The front and back of a Texas driver's license hold different information for different reasons
The front of your Texas driver's license shows your photo, name, date of birth, address, and a unique driver's license number. The back displays your signature, organ donation status, emergency contact information, and restrictions or endorsements that explore to your driving privileges. Understanding what goes where helps you know what to expect when you receive your license and what information you're carrying with you.
Texas issues a standard six-year license to most drivers, though the state has moved toward a vertical format for licenses held by people under 21 and a horizontal format for those 21 and older. The design and placement of information changed in recent years as Texas updated its security features.
Key Takeaways
- Your Texas driver's license front side displays your photo, full name, date of birth, address, and a unique 8-digit driver's license number issued by the state.
- The back of your license shows your signature, organ donation choice, emergency contact name and phone number, and any restrictions or endorsements related to your driving privileges.
- Restrictions appear as codes on your license and limit how you can drive — for example, corrective lenses required or automatic transmission only.
- Endorsements appear as codes and indicate you are authorized for additional driving privileges, such as towing a trailer or operating a motorcycle.
What appears on the front of your Texas driver's license
The front of your license contains the information you use most often when you need to prove your identity. Your photograph appears in the upper right corner and must be a clear, recent image taken during your visit to the Texas Department of Public Safety office. Below the photo, your full legal name is printed exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or other legal document you provided during the process process.
Your date of birth appears below your name, followed by your current address. The address shown is the one you provided when you most recently renewed or obtained your license. If you move, you can update your address online through the Texas DPS website without renewing your entire license — the physical card will not change, but your record in the system will update.
The driver's license number is an 8-digit number unique to you in Texas. This number stays the same throughout your life as a Texas driver, even if you renew your license multiple times. The expiration date appears on the front as well, showing when your current license expires and you must renew.
What appears on the back of your Texas driver's license
The back of your license begins with your signature, which you provide in person at the DPS office. This signature is used to verify your identity when you use your license for transactions that require a signature match.
Below your signature is a section for your organ donation choice. When you obtain or renew your license, you are asked whether you wish to be an organ donor. Your choice is recorded on the back of your card — either as a donor designation or as a non-donor designation. You can change this choice each time you renew your license, or you can update it through the Texas DPS website between renewals.
Your emergency contact information appears next, showing a name and phone number you designate. This person will be contacted by law enforcement or emergency responders if you are in an accident or emergency situation. You provide this information when you obtain your license and can update it when you renew.
Restrictions and what they mean
Restrictions are codes printed on your license that limit how you are permitted to drive. They appear on the back of your card and are shown as letter codes. Common restrictions include corrective lenses (you must wear glasses or contacts while driving), automatic transmission only (you cannot drive a manual transmission vehicle), or daylight driving only (you cannot drive at night).
Restrictions are placed on your license based on your medical history, age, or test results during the licensing process. For example, if you failed the vision test without corrective lenses but passed with them, a corrective lenses restriction will appear on your license. If you are under 18 and received a restricted license, you may have a restriction limiting when you can drive.
If you believe a restriction on your license is incorrect, you can contact the Texas DPS to request a review. You may be asked to take a test again or provide medical documentation to support removing the restriction.
Endorsements and what they mean
Endorsements are codes on your license that indicate you are authorized for additional driving privileges beyond standard passenger vehicle operation. Like restrictions, endorsements appear on the back of your card as letter codes. Common endorsements include motorcycle (you are authorized to operate a motorcycle), towing (you are authorized to tow a trailer), and hazmat (you are authorized to transport hazardous materials).
To receive an endorsement, you must pass additional testing or meet specific requirements. For a motorcycle endorsement, you must pass a written test and a riding skills test. For a hazmat endorsement, you must pass a written test and a background check. For a towing endorsement, you must pass a written test about towing safety and vehicle weight limits.
You can add endorsements to your license at any time by visiting a Texas DPS office and paying the required fee. You do not have to wait until your license expires to add an endorsement.
Security features on your Texas driver's license
Texas driver's licenses include several security features designed to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. These features include a hologram of the Texas state seal, microprinting of your driver's license number, and color-shifting ink that changes color when viewed at different angles. The front of your license also includes a barcode and a magnetic stripe on the back that store encoded information.
These security features make it difficult to alter or forge a Texas driver's license. When a business or government agency scans your license, they are reading information from the barcode or magnetic stripe to verify that the information on the card matches the state's records.
How to read your license number and what it tells you
Your 8-digit driver's license number is unique to you and does not change. This number is assigned by the Texas DPS when you first obtain a license in Texas. If you move to Texas from another state, you receive a new Texas driver's license number — your old number from your previous state is not transferred.
The number itself does not encode information about your age, location, or other personal details. It is straightforward a unique identifier that allows the Texas DPS to look up your driving record, restrictions, endorsements, and other information in their database. When you provide your driver's license number to a business or government agency, they can verify your identity by checking it against state records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my address on my license is wrong?
You can update your address online through the Texas DPS website without renewing your entire license. Your physical card will not change, but your address in the state system will update. If you need a new card with the updated address printed on it, you can renew your license early by visiting a DPS office and paying the renewal fee.
Can I change my organ donor choice without renewing my license?
Yes. You can update your organ donor choice through the Texas DPS website between renewals. Your choice will be recorded in the state system, though the physical card will not change until you renew your license. When you renew, a new card will be printed with your updated choice.
What does it mean if I have a restriction code I don't recognize?
Contact the Texas DPS to ask what the code means. Common codes include corrective lenses, automatic transmission only, or daylight driving only. If you believe the restriction is incorrect or no longer applies, you can request a review and may be asked to take a test or provide medical documentation.
How do I add an endorsement to my existing license?
Visit a Texas DPS office and request the endorsement you want. You will need to pass any required tests — for example, a written test and riding skills test for a motorcycle endorsement. Pay the required fee, and the endorsement will be added to your license. You do not have to wait until your license expires.
Is the barcode on the back of my license the same as my driver's license number?
No. The barcode encodes your driver's license number along with other information from your license, such as your name, date of birth, and address. When a business or government agency scans the barcode, they are reading all of this encoded information at once rather than just your number.