The audit number is a six-digit code printed on the back of your Texas driver license that the Department of Public Safety uses to verify the license's authenticity and track its issuance history.
The audit number appears in the lower right corner of the back side of your license, below the barcode. It is not the same as your driver license number (which is on the front). Texas added this security feature to make licenses harder to counterfeit and to give law enforcement and businesses a way to confirm that a license is genuine when they scan or manually verify it.
You will rarely need to reference this number yourself. It exists mainly for verification purposes — when a police officer, bank, or other organization scans your license, the audit number helps them confirm the license was legitimately issued by Texas DPS and has not been altered or forged.
Key Takeaways
- The audit number is a six-digit code on the back of your Texas driver license, located below the barcode in the lower right corner.
- This number is used by law enforcement, businesses, and other organizations to verify that your license is authentic and was issued by Texas DPS.
- You do not need to memorize or regularly use your audit number — it is primarily a security and verification tool for others.
- If your license is damaged, lost, or stolen, the audit number on your replacement license will be different.
- The audit number is different from your driver license number, which appears on the front of your license.
Where the audit number appears on your license
The audit number is printed on the back of your Texas driver license in small text. Specifically, it sits in the lower right section of the back, directly below the two-dimensional barcode (the square pattern that scanners read). The number consists of six digits and is printed in a smaller font than your name or license number.
On older Texas licenses issued before the current security features were added, the audit number may not be present or may be in a slightly different location. If you have an older license and are unsure whether it has an audit number, you can request a replacement license from Texas DPS, which will include the current security features.
Why Texas DPS uses audit numbers
The audit number serves as a unique identifier tied to the specific license document itself, not to you as a person. When a license is scanned — at a bank, during a traffic stop, or at a business that checks ID — the audit number helps verify that the license was actually produced by Texas DPS and matches the records in their system. This prevents the use of forged, altered, or fraudulently obtained licenses.
Each time you renew your license or receive a replacement, you receive a new audit number. This allows DPS to track which physical license documents have been issued and to identify if a particular license has been reported lost or stolen. The audit number is part of a larger security system that includes holograms, microprinting, and other anti-counterfeiting features.
How to read your audit number
To find your audit number, hold your Texas driver license with the back facing you. Look toward the lower right corner, below the barcode. The six-digit number printed there is your audit number. It will be in a sans-serif font, smaller than the main text on the license.
If you cannot locate the audit number on your license, it may be because your license is very old or was issued before this security feature was implemented. You can contact Texas DPS or visit a local DPS office to confirm whether your license includes an audit number or to request a replacement that does.
What happens to your audit number when you renew
When you renew your Texas driver license, you receive a new physical license document with a new audit number. The old audit number is no longer active. This is normal and expected — each license document gets its own unique audit number for tracking purposes.
If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged and you request a replacement before your renewal date, you will also receive a new audit number on the replacement license. The old audit number associated with your previous license is deactivated in the DPS system so it cannot be used fraudulently.
Audit numbers versus driver license numbers
The audit number and your driver license number are two separate identifiers. Your driver license number appears on the front of your license and is your primary identification number — it stays the same throughout your life unless you request a change. The audit number, by contrast, changes every time you get a new physical license document.
When you renew your license, your driver license number remains the same, but your audit number changes. This is why the audit number is tied to the physical document rather than to your identity. Law enforcement and other organizations use both numbers for different purposes: the driver license number to identify you as a person, and the audit number to verify that the specific license in front of them is authentic.
If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged
If your Texas driver license is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement from Texas DPS. The replacement license will have a new audit number. You do not need to do anything special to obtain the new audit number — it is automatically assigned to your replacement license when it is printed.
If your license was stolen, you should report it to Texas DPS as soon as possible. Reporting it allows DPS to deactivate the old audit number in their system, which helps prevent someone from using your stolen license fraudulently. You can report a stolen license online through the Texas DPS website or by visiting a local DPS office in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to memorize my audit number?
No. The audit number is for verification purposes only and is used by law enforcement, banks, and other organizations when they scan or check your license. You do not need to memorize it or provide it in most situations.
What if I cannot find the audit number on my license?
Older Texas licenses issued before current security features were added may not have an audit number. If your license is very old or you cannot locate the number, you can contact Texas DPS or visit a local office to confirm. You can request a replacement license that includes the current security features.
Does my audit number change if I move to a different address?
No. Your audit number only changes when you receive a new physical license document — either through renewal, replacement, or a duplicate request. A straightforward address change does not require a new license, so your audit number stays the same.
Can someone use my audit number to commit fraud?
The audit number alone is not enough to commit fraud. It is one part of a larger security system. If your license is stolen, report it to Texas DPS when ready so they can deactivate that audit number in their system, which prevents it from being used fraudulently.
Is the audit number the same as the barcode on the back of my license?
No. The barcode is a separate security feature that encodes information about your license. The audit number is the six-digit code printed directly below the barcode. Both are part of the security system, but they serve different purposes.