To get a certified copy of your driver’s license, take your original card to a notary public and ask them to certify a photocopy of it. The notary compares the photocopy to your original, then signs, dates, and stamps a certificate stating the copy is a true and accurate reproduction. State DMVs do not issue certified copies of licenses the way a vital records office issues a certified birth certificate, so a notary is almost always the right stop.
What a Certified Copy Actually Is
A certified copy of a driver’s license is a photocopy that an authorized person has verified as matching the original. The certifier signs the copy, adds an official stamp or seal, and attaches a statement confirming the copy is accurate. For driver’s licenses, that certifier is a notary public.
This is a different product from a duplicate license, which is a brand-new physical card the DMV reissues to replace one that was lost, stolen, or damaged. A notarized photocopy is used in legal filings, overseas applications, and administrative paperwork where an agency wants proof of your license on file without holding your original. A duplicate license is a replacement card with your photo. If you confuse the two you can end up in the wrong line, so decide which one the requesting party actually wants before you do anything else.
How to Get a Notarized Photocopy
Find a Notary
Notaries work at banks, UPS stores, law offices, real estate agencies, and many shipping centers. Some states also allow remote online notarization, where you connect with a notary over video. Fees are generally modest, often under $15 per document, though the exact amount depends on your state’s fee schedule.
Bring the Original Card
The notary needs to see your original, physical driver’s license. They will make a photocopy, or you can bring one, then compare it to the original and attach a notarial certificate stating that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction. The notary signs, dates, and stamps or seals the certificate. No legitimate notary will certify a copy without seeing the original in person.
Check Your State’s Rules First
Not every state lets notaries directly certify copies of every document type. Some states restrict notaries from certifying copies of documents that are publicly recorded or issued by government agencies, and a driver’s license falls into that second category. In those states a notary will use a workaround called “copy certification by document custodian.” You swear under oath that the photocopy is accurate, and the notary notarizes your sworn statement rather than certifying the copy directly. The end result is usually accepted the same way, but the paperwork looks different. Call a local notary before your visit and ask which procedure they use for driver’s license copies.
When You Actually Need a Replacement License Instead
If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged and you need a working card again, a certified copy is not what you want. You want a duplicate license from your state DMV. Every state issues these, most take applications online, and fees generally run from about $5 to $30. The replacement is a new physical card mailed to the address the DMV has on file, so update your address first if you have moved.
When the Request Really Means a Driving Record
People sometimes use “certified copy of my license” to mean something else entirely: a certified driving record. That is a report showing your license status, traffic violations, accidents, and points. Courts, insurance companies, and some employers ask for this document rather than a copy of the plastic card. You order it through your state’s DMV, usually online, using your license number, name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Many states deliver electronic copies within minutes.
If a court, employer, or agency has asked for a “certified copy” tied to your driving history, call and confirm whether they want a reproduction of the card or a copy of the record. Sending the wrong document delays whatever you are trying to complete.
Where a Certified Copy Will Not Work
A notarized photocopy is not a substitute for the original card in everyday identification situations. Airport security is the clearest example. TSA requires a valid, original form of identification at the checkpoint, and a certified photocopy does not qualify. Even a temporary paper license issued by the DMV is not accepted.1Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you have lost your license and need to fly, TSA runs an identity verification process at the checkpoint, but expect extra screening. Carrying a passport or passport card as a backup is the safer route.
Banks, age-restricted purchases, and traffic stops also generally require the original card. A certified copy is useful in administrative and legal paperwork contexts where an institution needs a verified reproduction for its files, not in any situation where you are proving your identity face to face.
Before You Go
Contact the party that asked for the certified copy and confirm three things: whether they want a notarized photocopy of the card or a certified driving record, whether they need the certificate to follow any particular format, and whether they will accept a copy certification by document custodian if your state requires that route. Bring your original license, a blank photocopy if you already have one, and payment for the notary’s fee. The whole visit usually takes a few minutes.