You cannot legally obtain someone else's driver's license number without their permission or a valid legal reason
Driver's license numbers are protected personal information. State motor vehicle departments do not release them to the public, and accessing someone's number without consent is illegal in most circumstances. If you need a driver's license number for a legitimate reason — hiring someone, verifying identity, or handling an insurance claim — you must ask the person directly or work through the proper legal channels.
The only people who can routinely access driver's license numbers without the holder's permission are law enforcement, courts, and government agencies acting under specific legal authority. Employers, insurers, and private individuals must obtain the number from the person themselves or through documented consent.
Key Takeaways
- Driver's license numbers are confidential records protected by state and federal privacy laws, and public databases do not contain them.
- The person whose number you need should provide it directly — this is the only legal way for most situations.
- If you are an employer or insurer, you can request the number as part of your standard process, and the person must provide it or decline to work with you.
- Law enforcement and courts can obtain driver's license numbers through official channels, but private citizens cannot.
When you have a legitimate reason to ask
If you are hiring someone, renting to a tenant, or processing an insurance claim, you have the right to request a driver's license number directly from that person. They can provide it verbally, show you the physical card, or give you a photocopy. There is no legal barrier to asking — the barrier is that you cannot search for it without their knowledge or consent.
When you ask, be clear about why you need it. Most people will provide it if the reason is straightforward: employment verification, background check, rental process, or insurance processing. If someone refuses, you can decline to hire them, rent to them, or insure them, but you cannot search for the number another way.
What you can do if someone won't provide it
If a person refuses to give you their driver's license number and you genuinely need it for a lawful business purpose, your options depend on the situation. For employment, you can make providing the number a condition of hire. For rental applications, you can require it as part of your screening process. For insurance, the company will not issue a policy without it.
You cannot hire a private investigator, contact the state motor vehicle department, or search public records to find the number. Those routes are illegal for private citizens. If the person will not cooperate and you cannot proceed without the number, the transaction straightforward does not happen.
Why driver's license numbers are protected
States treat driver's license numbers as sensitive personal identifiers because they are tied to your address, date of birth, and sometimes your Social Security number. A person with your driver's license number can impersonate you, open accounts in your name, or commit fraud. Federal privacy law and state motor vehicle privacy statutes restrict who can access these numbers and under what circumstances.
The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), a federal law, prohibits states from releasing driver's license information to the public without the driver's consent. Violations can result in civil lawsuits and criminal penalties. This is why you will not find driver's license numbers in any public database, background check service, or online search tool.
How to verify a driver's license if you need to confirm identity
If your goal is to verify that someone is who they claim to be, you do not necessarily need their driver's license number. You can ask to see the physical card, check the name and photo against other documents, or use a third-party identity verification service that the person consents to.
Many employers and landlords use services like E-Verify (for employment) or third-party background check companies that the applicant authorizes. These services can confirm identity without you ever handling the driver's license number directly. The person signs a consent form, and the service handles the verification on your behalf.
If you are law enforcement or working with the courts
If you are a police officer, prosecutor, or court official, you can obtain driver's license numbers through official law enforcement databases and the state motor vehicle department. These requests go through proper channels and are documented. Private citizens cannot use these channels, and impersonating law enforcement to obtain this information is a federal crime.
If you are a private attorney or paralegal working on a case, you can request driver's license information through discovery (in litigation) or subpoena. The request must go through the court system and the person being investigated must be notified, with limited exceptions for active criminal investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find someone's driver's license number online?
No. Driver's license numbers are not published in any public database, background check website, or search engine. They are protected personal information. If a website claims to have access to driver's license numbers, it is either fraudulent or operating illegally.
What if I need it for a background check?
Background check companies do not need the driver's license number to run a check — they use name, date of birth, and address. If you are using a third-party background check service, the applicant provides their information directly to that company, not to you. You never need to obtain the number yourself.
Can an employer require a driver's license number?
Yes. An employer can require a driver's license number as a condition of employment, especially if the job involves driving or handling sensitive information. The employee must provide it or decline the job. The employer cannot search for it without the employee's knowledge.
Is it illegal to share someone's driver's license number?
Sharing someone's driver's license number without their consent can violate privacy laws and may expose you to civil liability. If you obtained the number legitimately (the person gave it to you), you should treat it as confidential and only use it for the stated purpose.
What should I do if I think someone stole my driver's license number?
Contact your state's motor vehicle department and report the theft. Ask them to flag your account and monitor for fraud. You should also place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and monitor your credit reports for unauthorized accounts.