Your driver's license number is printed in the upper right corner of the front of your card, below your photo
Arizona prints your driver's license number in the top right area of the front side of your physical license, positioned just under your photograph. It is an eight-digit number unique to you. If you are holding your card and looking at your face, move your eyes to the right and slightly down — the number will be there.
The same number also appears on the back of your license, usually in the lower left section. Both locations show the identical eight digits, so you can check either side if one is harder to read.
Your license number stays the same throughout your life in Arizona, even if you renew your license multiple times. It does not change when you move to a new address or update your name. This is the number you will use when you are asked to provide your driver's license information for traffic stops, insurance claims, vehicle registration, or any official record.
Key Takeaways
- Your Arizona driver's license number is an eight-digit code printed in the upper right corner of the front of your card, below your photo.
- The same number appears on the back of your license in the lower left area, so you have two places to look if the front is worn or hard to read.
- Your license number remains the same for life in Arizona and does not change with renewals, address changes, or name changes.
- You will need this number for insurance, vehicle registration, traffic citations, and any official record that references your license.
What to do if your license number is hard to read
If the number on your physical card is faded, damaged, or illegible, you can contact the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division to confirm your number. They can look it up using your name, date of birth, and address. You do not need to replace your entire license just because the number is faint — ADOT can tell you what it is over the phone or through their online system.
If your license is so worn that multiple details are unreadable, you may want to renew it early. Arizona allows you to renew your license up to one year before the expiration date printed on the card. A new card will have a crisp, clear number and all other information printed fresh.
Finding your number if you lost your license
If your physical license is lost or stolen, you still have ways to find your number. ADOT can provide it if you call or visit their office in person with a valid form of identification. You will need to bring something like a passport, birth certificate, or Social Security card to confirm your identity.
You can also look at any document you received when you first got your Arizona license — your temporary paper license, your renewal notice, or any insurance or vehicle registration paperwork that lists your license number. Insurance companies and the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles keep records of your number, so if you have contacted either one in the past, they may have it on file.
How your license number differs from other ID numbers
Your Arizona driver's license number is separate from your Social Security number, your vehicle identification number (VIN), and your vehicle registration number. Each serves a different purpose. Your license number is tied to you as a driver and is what law enforcement and insurance companies use to look up your driving record.
Do not confuse your license number with the control number that sometimes appears on traffic citations or insurance documents — those are temporary reference numbers for that specific transaction, not your permanent driver's license number.
Where you will need to provide your license number
You will be asked for your driver's license number when you register a vehicle, purchase auto insurance, explore for a job that requires a background check, or are pulled over by law enforcement. Insurance companies use it to pull your driving history. Vehicle registration uses it to link you to your car. Employers use it as part of a standard background check.
Keep your license number in a safe place if you need to reference it often — some people write it down separately from their physical card, or store it in a password-protected note on their phone. This way, if your card is lost or damaged, you still have the number available.
Renewing your license and getting a new number
When you renew your Arizona driver's license, your number does not change. You keep the same eight-digit code for life. Your new card will have the same number printed in the same location — upper right front, below your photo. The expiration date will be updated, but your personal license number stays constant.
This is different from some other states, where a new license can mean a new number. In Arizona, your number is permanent, which makes it easier to maintain consistent records with insurance companies, employers, and government agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my driver's license number the same as my license plate number?
No. Your driver's license number is tied to you as a person; your license plate number is tied to your vehicle. They are completely separate. If you sell your car, the license plate goes with it. Your driver's license number stays with you.
Can I change my driver's license number in Arizona?
No. Your eight-digit license number is permanent and does not change during your lifetime in Arizona. It remains the same through renewals, address changes, and name changes. If you move to another state, you will get a new number when you get that state's license.
What if I have an old Arizona license from years ago — is the number still valid?
Yes. If you held an Arizona license in the past and still live in Arizona, your old number is the same number you have now. Even if you let your license expire and then renewed it later, the number did not change. ADOT uses the same number throughout your driving life in the state.
Do I need to memorize my driver's license number?
You do not need to memorize it, but it is helpful to know where to find it quickly. Write it down somewhere safe, or take a photo of your license and store it securely. You will be asked for it often enough that having it readily available saves time.
Where exactly on the back of my license is the number printed?
On the back of an Arizona driver's license, the number appears in the lower left section of the card. It is the same eight-digit code as the front. The back also contains your address, signature, and other information, but the license number is positioned in that lower left area.