Yes, you can list hazel as your eye color on a driver’s license in most states. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), which sets the data standards state DMVs follow, includes hazel (code HAZ) in its official list of eye color options.1American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. D20 Data Dictionary 7.0 A few states use a shorter menu that leaves it off, in which case you choose the closest dominant color.
The Standard List of Eye Color Codes
The AAMVA D20 Data Dictionary defines ten codes states can use, and describes hazel as “a mixture of colors, most commonly green and brown.”1American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. D20 Data Dictionary 7.0 The full list:
- BLK — Black (or very dark brown)
- BLU — Blue
- BRO — Brown (including amber)
- DIC — Dichromatic or multicolor, in one or both eyes
- GRY — Gray
- GRN — Green
- HAZ — Hazel
- MAR — Maroon
- PNK — Pink (albino)
- UNK — Unknown
Texas follows this standard and lists hazel directly on its driver’s license application alongside blue, green, gray, brown, and black.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Out of State/Country Driver License Application Washington also uses HAZ, along with a multicolored code (MUL) in place of the AAMVA’s dichromatic designation.3Washington Courts. Person Description Codes
What to Do if Hazel Isn’t on Your Form
A handful of states use a trimmed list that drops hazel. If your application shows only blue, brown, green, gray, and black, pick whichever color dominates your eyes. Hazel leans brown in some people and clearly green in others, so either is a reasonable choice. The point is a close match for identification, not a scientific reading.
Some forms include a catchall like “Multicolored” or “Other.” Those codes are really designed for people whose two eyes are different colors (heterochromia), and choosing brown or green will be more useful to anyone trying to match your license to your face. If you’re unsure, ask the clerk at the counter. They handle this question routinely and can tell you what the state’s convention is.
How the Color Gets Recorded
Eye color on a driver’s license is self-reported. You pick the color that best describes your eyes on the application, and that’s what prints on the card. A nationwide study that pulled eye color data from all 50 state motor vehicle databases confirmed the information comes from each applicant’s own selection.4National Library of Medicine (PMC). Iris Color Distribution in the United States of America No one is running a spectrometer on your iris.
A DMV employee may glance at your eyes and suggest a correction if your pick seems clearly off, but that’s informal. The AAMVA notes that “the perceived color of the iris can vary, depending on the background lighting,” which is part of why the system relies on self-reporting.1American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. D20 Data Dictionary 7.0 The AAMVA also instructs that tinted contact lenses come out before eye color is assessed.
Changing the Eye Color on a License You Already Have
If your license reads brown but you’ve always thought of your eyes as hazel, you can usually get it corrected. The process varies by state and generally means a visit to a motor vehicle office to request an amended card. Some states handle the change at your next renewal at no extra cost; others charge a replacement fee, typically somewhere between $11 and $37.
Whether it’s worth the trip is a separate question. Eye color is a secondary identifier, and a mismatch between hazel and brown won’t cause you legal problems. If accuracy matters to you, the fix is straightforward.