Florida Drivers License Number Format

Every state has its own driver's license format. The Florida state driver's license number format is 13 digits, consisting of one alphabetic character and 12 numeric characters. Every driver has a unique number based on last name, first and middle initial, birth date and sex.

A Florida driver's license number always has 13 digits: one letter followed by 12 numbers. The number is split into five fields, i.e., xxxx – xxx – xx – xxx – x.

The first field is the Soundex code (a letter and three numbers) for the driver's last name. This roughly describes how a given word sounds, with the first letter being the first letter in the name and the remaining numbers (from 1 to 6) indicating different categories of sounds created by consonants following the first letter.

The second field is a numerical code based on your first name and middle initial, and the third field is your birth year. The fourth field is a numerical code based on your sex (male or female), birth month and birth day.

If you have a Florida driver's license number ending in 1, you have a pretty rare driver's license. In the unusual circumstance that the calculation for two people results in exactly the same license number, the number in the fifth field is used to tell them apart. The first person to apply gets 0, the second gets 1, etc.

Read More: How to Get a Florida Driver's License

In addition to your driver's license's unique 13-digit number, your Florida license also includes a barcode and magnetic strip on the back. This stores all the information located on the front of the card such as your photo, name, address, date of birth, height, weight, sex, signature and license expiration date.

The back of your card lists your specific driver class, such as the Class E designation for non-commercial drivers, and whether your driving privileges have any restrictions, conditions or endorsements. This would include the requirement to wear contacts or glasses while driving, limitations such as being able to drive only for business purposes or during daylight hours, or enhancements such as being able to drive passenger vehicles if you have a commercial license.

You can check your driving record or eligibility for driving school, update your online insurance information or Social Security number or access your minor child's driving history on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. Visit the Driver License Check page and provide your driver's license number to look up your record.

To access the driving history of your child under the age of 18, enter her driver's license number, then the last four digits of her Social Security Number and date of birth.