A DPS audit number is a long string of digits printed on your driver’s license or state ID that identifies that specific physical card. It’s usually found on the front of the card, either along the bottom edge, next to the 2D barcode, or running vertically beside your photo. Some cards label it “AUDIT,” some label it “DD,” and some print it with no label at all.
What the Number Identifies
Your driver’s license number identifies you. The audit number identifies the card itself. Every time your state’s motor vehicle agency prints a new physical card for you, the audit number on that card is different from the one on your previous card, even if nothing else about your license has changed. Your license number stays the same for years. The audit number resets with every renewal, replacement, or update that produces a new card.
That’s what makes it useful as a security check. Anyone holding an old or counterfeit version of your license won’t have the current audit number, so online systems can use it to confirm you’re holding the card that’s actually valid right now. The national card design standard set by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators requires this number to “uniquely identify a particular document issued to that customer from others that may have been issued in the past.”1American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. 2020 AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard
Where to Find It on Your Card
Look on the front of the card for a long string of numbers, typically 15 to 20 digits. Common locations:
- Along the bottom edge of the card, sometimes running the full width in small print.
- Next to or just above the 2D barcode on the back, which also encodes the same number.
- Rotated 90 degrees along the left or right side of your photograph.
The label depends on the state. Some cards print “DD” next to the number, others use “AUDIT,” and some show only the digits. If you see “DD” followed by a long number on the front of your card, that’s it. REAL ID-compliant cards are required to include this number.
Also Called a Document Discriminator
If your state doesn’t use the term “audit number,” search for “document discriminator” or “DD” instead. These are the same thing: a per-card identifier that tells one physical issuance apart from another. The AAMVA standard uses “document discriminator” as the official term.1American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. 2020 AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard States with a Department of Public Safety tend to call it the “audit number.” Other states lean toward “document discriminator” or “DD.” The function is identical.
When You’ll Need It
The audit number comes up most often on your state’s online driver’s license portal. Typical situations:
- Replacing a lost or stolen license online, alongside your license number, date of birth, and partial Social Security number.
- Renewing your license online, as an extra verification step.
- Ordering an official driving record.
- Updating your address through a self-service system.
The number essentially proves you have the physical card in front of you. That’s why it’s required for transactions where no one is checking your ID in person, and it’s also why most state agencies will not give the number out over the phone or by email.
What to Do if You Can’t Find It
If you need the number but don’t have your card, your options are narrow by design. State agencies treat the audit number as a security credential and won’t read it back to you.
The most reliable path is to visit a local office in person with another form of government-issued ID. Staff can verify your identity and issue a replacement card, which will carry a new audit number. Replacement fees vary by state, and new cards typically arrive by mail within two to four weeks. Some states now offer digital driver’s licenses through official apps; if you enrolled before losing your card, the audit number may still be accessible there.
Don’t guess. Repeated failed attempts can lock you out of your online account, and submitting incorrect audit numbers may flag your record for manual review, which slows down whatever you were trying to do.
If Your License Is Lost or Stolen
A lost or stolen license exposes more than your name and address. The audit number, combined with other details printed on the card, can give someone enough to impersonate you through online state portals. Replacing the card quickly is the single most effective step: the replacement carries a new audit number, and the old one immediately becomes useless for any online transaction that checks against the state’s records.