How to Look Up a Driver’s License Number?


What is a driver’s license?

A driver’s license is a public document of the competent authority which gives a person the right to drive a vehicle of a specific category in traffic on the road for a certain period.

The first driver’s license was issued to the German automobile engineer Karl Benz in 1888. At the beginning of the 20th century, most European countries started issuing driver’s licenses.

Mandatory driving licenses began in the United Kingdom on January 1, 1904 [1], after passing the Motor Vehicles Act in 1903. The candidate for a driver’s license had to be at least 17 years old to take the exam. The maximum speed was 20 mi (32 km) per hour (32 km per hour).

Prussia introduced a compulsory driver’s license on September 29, 1903. In 1910, they introduced driver training, which was taken over by many European countries.

In 1909, the Convention on the International Traffic of Motor Vehicles was adopted, recognizing the need for qualification, testing, and authorizations for international driving. In 1929, an international driver’s license was added to the Convention. Finally, in 1949, the UN passed a convention on road traffic, which defined traffic rules, driver’s licenses, etc.

If you have your license, the first question that you might have is:

Where is the driver’s license number?

The driver’s license number is usually located in the center on the front side of your driver’s license plastic card. However, each state has a different position and a different number of digits in the driver’s license number. See Table below.

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How to Look Up a Driver’s License Number if you lost your card?

You need to look up a driver’s license number at the local DMV office. If you contact your local DMV Office, you can find your number or get a new driver’s license. If you have misplaced or stolen your driver’s license, you must apply for a duplicate license in person at the DMV. You will need the following documents and information:

  • The number on your driver’s license or identity card,
  • Your birth date,
  • Your social security number’s last four digits, and
  • Yours most recently issued card’s audit number.

You may either call your local Government office or request a copy of your driver’s record online to look up or find out the status of your driver’s license.

NOTE: Several state registration offices, but not all, provide a free copy of your driver’s record.

Second, are our driver’s license numbers accessible to the public?

Non-personal information in motor vehicle and driver license records, such as vehicular collision data, driving offenses, and driver status information, is deemed public.

Robert Aksamit

Robert Aksamit

Robert Aksamit is a mechanical engineer and automotive industry expert. Robert was born in Minnesota and worked in the US automotive industry for 25 years. He is highly regarded for his passion and dedication to continually improving vehicles in response to customer feedback. Robert has a keen eye for sourcing the best vehicle components and materials on the market and is always looking for ways to enhance the user experience. As a writer, Robert covers automotive-related topics. Read more on Robert Aksamit's about page. Contact Robert: robert@promtengine.com

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