> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.idenfy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# USA Driver's License Check (AAMVA)

> Verify USA driver's licenses against the AAMVA database to confirm document validity and ownership during iDenfy identity verification.

Checks if the USA driver's licenses (**DL**) are not expired and belong to the person who performed the full identity verification or document-only verification.

The option to check the **AAMVA** **database** will be performed:

* **Check** is **only** performed for **approved** verifications
* If a **USA DL** is used as a verification document

<Note>
  If the DL is issued by one of these states, an **AAMVA** check **will not** be performed

  AK - Alaska

  CA - California

  DE - Delaware

  DC - District of Columbia

  HI - Hawaii

  NV - Nevada

  NH - New Hampshire

  NY - New York

  OK - Oklahoma

  PA - Pennsylvania

  UT - Utah
</Note>

***

### How Are the Results Returned?

Once the verification is performed and the driver’s license checked, the user's information is cross-checked against the DMV record and each of the following fields is returned:

| Field           |
| --------------- |
| Name            |
| Surname         |
| Date of birth   |
| Date of issue   |
| Date of expiry  |
| Document number |
| Gender          |

Each field returns one of three results:

| Result            | Meaning                                                                                                                                                         |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Match**         | The submitted value matches the value on file at the DMV.                                                                                                       |
| **No match**      | The submitted value does not match the value on file.                                                                                                           |
| **Not evaluated** | No result was produced for this field (for example, when a fallback match was not applicable — see [How Does the Matching Work?](#how-does-the-matching-work)). |

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/idenfy/43ePkKSjZeyUNHjz/images/guides/database-check-usa-drivers-license-check-aamva--AD_4nXdpN5kyd1CzV6gd-xiD2IkVno8zwgccFdkmIPJRJKTM2HGcPxjPrkQyBJ-aeJSJ-zW4Godn7A_TyFx3VMKWe_lvb3YT2QJWO6cY9qAuXlv3G2P0kwNyLt3RMTV9VOU9U_nn9N5h-key-azylXkVeMoA_7ChFcy3Fz7NT.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=43ePkKSjZeyUNHjz&q=85&s=f9d9c1cd234aa6ec7fb18021ead1ef6f" alt="Screenshot 2025-05-06 at 10.41.33.png" width="613" height="608" data-path="images/guides/database-check-usa-drivers-license-check-aamva--AD_4nXdpN5kyd1CzV6gd-xiD2IkVno8zwgccFdkmIPJRJKTM2HGcPxjPrkQyBJ-aeJSJ-zW4Godn7A_TyFx3VMKWe_lvb3YT2QJWO6cY9qAuXlv3G2P0kwNyLt3RMTV9VOU9U_nn9N5h-key-azylXkVeMoA_7ChFcy3Fz7NT.png" />

***

### What Is the Data Checked Against?

The check is performed **in real time, directly against the issuing state's DMV records**.

* iDenfy does **not** maintain a separate copy of DMV data, and does **not** rely on third-party aggregators or independent knowledge bases.
* Every verification request queries the latest records held by the DMV **at the time of the request**.
* Each state manages and updates its own DMV records on its own schedule. Because the check is real-time, the most current record available at the DMV is always used.

***

### How Does the Matching Work?

<Steps>
  <Step title="Locate the record">
    The **document (driver's license) number** is used to locate the corresponding record at the DMV.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compare each field">
    The remaining fields are then compared **individually** against the values associated with that record. Each field returns *Match*, *No match*, or *Not evaluated*.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **Fuzzy matching for name fields**

  Fuzzy and alternative matching is supported for the **first name, middle name, and last name** fields. An **exact match is attempted first**:

  * If the exact match **succeeds**, the fuzzy/alternative match is not evaluated and returns *Not evaluated*.
  * If the exact match **fails**, a fuzzy/alternative match is automatically attempted as a fallback.
</Note>

***

### Interpreting the Results

* **Document number is the primary field.** If it does **not** match, the DMV could not locate a record for the provided license number.
* If the **document number matches** but the core identity fields (name, date of birth) do **not**, this may indicate that a valid license number was submitted with incorrect or unrelated personal information.
* **Isolated mismatches can be benign.** Address-related fields, in particular, may not match due to a recent address change, formatting differences, or delays in DMV record updates.
* When **most or all** core identity fields fail to match, it is a strong, high-confidence indicator of a genuine discrepancy rather than a formatting issue or missing DMV data. A fully non-matching response is uncommon.

***

### Limitations

<Warning>
  AAMVA/DMV verification confirms that the submitted license data matches the issuing state's records. It does **not** authenticate the physical ID document, nor does it confirm that the person presenting it is the legitimate license holder.

  For example, if a fraudster creates a counterfeit ID using genuine license data but replaces the photo, DMV verification may still succeed because the personal information matches the state record.

  For this reason, AAMVA verification should be complemented with **document authenticity (forgery) checks** and **biometric verification (face match with liveness)** to mitigate identity fraud.
</Warning>