Get ready for a big change! At DOL, we are very familiar with the Personal Identification Code (PIC), which is the current driver license number. The current PIC is 12 characters long, and uses data from the driver’s name and date of birth.

What is changing?• We are no longer using the term

of PIC – we are using the term DLN (Driver License Number). This is the industry standard in other states.

• All cards issued after September 4, 2018 will have WDL as the preface. This includes driver licenses (standard and enhanced), identification cards, and commercial driver licenses.

How will the DLN be different?Each DLN will start with the letters ‘WDL’– this is how you’ll recognize that it is in the new format. WDL was selected because no one currently has that series of letters as the first three letters of their license.

• DRIVES supports the ability to search for a customer by either the old PIC or the new DLN.

What you need to know…

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PIC DLN

Driver License Numbering Changes

• The randomly generated DLN will not relate to an individual’s name or birthdate – it is more secure because it does not use protected personal information.

• Each of the 12 characters (alphabetical characters or numbers) will have the same characteristics as they do on the current PIC.

– For example, if the first three characters of the PIC are alphabetical, the new DLN will also start with three alphabetical characters. The same holds true for numbers – any digits in the current PIC will still be digits in the new DLN format.

– However, certain letters and characters will not be used, including:

- Vowels (A, E, I, O and U)

- The letters Q and V

• Elimination of these letters reduces both confusion (e.g., between a zero and the alpha character O) and the potential creation of unacceptable words.

• Special characters that are not standard letters or numbers (e.g., *, etc.)

Why change?The new DLN format is more sustainable. We are running out of possible letter and number combinations using the old PIC format. The new, randomly generated DLNs will give us billions of possible combinations, so we will not run out in the near future. Additionally, this will allow a customer to maintain their license number even after a name or credential change.

When will this change happen?We will implement the new DLN when we launch DRIVES/Drivers September 4, 2018.

How will we make the change happen?• After September 4th, every person

receiving a license for the first time in Washington will receive the new DLN format.

• People who already have a license will get the new DLN at their next issuance event after September 4th – when they renew their license, or replace it for some reason.

Washington StateDepartment of Licensing

We are committed to providing equal access to our services. For information go to dol.wa.gov/access (TDD/TYY call 711).

Rev 3/18

IfyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthenewDLN,pleaseemail:

drivesr2questions@dol.wa.gov

How long will it take to change to the DLN?It will take six years from September 2018. Conversion will happen gradually as DOL issues first-time licenses, and as we issue renewals and replacements. This means we’ll have both versions in circulation until 2024.

This long roll out will make it easier for DOL staff and our customers to get used to the change.

How will we notify our customers and stakeholders of this big change?We are building plans to notify our stakeholders of this change. We expect to begin sending formal communication about this change in the next few months.

We will update our external website to inform customers of this change and why we are making the change. We will also provide brochures to the LSOs to give customers more details about the change.