Where the audit number appears on your Texas license

The audit number on a Texas driver's license is a six-digit code printed in the lower right corner of the front of the card. It looks like a straightforward number sequence — for example, 123456 — and sits below the expiration date. The Texas Department of Public Safety uses this number to track and verify the authenticity of each license issued.

The audit number is not the same as your driver's license number (which appears in the upper left) or your date of birth. It is a separate identifier that the state assigns during the printing and quality control process. Every Texas license has one, whether it is a standard driver's license, an ID card, or a commercial driver's license.

Key Takeaways

  • The audit number is a six-digit code located in the lower right corner of the front of your Texas driver's license, below the expiration date.
  • This number is used by the Texas Department of Public Safety to verify the authenticity and track the production of each license.
  • The audit number is different from your driver's license number, which appears in the upper left corner of the card.
  • You may need to reference your audit number if you are reporting a lost or stolen license or if you are verifying your identity with a government agency.

Why the audit number matters

The audit number serves as a quality control and anti-fraud tool for the state. When you renew your license or replace a lost one, the Texas Department of Public Safety assigns a new audit number to your new card. This helps the state track which licenses were printed in which batches and when, which is useful if there is ever a recall or security issue with a particular batch of cards.

If you need to report your license as lost or stolen, having the audit number on hand can speed up the process. Some government offices and financial institutions may also ask for it as part of identity verification, though this is less common than asking for your driver's license number or date of birth.

How to read your audit number correctly

Look at the front of your Texas driver's license and locate the lower right corner. You will see your expiration date printed there — it reads "EXP" followed by a date like "12/31/2028". Directly below that expiration date is a six-digit number with no letters. That is your audit number.

The audit number is always printed in the same location on every Texas license, making it straightforward to find once you know where to look. It is printed in black text on the standard white or colored background of the card, depending on the type of license you hold.

What the audit number does not tell you

The audit number is not a code that reveals personal information about you. It does not encode your Social Security number, your address, or any other private data. It is straightforward a reference number that the state uses internally to track the physical card itself.

You cannot use the audit number alone to look up information about a license or verify someone's identity. Only the Texas Department of Public Safety and authorized government agencies can use the audit number for verification purposes. Sharing your audit number with a private company or unknown person is generally safe, but it is still good practice to limit who you give any information from your license to.

When you might need to reference your audit number

If you report your license as lost or stolen to the Texas Department of Public Safety, having the audit number available can help the agency locate your record more quickly. You will also have the audit number if you need to replace your license for any reason — the new card will have a different audit number assigned to it.

Some government offices, law enforcement, or financial institutions may ask for your audit number as part of a verification process, though most will ask for your driver's license number first. If someone asks for it, you can find it in the lower right corner of your license as described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the audit number the same as my driver's license number?

No. Your driver's license number appears in the upper left corner of the front of your card and is your primary identifier. The audit number is a separate six-digit code in the lower right corner that the state uses for internal tracking and quality control.

Do I need to memorize my audit number?

No. You only need to reference it if a government agency or official asks for it, or if you are reporting your license as lost or stolen. In most cases, your driver's license number or date of birth will be sufficient for identification purposes.

What happens to my audit number if I renew my license?

When you renew your Texas driver's license, you receive a new physical card with a new audit number. The old audit number is no longer active. The new number is assigned during the printing process and appears in the same location on your new card.

Can someone use my audit number to commit fraud?

The audit number alone cannot be used to commit fraud or access your personal information. It is a reference number for the physical card only. However, it is still wise to limit who you share any information from your license with, as a combination of details could be misused.

Where do I find the audit number on a Texas ID card?

Texas ID cards (non-driver identification cards) also have an audit number in the lower right corner of the front, in the same location as on a driver's license. The format and appearance are identical.