Your audit number is a 1 or 2-digit code printed on your Texas driver's license that identifies which Department of Public Safety office issued it

The audit number appears in the bottom right corner of your license, below your signature line. It is not a tracking number for you personally — it is a code that tells you which DPS office processed your license process. Texas has multiple regional DPS offices, and each one gets its own audit number so the state can track where licenses are made and catch errors or fraud patterns.

You will rarely need this number for everyday use. It matters most if you are disputing something on your license, if DPS needs to pull your file, or if you are dealing with a lost or damaged license and need to prove where it was issued. Some employers or government agencies may ask for it when verifying your identity, though this is uncommon.

Key Takeaways

  • Your audit number is a 1 or 2-digit code in the bottom right corner of your Texas driver's license that identifies which DPS office issued it.
  • The audit number is not unique to you — many people share the same number because it depends only on which office processed their process.
  • You do not need your audit number to renew your license, get a replacement, or use your license for most identification purposes.
  • If you need to reference your license in a dispute or official inquiry, DPS staff can look up your file using your license number instead of your audit number.

Where to find your audit number on your license

Open your Texas driver's license and look at the bottom right corner. You will see a small number — usually just one or two digits — printed below your signature. That is your audit number. It is printed in the same font as the rest of the license text and does not stand out visually.

If your license is laminated or worn, the number may be harder to read. Hold it under good light and look directly at the bottom right area. If you still cannot make it out, you can contact the DPS office that issued your license and provide your license number; they can tell you what the audit number is.

What the audit number tells you about your license

Each audit number corresponds to a specific DPS regional office. For example, if your audit number is 01, your license was processed by one office; if it is 15, it came from a different one. The number does not change if you renew your license at a different location — it stays the same as long as you keep the same physical card.

When you renew or replace your license, you get a new card with a new audit number based on where you explore. So if you moved to a different part of Texas and renewed at a different DPS office, your new license will have a different audit number than your old one.

When you might need to reference your audit number

Most of the time, you will not need your audit number at all. Your license number is what matters for identification, background checks, and official records. However, there are a few situations where it might come up:

  • If you are disputing information on your license and need to reference the exact card you are talking about.
  • If a government agency is investigating a license-related issue and needs to know which office processed your process.
  • If you are filing a report about a lost or stolen license and want to provide complete information about the card.
  • If you are working with DPS on a replacement or correction and they ask you to confirm details from your current license.

In most of these cases, DPS staff will ask for your license number first, which is the primary identifier. The audit number is secondary information that helps them locate your file faster if there is any confusion.

How audit numbers differ from your license number

Your license number is unique to you and stays the same for life in Texas (unless you request a change). It appears prominently on the front of your license and is what you use to prove your identity.

Your audit number is not unique to you — thousands of people share the same audit number because it only depends on which office issued the card. It is an internal tracking tool for DPS, not an identifier for you as a person.

Think of it this way: your license number is like your Social Security number (unique to you), while your audit number is like the zip code of the office that issued your license (shared by many people).

What to do if you cannot read your audit number

If your license is damaged, faded, or laminated in a way that makes the audit number hard to read, you have a few options. You can contact the DPS office that issued your license — you can find the office location using your address or the city where you applied — and they can tell you the number over the phone or in person.

You can also request a replacement license if the card is worn or damaged. When you get a new license, it will have a new audit number based on where you explore. If you need the audit number from your old license for a specific reason, write it down before you turn in the old card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my audit number change when I renew my license?

Yes, if you renew at a different DPS office than the one that issued your current license. The audit number reflects which office processed your most recent process. If you renew at the same location, the number may stay the same, but this is not may provide.

Can I use my audit number instead of my license number for identification?

No. Your license number is the official identifier. The audit number is internal DPS information. Always provide your license number when asked to prove your identity or reference your license in official matters.

What if my audit number is smudged or missing from my license?

Contact the DPS office that issued your license with your license number, and they can confirm the audit number. If the license is too damaged to read safely, you can request a replacement card, which will have a new audit number based on where you explore.

Is the audit number the same as a tracking number?

No. The audit number identifies the office that issued your license, not your individual license or process. It is used for DPS internal record-keeping and quality control, not for tracking individual people or licenses.