Where is the licence number on an Ontario driver’s licence?
On the front of the card. Look for the long code that starts with a letter and runs in three hyphenated groups, such as D6101-40706-60905.
On the sample card, it sits directly under the name and address, beside the label NUMBER/NUMÉRO, in larger type than the dates around it. The sample also repeats it in small print next to the faded second photo.
Run a fingertip over it. The licence number is printed in raised lettering, as is your date of birth. It is a security feature, and a quick way to confirm you are reading the right line.
What format is an Ontario driver’s licence number?
One letter followed by 14 digits, 15 characters in all. The card prints a hyphen after every fifth character, so the number reads as three groups of five: A1234-56789-01234. The hyphens are not part of the 15.
If what you are looking at has a second letter, fewer or more than 14 digits, or no letter at all, it is a different number from the card.
What do the letter and numbers in your licence number mean?
Three parts are public: the letter is your last-name initial, two digits give the end of your birth year, and the final two give your day of birth. Ontario does not publicly explain the other ten digits.
| Part of the number | What it is | On the sample card |
|---|---|---|
| First character | A letter: the first letter of your last name | D, for Doe |
| Characters 2 to 15 | 14 digits, never letters | 6101 40706 60905 |
| Digits 9 and 10 (the last digit of the middle group and the first digit of the last group) | The last two digits of your year of birth | 6 and 6, for a 1966 birth year |
| Last two digits | Your day of birth | 05, born on the 5th |
| The other ten digits (1 to 8, plus 11 and 12) | Not publicly explained by Ontario. Copy them exactly as printed. | 6101, 4070 and 09 |
| Hyphens | Printed after characters 5 and 10 for readability only | D6101-40706-60905 |
Those birth-date digits make a quick proofreading check. Once you have typed the number, digits 9 and 10 and the last two should match your birth year and day of birth. If they do not, check what you typed against the card.
Is the number on the back of the card your licence number?
No. The 7-digit number on the back is the trillium number, which is used for online licence renewal. Your licence number is the 15-character code on the front, and it is the one a driving record is ordered with.
This is your licence number
- On the front of the card
- Starts with the first letter of your last name
- Then exactly 14 digits, in three hyphenated groups
These are not
- The 7-digit trillium number on the back
- Your date of birth, issue date or expiry date
- The reference number below the issue date (DD/REF on the sample)
- Your health card number
- Any other short number on the card, such as the starred one at the bottom of the sample
- A licence number from another province or country
If you swapped an out-of-province licence for an Ontario one, use the Ontario number. That is the number on your Ontario driving record. The guide for newcomers covers what a short Ontario record shows.
How do you enter your licence number without a typo?
Type it from the card, not from memory, and watch for the usual slips: a letter O typed for a zero, a dropped digit, or two digits swapped. Each one produces a number that looks plausible and is still wrong.
| Mistake | Why it happens | How to catch it |
|---|---|---|
| Letter O instead of zero, or I instead of 1 | O and 0 look alike on the card, and so do I and 1 | Only the first character is a letter. Every character after it is a digit. |
| A missing or extra digit | Fourteen digits in a row is a lot to hold in your head | Count in groups: the letter and four digits, then five, then five. |
| Two digits swapped | Typing from memory, or reading the groups out of order | Compare it with the card, group by group. |
| Wrong or missing first letter | Starting at the first digit, or misreading the letter | The letter is the first letter of your last name. |
| Copying from a note or an old form | A number written down once can carry the same typo into every form after it | Read it off the card itself whenever you have it. |
Our form checks the shape of the number before you pay: one letter, then 14 digits. A swapped digit still has the right shape, so only a check against the card will catch it.
The only way to see what has been recorded against your number is the record itself. You can get your driving record online and read it today.
Which licence number do you use after a renewal or name change?
The one printed on the card you hold today, with your name exactly as that card shows it.
An Ontario licence has to be renewed every 5 years, and changing your name, sex designation, date of birth or height means a new card is mailed to you, with the old one voided once the new one arrives.
