8940. |
Mississippi MS |
Missouri |
Missouri driver’s license numbers include one letter followed by nine numbers. For example, F050256006. |
Missouri MO |
Montana |
Montana driver’s license numbers are nine digits, such as 626926253. They may also be 13 digits long, with the first 2 indicating the birth month, the next 3 being randomly assigned, the following 4 representing the birth year, followed by “41,” and the last 2 indicating the birth day. In the past, licenses in Montana either used the licensee’s Social Security number or the Social Security number followed by four zeros. |
Montana MT |
Nebraska |
Nebraska driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and eight numbers. For example, A20646249. |
Nebraska NE |
Nevada |
Nevada driver’s license numbers consist of 10 numbers. For example, 0002542201. |
Nevada NV |
New Hampshire |
Driver’s license numbers of New Hampshire is comprised of 10 numbers, each serving a specific purpose:
|
New Hampshire NH |
New Jersey |
Driver’s license numbers of New Jersey are formatted as L####-#####-##### and include:
|
New Jersey newjersey NJ |
New Mexico |
New Mexico driver’s license numbers are nine numbers. For example, 076696424. |
New Mexico NM
|
New York |
New York driver’s license numbers are nine numbers formatted as ### ### ###. For example, 123 456 789. |
New York newyork NY |
North Carolina |
North Carolina driver’s license numbers are 12 numbers. For example, 807330315924. |
North Carolina NC |
North Dakota |
Driver’s license numbers of North Dakota are composed of nine digits, structured as follows: the first 3 characters represent the licensee’s last name (if the last name consists of only 2 letters, the third character is designated as “X”), followed by a 2-digit year of birth, and concluding with the last 4 digits. |
North Dakota ND |
Ohio |
Ohio driver’s license numbers are two letters and six numbers. For example, TL545796. |
Ohio OH |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and nine numbers. For example, B000062835 . |
Oklahoma OK |
Oregon |
Oregon driver’s license numbers are seven numbers. For example, 6110033. |
Oregon OR |
Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania driver’s license numbers are eight numbers formatted as ## ### ###. For example, 99 900 104. |
Pennsylvania PA |
Rhode Island |
Rhode Island driver’s license numbers are seven numbers. The first two digits are the year the license was issued (2008 is indicated by “28”). For example, 2857589. |
Rhode Island RI |
South Carolina |
South Carolina driver’s license numbers are nine numbers. For example, 100179226. |
South Carolina SC |
South Dakota |
South Dakota driver’s license numbers are eight numbers. For example, 00616775. |
South Dakota SD |
Tennessee |
Tennessee driver’s license numbers can consist of eight or nine numbers. For example, 101915638. |
Tennessee TN |
Texas
|
Texas driver’s license numbers are eight numbers. For example, 17600550. |
Texas TX |
Utah
|
Utah driver’s license numbers are nine numbers. For example, 400138831. |
Utah UT |
Vermont |
Vermont driver’s license numbers are eight numbers. For example, 17600550. They may also consist of seven numbers and one letter. For example, 8205059A. |
Vermont VT |
Virginia |
Virginia driver’s license numbers consist of one letter and eight numbers. For example, A20600249. Virginia driver’s license numbers may also consist of one letter and eight numbers formatted as L##-##-####. For example, T16-70-0185. |
Virginia VA |
Washington |
Washington driver’s license numbers use the format: three letters ** two letters, three numbers, one letter, and one number. For example, DOE**MJ501P1. |
Washington WA |
Washington, D.C. |
Washington, D.C. driver’s license numbers are seven numbers. For example, 9992616. |
DC d.c. washington district of columbia |
West Virginia |
West Virginia driver’s license numbers are seven numbers. For example, 1899168. They may also consist of one letter and six numbers. For example, R899168. |
West Virginia WV |
Wisconsin |
Wisconsin driver’s license numbers are one letter and 13 numbers formatted as L###-####-####-##. For example, J525-4209-0465-05. |
Wisconsin WI |
Wyoming |
Wyoming driver’s license numbers are nine numbers formatted as ######-###. For example, 050070-003. |
Wyoming WY |
Frequently Asked Questions
A driver’s license number (DLN) is a unique identifier assigned to each driver’s license issued in the United States. Therefore, it serves as a way to identify and track individual driving records.
The specific meaning of a driver’s license number varies depending on the state that issued the license. However, it typically includes information such as the issuing state, the license type, and a unique sequence identifier.
Driver’s license numbers in the USA typically consist of a combination of letters and numbers. The format varies by state, but it often includes a two-character state code, an issuing authority code, the license type, and a unique sequence identifier.
The front of your license typically prints your driver’s license number. Your driving record or your state’s DMV website may also include it.
Driver’s license numbers are used for various purposes, including identifying drivers for law enforcement purposes, maintaining driving records, processing license renewals and vehicle registrations, and administering traffic citations.
No, all states in the USA have slightly different driver’s license number formats. The specific format may vary in terms of length, placement of components, and the meaning of specific characters.
To decode a driver’s license number from a specific state, you can refer to resources like the state’s DMV website, official driver’s license manual for that state, third-party websites or organizations that provide guides to DLN formats.
There are many reasons why someone might need to find their driver’s license number. This includes renewing their driver’s license, registering a vehicle, reporting a lost or stolen license, requesting a copy of driving record, and even for appearing in court for a traffic violation.
Yes, a few online tools can help you decode a driver’s license number. However, using reputable sources and verifying the information with the state’s DMV or an official driver’s license manual is important.
To protect your driver’s license number from identity theft, you should consider keeping your license in a safe place, shred documents that contain driver’s license number, check the website before sharing your driver’s license number online. In addition, report any suspected identity theft immediately.
Final Thoughts
In summary, a driver’s license number serves as a unique identifier, intricately structured to convey essential information about the license holder. So, there are varied formats adopted by different states across the USA, emphasizing the importance of understanding and safeguarding this numerical identifier. Therefore, whether decoding personal details or facilitating official transactions, the driver’s license number is more than a sequence of characters. In other words, it is a key to one’s driving identity and legal responsibilities.
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