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You are here: Home » Knowledge Center » Driver Services » Identification Security and Fraud » Special Task Force on Identification Security - Basic Facts

AAMVA’s Recommendations: Driver’s Licenses/State-issued IDs

Basic Facts

Seventy-five percent of the U.S. and Canadian population holds a driver's license or state-issued ID as their identification document of choice (airport, job, check). Currently there are over 200 million licensed drivers. According to the State Department, only 6 percent of the population hold a valid passport. Because the American public has come to depend on DMV for this document, we have a responsibility and obligation to make certain every one applying for a license is really who they say they are.

Without the use of available technology and established systems, we cannot always be assured that everyone applying for a driver's license/ID is who they say they are. We must have a better means to verify identity and ensure that a license is valid.

AAMVA recognizes there are several different mechanisms, including compacts and state/federal partnerships, that could be used to enhance driver's license integrity. But the solution must lead to 100% participation by the states and must ensure minimum uniform standards for serving noncitizens, defining residency in the United States and Canada, increasing penalties for those committing identification fraud and establishing uniform security features on the card itself.

Your privacy is and will continue to be paramount. The only information needed is to verify identity and ensure you are who you say you are. This is important to Canada as well.

DMVs are doing a good job with the current tools and information they have available to them.