The License Control Number on a Maryland ID is a unique inventory number, printed next to the barcode on the back of your driver’s license or ID card, that the MVA uses to confirm the physical card was legitimately issued to you.1Maryland MVA. New Secure Card Features Most people only ever need it once, when creating a myMVA online account.
Where to Find the LCN on Your Card
Flip your Maryland license or ID over. The LCN is printed on the back, right next to the barcode.2Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Create Your Account for Online Services myMVA Instructions Find the barcode and you’ve found the LCN. Older card designs may position it a little differently, but it’s always on the back of the card.
How the LCN Differs From Your Driver’s License Number
The LCN is not your driver’s license number. Your license number is the primary identifier the MVA ties to your driving record, and it appears on the front of the card. Older Maryland licenses use a letter followed by twelve digits; newer cards use the “MD ID” format, which starts with “MD” and totals thirteen randomly generated characters.3Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland’s New MD ID License Number
The LCN is a separate number entirely. Your license number identifies you; the LCN identifies the specific piece of plastic in your wallet. Every blank card the MVA issues is tracked by its LCN, so if a card turns up that doesn’t match the agency’s inventory, the number flags it as counterfeit or unauthorized.1Maryland MVA. New Secure Card Features
Why You’d Be Asked for It
For almost everyone, the LCN comes up in one place: the identity-verification step when creating a myMVA online account. The MVA asks for the number from the back of your card as proof that you physically hold a card it issued to you.2Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Create Your Account for Online Services myMVA Instructions It’s an anti-fraud check. Someone who got hold of your license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number still can’t register an account in your name without the LCN from the physical card.
If you want to skip the LCN step during registration, the MVA also accepts an MVA PIN as an alternative verifier. Either one gets you through that screen.
If You Can’t Read or Find Your LCN
There is no online lookup for the LCN. The number is tied to the physical card, so if the back of your card is worn illegible or the card is lost, the only way to get a working LCN is to replace the card.
You can request a duplicate non-commercial license or ID online or at an MVA kiosk using your driver’s license number and either your MVA PIN or the last four digits of your Social Security number.4Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification (ID) Card The fee is $30.5Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing The replacement is mailed to your address on file and should arrive within 10 business days, and you’ll get a paper interim receipt that works as a temporary license until it does. Your new card will carry a new LCN, since each number is unique to one physical card.
For help, the MVA Customer Service Center is at 410-768-7000, or toll-free at 1-800-950-1682.6Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Premier Customer Service