What Is a Florida State ID Number and How to Get One?

A Florida state ID number is the 13-character identifier the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) prints on every Florida identification card. It consists of one letter followed by twelve digits, and it links you to your records with the state.¹ To get one, you apply through FLHSMV with proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing your Florida address, then pay a $25 state fee.²

How the Number Is Built

For decades, Florida built the ID number from your personal information. The letter came from your last name, and the digits encoded the sounds in your name, your birth year, and a gender modifier. Anyone who knew the formula could work backward from the number to your name and approximate birth date.

That changed on July 31, 2024. Under an amendment to Section 322.14(1)(a) of the Florida Statutes, every ID number must now include at least four randomly generated digits. The format still looks the same (one letter, twelve numbers), but the underlying number no longer reveals personal details.³

When Your Number Changes

If you held a Florida ID before July 31, 2024, your number stays the same until the next time you renew or replace the card. At that point FLHSMV assigns you a new number under the random-digit system. Anyone applying for the first time receives a number under the new system automatically. After that, your number only changes again if your last name changes.³

Who Can Get a Florida ID Card

Anyone age five or older is eligible to apply. Children under five qualify only if they have a disability and are applying for a disabled parking permit.⁴ Florida residents who already hold a Florida driver’s license don’t get a separate ID card; the license serves the same purpose.

Documents You’ll Need

Florida follows the federal REAL ID Act’s minimum standards, which require proof of identity, Social Security number, and residential address.⁵

Proof of Identity

Bring one original document showing your identity and date of birth. FLHSMV accepts:⁶

A U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy; Puerto Rico certificates must have an issue date after July 1, 2010)
A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)

Proof of Social Security Number

You need one original document showing your full SSN. Your Social Security card works, as does a W-2 (not handwritten), a pay stub, an SSA-1099, or any other 1099 form that displays your name and complete number.⁶

Two Proofs of Residential Address

Florida wants two different documents showing where you currently live. Acceptable options include a deed, mortgage statement, lease, utility bill, bank statement, voter registration card, or vehicle registration. Utility bills and bank statements must be dated within the last 60 days. If none of your address documents are in your own name, the person you live with can complete a Certification of Address form and provide two of their own proofs. A letter from a homeless shelter or transitional service provider, dated within 60 days, also qualifies.⁶

How to Apply

Pre-fill your application on the FLHSMV website. Entering your information online catches data mismatches early and reduces time at the counter.
Bring your original documents to a county tax collector’s office or FLHSMV service center. Most counties let you schedule an appointment through the tax collector’s website, and walk-ins are often accepted.
A clerk will verify your documents, then take your photo and digital signature.
Pay the fee. The state charge is $25.00 for an original, renewal, or replacement card. Tax collector offices typically add a local service charge that can push the total above $31 depending on the county.²
Your card arrives by mail, usually within two to three weeks.

The examiner will ask whether you want to register as an organ and tissue donor; saying yes adds the designation at no cost.⁷ You’ll also be offered the chance to register to vote, which the National Voter Registration Act requires any state to offer when it issues or renews a personal identification document.⁸

How Long the Card Lasts

Expiration depends on your age at the time of issue:⁴

Ages 5 through 14: the card expires on your fourth birthday after issuance, roughly four years.
Ages 15 and older: the card expires on your eighth birthday after issuance, roughly eight years.
Temporary residents whose identity was established with certain immigration documents get a card that expires one year after issuance or when the federal authorization documents expire, whichever is sooner. These renewals and duplicates must be handled in person.

If your card has been expired more than 90 days, FLHSMV treats the renewal as a brand-new application, meaning you’ll go through full document verification again.⁴

REAL ID for Air Travel

Federal REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025.⁹ A Florida ID card that is not REAL ID-compliant will no longer get you through a TSA checkpoint for a domestic flight or into federal facilities that require identification. When you apply or renew, you can choose to make your card REAL ID-compliant by bringing the identity, SSN, and address documents listed above. A valid U.S. passport or passport card also works at the airport if your Florida ID isn’t compliant.

Replacing or Updating Your Card

Routine renewals, replacements, and address changes can be done through the MyDMV Portal without visiting an office.¹⁰ The state replacement fee is $25.00, with a $2.00 online processing surcharge.² Cards ordered online usually arrive in two to three weeks.

Florida law requires you to update your address within 30 days of moving. Under the NVRA, that address change also updates your voter registration unless you opt out.⁸

Name changes have to be done in person. You’ll need legal documentation of the change (typically a marriage certificate or court order), and a new photo will be taken. A name change also triggers a new ID number.³

1
E-Verify. Florida Driver’s License and ID Card Information
2
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees
3
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FLHSMV Implements Legislation Requiring Driver Licenses and Identification Card Numbers to Change
4
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 322.051 – Identification Cards
5
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act
6
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. What to Bring – U.S. Citizen
7
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Donation of Tissues and Organs
8
Department of Justice. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA)
9
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
10
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. MyDMV Portal