The document number on a driver’s license for Form I-9 is the main license number printed on the front of the card — the most prominent alphanumeric string, usually labeled “DL,” “LIC#,” or “DRIVER LICENSE NO” depending on the state. Ignore the smaller “DD” (document discriminator) or audit number. That code tracks the physical card’s print run, not you as the license holder.
Which Number to Enter
Every state formats its license a little differently, but the license number is always the one that identifies you. It sits near your name or photo on the front and is printed larger than the other codes on the card. Whatever label the state uses (“DL,” “LIC#,” “No.,” “Driver License Number”), that is the number that belongs in the document number field on Form I-9.
A driver’s license is a List B document on Form I-9, meaning it proves identity only.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9 Acceptable Documents To qualify, the license must contain a photograph or identifying details such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, and address.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Handbook for Employers M-274 – 13.2 List B Documents That Establish Identity The license by itself does not satisfy the I-9; it has to be paired with a List C document such as an unrestricted Social Security card or a U.S. birth certificate.
Telling the License Number Apart From the Document Discriminator
Most driver’s licenses carry several numbers, and that is where the confusion starts. Two of them look important:
- The driver’s license number. The main alphanumeric string on the front of the card, usually labeled “DL,” “LIC#,” “DRIVER LICENSE NO,” or something similar depending on the state. This is the number that goes on Form I-9.
- The document discriminator, sometimes called the DD or audit number. A separate code, usually on the back of the card or in smaller print on the front. States use it to track which batch or print job produced your particular card. It does not identify you for employment verification purposes.
If the number you’re looking at is small, appears next to the letters “DD,” or sits on the back of the card away from your name and photo, it is almost certainly the document discriminator. Look again at the front for the larger, more prominent number.
A Quick Length Check
Employers who use E-Verify in states that participate in the RIDE program (Records and Information from DMVs for E-Verify) must enter a document number that is 8 to 14 alphanumeric characters, with no special characters.3E-Verify. Tips for Entering Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards in E-Verify In most states the driver’s license number falls inside that range. If the number you’ve picked out looks unusually short or long, you may be reading the DD code instead. Go back to the front of the card and find the larger number.
Enter the number exactly as printed. Keep the letters and digits in the order shown, and skip any spaces, hyphens, or asterisks that appear only for readability.
Where the Number Goes on Form I-9
Section 2 is completed by the employer or an authorized representative after examining the employee’s original documents. When a driver’s license is presented as the List B document, four fields get filled in:4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Completing Section 2, Employer Review and Attestation
- Document title: “Driver’s License” or “Driver License,” matching what is printed on the card.
- Issuing authority: the state that issued the card, for example “State of California” or “Texas DPS.”
- Document number: the driver’s license number from the front of the card.
- Expiration date: the date shown on the license.
The List C document the employee presents alongside the license goes in the employment authorization column on the same section.
When a Driver’s License Cannot Be Used
A few situations block the license before the document number even matters.
Expired Licenses
All documents presented for Form I-9 must be unexpired.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Handbook for Employers M-274 – 13.0 Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity An expired driver’s license is not an acceptable List B document. The employee will need to renew it, present a different acceptable identity document, or produce an acceptable receipt.
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Licenses
If the license was lost, stolen, or damaged and the employee has applied for a replacement, the receipt for the replacement application can stand in for the license. It is valid for 90 days from the date of hire. Within that window, the employee must present the replacement license itself or a different acceptable document.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Handbook for Employers M-274 – 4.4 Acceptable Receipts A receipt for the renewal of an already-expired document generally does not qualify. When the actual replacement arrives, the employer crosses out “Receipt” in Section 2 and enters the new document’s information in the Additional Information field.
Temporary or Interim Licenses
Many states issue a paper temporary license after an in-person renewal or replacement application. These qualify as List B documents if they include a photograph or the identifying details listed above. If the temporary license is only valid when carried together with the expired card, both need to be presented.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Questions and Answers Use the number printed on the temporary document itself.
Why Getting This Right Matters
Entering the wrong number in the document number field, or leaving it blank, is a substantive paperwork violation. As of the inflation adjustment effective January 2, 2025, fines for I-9 paperwork violations run from $288 to $2,861 per form.8Federal Register. Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation Purely technical mistakes, such as a missing middle initial, get a 10-business-day window to correct before any fine applies. Recording the wrong document number is not treated as merely technical, and there is no correction grace period once an audit is under way.
Look at the front of the license, find the largest number, confirm it isn’t the DD code by checking the label and length, and enter it exactly as printed.