Overview of States' Driver's License Requirements

IMMIGRANTS & PUBLIC BENEFITS

Driver's Licenses

OVERVIEW OF STATES' DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
(updated February 6, 2003)

States that require an SSN for a driver's license with no exceptions (3):	DC, NJ, and SD.
States that don't require an SSN for a driver's license (4):	MN, MS, OR, and VT.
States that require an SSN for a driver's license only of people who have been assigned one or are eligible for one (40):	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MA, MI, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY. AK, AR, DE, ME, MI, NV, OH, and OK only require applicants who have been assigned a SSN or who are eligible for a SSN to provide one. AZ, CO, FL, IN, MD, MO, RI, TN, WI, and WY allow applicants without SSNs to submit an affidavit stating that they have either never been issued an SSN or are ineligible for one. AL (also requires proof of lawful presence for at least six months), ID, GA, HI (also requires govt-issued photo ID or document deemed acceptable by the director), KY, LA, MA, MT, NY, ND, PA, SC, TX, and VA require applicants without SSNs to submit verification from the SSA that none has been assigned or a denial letter from the SSA. The following states allow applicants without SSNs to submit an ITIN: KY, PA (also requires denial letter from SSA), RI, UT, and WV. AL, CA, ID, NE, and NM require applicants without SSNs to verify lawful presence.
States that require an SSN but have other exceptions to the rule (5):	CT and NH require SSNs only of new applicants. IL and KY provide a religious objection-exemption to the SSN requirement. IA does not require SSNs of nonimmigrants.
States that have lawful presence requirements (32):	AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NE (only required if no SSN), NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WV, and WY. Requirement is specified in neither a state law nor regulation; but agency policy or the combination of documents required of driver's license applicants effectively creates a lawful presence requirement.
States that don't have lawful presence requirements (19):	AK, HI, IL, MI, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, RI, TN, UT, VT, WA, and WI.
States that accept the ITIN as a form of ID (6):	KS, KY, NM, NC, PA, and UT.
States that accept the Matricula Consular as a form of ID (13):	ID, IN, MI (accepted on case-by-case basis), NE, NC, NM, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, and WI.