Return it to the person or the DMV as soon as you can

If you find a driver's license, your best option is to return it directly to the person whose name is on it. Look for contact information in the wallet or bag where you found it — a phone number, address, or social media profile. A quick call or message usually gets the license back to its owner within hours, and most people are grateful enough to offer a reward.

If you cannot reach the person, or if the license was found alone without other identifying items, take it to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. Every state runs a lost-and-found system for licenses. The DMV will contact the owner and hold the license until they pick it up, usually at no cost to either of you.

Do not throw the license away, even if it looks old or damaged. A lost license is still valuable to its owner — they will need it to get a replacement, and the process is faster if the original is returned.

Key Takeaways

  • Try to contact the license holder directly using information from their wallet or a quick online search before going to the DMV.
  • If you cannot reach the person, take the license to your state's DMV office, which maintains a lost-and-found system.
  • The DMV will contact the owner and hold the license at no cost; you do not need to provide your name or contact information.
  • Never discard a license or keep it — returning it protects the owner from identity theft and speeds up their replacement process.

How to find the person's contact information

Start with what is in the wallet or bag. Look for a phone number written on a card, a business card, or a note. Check for a second ID with an address, or a membership card from a gym, library, or workplace that might have a phone number printed on it.

If the wallet contains nothing useful, try an online search. Type the person's full name (from the license) into Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn. If the name is common, add the city or county from the address on the license to narrow the results. Many people list their phone number or email on social media or professional profiles.

Once you reach the person, tell them where you found the license and arrange a time and place to return it. If they offer a reward and you want to accept it, that is entirely your choice — there is no obligation either way.

Taking the license to the DMV

Visit your state's DMV office in person. You do not need to call ahead or make an appointment for this task — most DMV offices have a lost-and-found window or counter where you can drop off items. Bring the license with you and hand it to the staff member at the counter.

Tell them you found the license and want to turn it in. They will take your name and contact information (in case the owner wants to thank you or offer a reward), and they will log the license into their system. The DMV will then mail or call the owner to let them know the license has been found and is waiting for pickup.

The whole process takes just a few minutes. You do not need to fill out forms, and there is no fee. Once you hand over the license, your responsibility is complete.

What happens if the license is damaged or expired

A damaged or expired license still belongs to the person whose name is on it, and the DMV still wants it back. An expired license is proof of identity and can be used to obtain a replacement. A damaged license — torn, water-damaged, or faded — is the same: the owner will need it as part of their replacement request.

Do not worry about the condition of the license. Take it to the DMV or contact the owner exactly as you would with a license in perfect condition. The DMV staff will note the damage when they log it in, and the owner will understand that wear and tear happened after they lost it.

Protecting yourself when returning a license

If you contact the person directly, meet in a public place during daylight hours — a coffee shop, a parking lot, or the person's workplace. Do not invite them to your home, and do not go to an address you cannot verify. A quick video call or phone call before meeting is a safe way to confirm you are talking to the right person.

If you choose to use the DMV instead, you avoid any in-person meeting. This is the safest option if you feel uncertain about the person or the situation. The DMV handles the contact and the return, and you stay completely out of it.

Never ask for payment or personal information in exchange for returning the license. If someone offers a reward, accept it only if you feel comfortable doing so. If the person seems suspicious or asks you to do anything unusual, stop communicating and take the license to the DMV instead.

What not to do with a found license

Do not keep the license, even temporarily. Do not use any information from it to contact the person's family members, employer, or bank. Do not post about the found license on social media with the person's full name or photo — this can expose them to identity theft or scams.

Do not assume the license is fake or invalid just because something looks off. Licenses from other states or countries may look different from what you are used to. If you are unsure whether a license is real, the DMV can verify it when you turn it in.

Do not mail the license to an address on it unless you are certain the address is current. People move, and a mailed license can end up in the wrong hands. The DMV or a direct phone call is always safer.

If the license has no usable contact information

Sometimes a license is found alone, with no wallet, no phone, and no way to identify the person beyond the name and address printed on it. In this case, the DMV is your only option. Take the license to your state's DMV office and explain that you found it with no other identifying information.

The DMV will use the address on the license to mail a notice to the owner, letting them know their license has been found and is waiting for pickup. This process takes longer than a phone call — usually one to two weeks — but it works. The owner will receive the notice, come to the DMV, and pick up their license.

If the address on the license is outdated or incorrect, the owner may not receive the notice. But the license will still be in the DMV's system, and if the owner calls the DMV to report it lost, they will learn it has already been turned in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a reward for returning a found license?

Some people offer rewards, but there is no requirement to do so. If the owner offers a reward and you want to accept it, that is your choice. If you return the license through the DMV, you can provide your contact information so the owner can reach you to say thank you, but the DMV will not pass along your details unless you agree.

What if I find a license from another state or country?

The process is the same. If it is from another U.S. state, contact that state's DMV with the information from the license. If it is from another country, try contacting the person directly using any information in the wallet, or turn it in to your local police department, which may have a way to return international documents.

Do I have to give my name when I turn in a found license?

Most DMV offices will ask for your name and contact information so the owner can thank you or offer a reward if they choose to. You can decline to provide this information, and the DMV will still accept and process the license. The choice is yours.

What if the person whose license I found asks for money to pick it up?

Do not give them money. This is a scam. Hang up, take the license to the DMV, and do not respond to further contact. The real owner will never ask you for payment to get their license back.

How long does the DMV keep a found license?

This varies by state, but most DMV offices hold found licenses for 30 to 90 days before destroying them. If the owner does not claim it within that time, it is discarded. This is another reason why contacting the person directly, if possible, is faster — they get their license back within hours instead of waiting for a mailed notice.