Return it to the person or the DMV

If you find a driver's license, the fastest way to return it is to contact the person directly. Look for a phone number or address on the license itself — many people still list their home address. A quick call or a note in the mail gets the license back to its owner without any paperwork on your part.

If you cannot reach the person, take the license to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles office. Staff there can contact the owner or add a note to their file that the license was found. Some states also accept licenses at local police stations or sheriff's offices, which may be closer to you than the DMV.

Do not throw away a license you find, even if it seems old or damaged. A lost license is a real problem for the person who lost it — they may need it to board a plane, rent a car, or prove their identity — and returning it saves them time and money.

Key Takeaways

  • Call or mail the license directly to the person if their contact information is on it.
  • If you cannot reach the person, bring the license to your state DMV office or local police station.
  • Some states allow you to mail a found license to the DMV with a note about where you found it.
  • Never throw away a license — it is a real document that the person needs to replace.

Mailing a license to the DMV

Most states accept mailed licenses and will contact the owner. Put the license in an envelope with a brief note saying where and when you found it, then mail it to your state's DMV headquarters. You can find the mailing address on your state's DMV website.

Include your name and phone number only if you want the DMV to tell the person you found it. Many people prefer to stay anonymous, and that is fine — the DMV will still return the license. Postage is cheap, and the person will receive their license within a week or two.

What not to do with a found license

Do not keep the license or use any information on it. Do not post it on social media or a community board — that spreads the person's address and date of birth to strangers. Do not assume someone else will return it if you leave it where you found it; most lost items are thrown away or forgotten.

Do not try to return it by showing up at the address on the license without calling first. The person may no longer live there, or they may feel unsafe with a stranger at their door. A phone call or a mailed envelope is always safer and more respectful.

If the license is damaged or very old

A damaged or expired license is still worth returning. The person may need it for their records, or they may be in the process of replacing it and want to know where it went. The condition of the license does not change what you should do — contact the person or the DMV.

If the license is so damaged that you cannot read the name or address, take it to the DMV anyway. Staff can often identify the person from the photo or other details and contact them.

Returning a license from out of state

If the license is from a different state, you still have two options: contact the person directly if their information is on the license, or mail it to that state's DMV. Look up the out-of-state DMV's mailing address on their website — most have a specific address for found documents.

You do not need to travel to another state to return it. A stamp and an envelope are all you need, and the person will get their license back.

What happens after you return it

Once you turn in the license, your job is done. The DMV or the person will take it from there. You do not need to follow up or check on whether they received it — that is their responsibility now.

If the person contacts you to say thank you, that is a nice bonus. But most of the time you will not hear back, and that is normal. You have done the right thing by returning it instead of discarding it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a reward for returning a lost license?

Some people offer rewards for lost items, but there is no standard reward for a returned license. If the person contacts you and offers one, you can accept it or decline. Most people straightforward appreciate having their license back without expecting anything in return.

What if the license has a different name than the person I found it near?

Return it anyway. The license belongs to whoever is named on it, not to the person who lost it. Contact the person on the license or take it to the DMV. If you found it near someone else, that person may have picked it up by accident and dropped it again.

Do I need to give my name when I return a license?

No. You can mail it to the DMV or the person anonymously. If you call the person directly, you may want to give your name so they know who to thank, but it is not required. Many people prefer to stay anonymous for privacy reasons.

What if I find a license in a wallet with other cards?

Return the whole wallet if you can. If the wallet has a name, address, or phone number on cards inside, use that to contact the person. If you cannot reach them, take the wallet to the DMV or police station. They can identify the person from the license and contact them about all the items.

Is it illegal to keep a found license?

Keeping someone else's government ID is not legal, though you are unlikely to face charges for straightforward finding one. The real issue is that the person needs their license back. Returning it is the right thing to do and takes very little time or effort on your part.