Sample New York DMV Photo Documents

This page was updated for COVID-19.

Visit a DMV office or complete your transaction by mail if you

  • have a license or permit from a different state
  • recently replaced your license, permit or ID and have not received the new one in the mail yet
  • have a temporary (interim) license, permit or non-driver ID
  • cannot locate your Document Number

Office procedures have changed due to COVID-19.

We recommend you conduct your DMV business at the office or by mail in the County where you are a resident.

See instructions and reservation information for your county

 

DMV ID Number / Client ID Number (CID)

  • a 9-digit number located on the front near the top of your license, permit or non-driver ID
  • your ID Number identifies you - it does not change when you replace your license, permit or ID

Document Number

  • an 8 or 10-character combination of numbers and letters on your license, permit or non-driver ID
  • identifies your document – each document issued has a unique number (the number changes when you renew or replace your document)
  • after January 28, 2014, it is located on the back of your document
  • before January 28, 2014, it is located on the front of your document in the lower right corner 
  • use the Document Number from your most recently issued license, ID or permit for MyDMV or to register to vote
  • an "I" may look like a "1 (one)" or an "O" may look like a "0 (zero)"

 

Over age 21 – Enhanced (EDL),  REAL ID,  Standard (Not For Federal Purposes)

Under age 21 – Standard

 

Driver License, Learner Permit & Non-Driver IDs (Over 21)

Enhanced (EDL)

Enhanced documents are Federal REAL ID compliant. They have a U.S.A. flag in the lower right corner. Documents issued after 1/28/2014 have Document Number the back of the document, after 'IDUSA'. 

Sample NYS Enhanced ID Driver License - Front The DMV ID number is in the top right corner. The US flag is in the bottom right corner.

Sample NYS Enhanced ID Driver License - Back The document number is at the bottom, in the first row of text, after IDUSA.

 

REAL ID

DMV began issuing Federal REAL ID documents on October 30, 2017. They have a  "Star" in the upper right corner.

Sample NYS REAL ID Driver License - Front The DMV ID number is at the top, in the center, below the name of the document. A star is in the top right corner.

Sample NYS REAL ID Driver License – Back The document number begins with “Doc #” and is along the right side.

 

Standard (after October 29, 2017)

Standard documents issued after October 29, 2017, have "Not For Federal Purposes" in the upper right corner.

As of May 3, 2023, a Standard license, learner permit or non-driver ID cannot be used to 

  • board a domestic flight (within the U.S.), or
  • to enter a federal building or military base.

Sample NYS Standard Driver License – Front The DMV ID number is at the top, in the center, below the name of the document. "Not For Federal Purposes" is in the top right corner.

Sample NYS Standard Driver License – Back The document number begins with “Doc #” and is along the right side.



Standard (before October 30, 2017)

Sample NYS Standard Driver License after March 23, 2017 – Back This document was issued after March 23, 2017. The document number begins with “Doc #” and is along the right side.


Sample NYS Standard Driver License after January 28, 2014 – Back This document was issued between January 28, 2014 and March 23, 2017. The document number is along the right side.

 Sample NYS Standard Driver License after July 2013 – Front This document was issued between July 2013 and January 28, 2014. The DMV ID number is at the top, in the center, below the name of the document. The document number is in the bottom right corner.

   

Old NYS Driver License - Front The DMV ID is in the center below the name of the document. The document number is in the bottom right corner.

 

License, Learner Permit & Non-driver IDs (Under 21)

Under 21 NYS Learner Permit after March 23, 2017 – Back This document was issued after March 23, 2017. The document number begins with “Doc #” and is along the left side.

Under 21 NYS Learner Permit – Front This document was issued before March 23, 2017. The DMV ID number is at the top, on the right, below the name of the document. The document number is in the center to the right of the client signature.