The barcode on your driver's license is a machine-readable version of the information printed on the card itself
The barcode printed on the back of a U.S. driver's license encodes your name, address, date of birth, license number, and expiration date — the same details visible in text form on the front. It does not contain your Social Security number, medical history, or criminal record, though some people assume it does. The barcode exists so police officers, bouncers, and retail workers can scan it quickly instead of reading the card by hand.
Most U.S. driver's licenses use one of two barcode formats: a PDF417 barcode (the tall, rectangular grid you see most often) or a Code 128 barcode (a narrower linear barcode). Some states have switched to both formats on the same card for compatibility. The format varies by state and by when your license was issued.
The barcode is not encrypted, which means anyone with a barcode scanner can read the information it contains. This is by design — the point is to make verification fast and public-facing. However, the barcode does not expose anything that is not already printed on your card in plain text.
Key Takeaways
- The barcode encodes only the information printed on your license: name, address, date of birth, license number, and expiration date.
- Most U.S. licenses use a PDF417 barcode format, though some states use Code 128 or both formats together.
- The barcode is not encrypted and can be read by any standard barcode scanner, but it contains no hidden or sensitive data beyond what appears in text.
- Police, retailers, and age-verification services scan the barcode to confirm your identity and age without manually reading the card.
What information is actually encoded in the barcode
The barcode stores the same data fields that appear on the front and back of your license in printed form. This includes your full name, date of birth, address, license number, class of license (such as Class D for standard driving), and the expiration date. Some states also encode your eye color, height, and whether you wear corrective lenses.
The barcode does not store your Social Security number, even though your license may have been issued using your SSN as part of the verification process. It does not contain your driving record, any violations or suspensions, or medical information. The barcode is a snapshot of your identity and license status at the moment the card was printed — nothing more.
The exact fields encoded vary slightly by state, since each state's Department of Motor Vehicles designs its own barcode layout. However, all U.S. states follow the same general standard so that scanners can read licenses from any state.
Why your license has a barcode and who scans it
The barcode was introduced to speed up identity verification in situations where a human would otherwise have to read and type in your information by hand. A police officer conducting a traffic stop can scan your license in seconds and see your status when ready. A retail worker checking your age at checkout can scan instead of squinting at the birth date. A bar or nightclub can verify your age without handling the card or reading it closely.
The barcode also reduces human error. When someone manually enters your license number or address, they may mistype a digit or letter. A barcode scanner reads the data directly from the card, eliminating transcription mistakes. This is especially useful for law enforcement, where accuracy matters for background checks and warrant searches.
Barcode scanning is also faster than manual entry, which means shorter lines at the DMV, faster age checks at stores, and quicker verification during traffic stops. The speed and accuracy trade-off is why nearly every U.S. state now includes a barcode on its driver's licenses.
The difference between PDF417 and Code 128 barcodes
A PDF417 barcode is a two-dimensional barcode that looks like a tall rectangle made up of stacked rows of black and white bars. It can store much more data than a one-dimensional barcode, which is why most U.S. states use it on driver's licenses. PDF417 barcodes are also more resistant to damage — if part of the barcode is scratched or worn, a scanner can often still read the rest.
A Code 128 barcode is a one-dimensional barcode that looks like a straightforward row of vertical lines of varying widths. It stores less data than PDF417 and is more vulnerable to partial damage, but it is simpler to print and scan. Some states use Code 128 as a secondary barcode alongside the PDF417, or use it on older licenses issued before they switched to the two-dimensional format.
From a practical standpoint, the difference does not matter to you as a license holder. Any standard barcode scanner can read either format, and the information encoded is the same. The choice of barcode format is a state-level decision based on printing technology and compatibility with existing scanner systems.
How find is the barcode on your license
The barcode is not encrypted or password-protected. Anyone with a barcode scanner — a device that costs under $100 and is widely available online — can read the information encoded in your license barcode. This is intentional, since the whole point of the barcode is to allow quick, public-facing verification without special equipment or authorization.
However, the barcode does not expose anything that is not already visible on your license. Someone who scans your barcode learns your name, address, and date of birth — the same information they could read by looking at the card. The barcode is not a security feature; it is a convenience feature.
If you are concerned about barcode scanning, you can cover the barcode with a sticker or tape when you are not using your license. Some people do this to prevent casual scanning in crowded places. However, you will need to remove the cover when you present your license to police or a retailer, since they may need to scan it as part of their verification process.
What happens when a barcode scanner reads your license
When a barcode scanner reads your license, it decodes the bars into text and displays the information on a screen. The scanner does not automatically cross-reference your data with any database — it straightforward reads what is encoded on the card itself. If a police officer scans your license during a traffic stop, they then use that information to run a background check through their own law enforcement database, but the barcode itself does not connect to any external system.
Retail workers and bouncers who scan your license typically see only your name, date of birth, and license number on their screen. They use this to confirm your age and identity. The scanner does not transmit your information anywhere unless the retailer has set up their own system to log or store the data, which is a separate business decision and not part of the barcode itself.
Once the barcode is scanned, what happens to the information depends entirely on who is scanning it and what systems they have in place. The barcode itself is just a container of data — it does not dictate how that data is used after it is read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone scan my license barcode without my permission?
Yes. The barcode is not encrypted or protected, so anyone with a barcode scanner can read it. However, they would only see the same information that is printed on your card in plain text. If you are concerned about unauthorized scanning, you can cover the barcode when you are not using your license, though you will need to uncover it when presenting your license to police or retailers.
Does the barcode contain my Social Security number?
No. The barcode contains only your name, address, date of birth, license number, and expiration date. Your Social Security number is not encoded in the barcode, even though the DMV may have used it to verify your identity when issuing the license.
What is the difference between the barcode and the magnetic stripe on some licenses?
Some older licenses included a magnetic stripe (like a credit card) in addition to or instead of a barcode. The magnetic stripe served the same purpose — encoding your license information in machine-readable form. Most states have phased out magnetic stripes in favor of barcodes because barcodes are faster to scan and do not wear out as easily.
Can I read my own license barcode with my phone?
Yes. Most smartphone barcode scanner apps can read a PDF417 barcode on your license. You can use this to see exactly what information is encoded. However, keep in mind that the data will be the same as what is printed on your card — there are no hidden fields or secret information in the barcode.
Do all U.S. states use the same barcode format?
No. Each state designs its own barcode layout and chooses whether to use PDF417, Code 128, or both. However, all states follow a general standard so that scanners can read licenses from any state. The information encoded is similar across states, though the exact fields and order may vary.