Ontario expects you to tell the Ministry of Transportation within six days of changing your name or address. Once you have, your 3-year driver record shows you the name, licence number, class and expiry date now on file.
How do you find your licence number if you lost your card?
Look for it somewhere it has already been written down or copied. Do not guess: a number with one wrong digit is a different number.
- A previous drivers abstract or driving record. Every Ontario driver record lists the licence number in its driver identification details.
- A CVOR Driver Abstract, if you drive commercially. It carries your licence number too.
- A photo or scan of your card, such as one you sent to an employer, insurer or rental company.
- Copies of forms where you were asked to write the number.
Ontario’s online licence status check will not find it for you: it asks for the licence number before it shows anything.
If none of those turn it up, replace the card first. The new card puts the number back in your hand, ready to order with.
Is it safe to share your Ontario licence number?
Share it with people who have a real reason to see your driving record, and nobody else. Ontario lets anyone order a 3-year driver record with a driver’s licence number, and the number itself carries your last-name initial and parts of your date of birth.
Insurers, employers hiring drivers and rental counters ask for it routinely. When they ask you to supply the record, you get to read it first. See drivers abstracts for insurance and for employment.
How do you order your driving record with your licence number?
Enter it on our order form with your name and email, pay $39.99, and your 3-year Ontario driver record is delivered instantly as a PDF.
Enter your name as the card shows it
With the card in front of you, type your first name, any middle name and last name exactly the way the licence spells them.
Type the 15 characters
Before you move on, check the letter, then digits 9 and 10, then the last two.
Add your email and pay once
One payment of $39.99 through secure checkout. No account, no subscription.
Open your inbox
Your record arrives as a PDF by email instantly after payment. Occasional delays can occur.
The record repeats your licence number in its identification details, along with your name, date of birth, licence class, expiry date and status, then lists your demerit point total and the past 3 years of convictions, suspensions and reinstatements. Here is what an Ontario drivers abstract looks like, and the step-by-step guide to getting one if you want more detail.
Drive commercially? The five-year CVOR Driver Abstract carries the same licence number. For everyone else, the Ontario drivers abstract is the most popular record type, commonly used for employment, and insurers can ask for it too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look up my Ontario licence number online?
Not with Ontario’s online licence status check, which needs the number before it shows anything. An earlier driver record, a saved photo of the card or a replacement card will show it.
Why won’t the order form accept my licence number?
It needs one letter followed by exactly 14 digits. The usual cause is a missing or extra digit, or a letter O typed where the card has a zero.
Is a G1 or G2 licence number any different?
No. G1 and G2 are Ontario licence classes, and the number follows the same format: one letter, then 14 digits. A 3-year driver record ordered with it shows your licence class in the same identification details as the number.
Is the licence number on my CVOR abstract the same one?
Yes. The CVOR Driver Abstract is a five-year snapshot of your Ontario driver’s licence, and it lists the same licence number along with your name, class, expiry date, medical due date and status.
Do I type the dashes when I order my record?
You can, but you do not have to. On our order form, hyphens and spaces are optional and the letter can be upper or lower case. What matters is that all 15 characters are right.
Can I order my driving record without my licence number?
No. A 3-year driver record cannot be ordered without the licence number, so find it first: it is on the front of your card and on any earlier Ontario driver record.
How fast can I get my record once I have the number?
The form takes about a minute, and your 3-year driver record arrives in your inbox as a PDF instantly after payment, for $39.99. Occasional delays can occur.
Sources: Licence number format and placement follow the Ministry of Transportation’s published guidance for Ontario driver’s licences. The meaning of the first letter and the birth-date digits follows the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s ID-checking guidance. Licensing, renewal and court notices of conviction fall under the Highway Traffic Act (notices of conviction: section 210). The six-day rule for reporting a name or address change is set out in the Ministry of Transportation’s Official Driver’s Handbook.