How to Scan a Driver's License Barcode (PDF417)

Learn how to scan the PDF417 barcode on a driver's license, what data it stores, and which apps and scanners actually read it on a phone or computer.

If you have ever flipped over a driver's license, you have seen the dense block of stacked lines on the back. That is a PDF417 barcode, and it holds a full copy of the cardholder's details in machine-readable form. Reading it is easy once you know one thing: your phone's built-in camera app will not do it. You need a scanner that speaks PDF417.

Here is how to scan a driver's license barcode, what is actually inside it, and why the everyday camera app comes up empty.

How do I scan the barcode on a driver's license?

Use a scanner that supports PDF417, then point it at the barcode on the back of the card or upload a photo of it. The whole process takes about ten seconds and works the same on a phone or a computer:

  1. Open barcodescanner.online in your browser
  2. Point the camera at the barcode on the back of the license, or tap Upload Image and pick a photo of it
  3. Hold steady until the barcode locks on
  4. Read the decoded fields, then copy what you need

All decoding happens locally in your browser, so the license data never leaves your device. That matters here more than with a grocery barcode, because a license barcode contains personal information.

What barcode format is on a driver's license?

Driver's licenses in the United States and Canada carry a PDF417 barcode, a 2D stacked format defined by the AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard. Every US state and Canadian province follows this standard, so the same barcode layout and data rules apply nationwide. That consistency is the whole point: a scanner at a pharmacy in one state can read a license issued in another.

PDF417 is a stacked linear format, meaning it is built from multiple rows of short linear barcodes read top to bottom. It packs far more data than the 1D barcode on a cereal box, which is why it can carry an entire identity record. If you want the technical details of how the format encodes data, see our PDF417 complete guide.

The barcode on the back is not the only code you might find. Some newer cards also carry a small 1D barcode or magnetic stripe, but the PDF417 on the back is the one that holds the complete record.

What information is stored in a driver's license barcode?

The PDF417 barcode stores the same personal data printed on the front of the card, structured as labeled fields. Each field uses a three-letter code from the AAMVA standard, so any compliant scanner reads them the same way. A decoded barcode typically includes:

  • Name: last name (DCS), first name (DAC), and middle name
  • Date of birth (DBB) and sex (DBC)
  • Address: street (DAG), city (DAI), state (DAJ), and postal code (DAK)
  • License number (DAQ)
  • Issue date (DBD) and expiration date (DBA)
  • Physical description: height (DAU) and eye color (DAY)
  • Document discriminator (DCF), a unique ID for that specific card

The record opens with a header that identifies the issuing authority through an Issuer Identification Number and an AAMVA version number, so a scanner knows which state produced the card and which version of the standard to expect.

One detail worth knowing: this data is stored as plain text, not encrypted. The AAMVA standard was built for fast and accurate data capture, not for security. Anyone with a PDF417 scanner can read the fields. That is exactly why you should scan license barcodes only with a tool that keeps the data on your own device.

Can I scan a driver's license barcode with my phone?

Yes, but not with the default camera app. This is the part that trips most people up. The iPhone Camera app and Google Lens are tuned to recognize QR codes and web links, and they will happily ignore the PDF417 barcode on a license. You need a scanner that specifically supports PDF417.

The quickest option is a web-based scanner. Open barcodescanner.online in Safari or Chrome on your phone, allow camera access, and aim at the barcode. There is nothing to install. If the live camera struggles with glare on the laminated card, take a photo first and use the upload option instead, which is often more reliable for shiny ID cards. Our guide on scanning a barcode from an image covers the upload path in detail.

Why won't the built-in camera read it?

The stock camera apps only decode a narrow set of barcode types, mostly QR codes, because that is what most consumers point their phones at. PDF417 decoding requires a dedicated scanning engine. A scanner built for barcodes, whether an app or a web tool, includes that engine and can lock onto the stacked rows of a PDF417 symbol. For more on the difference between the camera app and a real scanner, see how to scan a barcode on your phone.

Tips for a clean scan

Driver's licenses are harder to scan than paper barcodes because the card is laminated and reflective. A few adjustments make a big difference:

  • Kill the glare. Tilt the card slightly so overhead lights do not bounce straight into the lens. Diffuse, even lighting beats a bright direct light.
  • Fill the frame. Get close enough that the barcode fills most of the view, but keep the entire symbol and a small margin around it visible.
  • Hold steady. PDF417 has many rows, so a shaky hand or motion blur can break the read. Rest your elbows on a surface if needed.
  • Upload if live scanning fails. A single sharp photo often decodes when a live feed cannot, because the scanner gets one clean, still image to work with.

What is a driver's license barcode used for?

Scanning the barcode replaces manual typing, which cuts errors and speeds up any process that needs ID data. Common uses include age verification at retail and bars, patient check-in at clinics, identity checks for banking and rentals, and auto-filling forms at government offices. In each case the value is the same: the clerk reads the card once instead of keying a dozen fields by hand.

Because the barcode makes personal data so easy to copy, treat it as sensitive. If you are testing or verifying your own license, a scanner that decodes locally in the browser keeps that data off any server.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I scan the barcode on a driver's license?
Point a PDF417-capable scanner at the barcode on the back of the license, or upload a clear photo of it to a web scanner like barcodescanner.online. The scanner decodes the barcode and shows the encoded fields. The built-in iPhone and Android camera apps do not read driver's license barcodes on their own, so you need a scanner that supports the PDF417 format.
What barcode format is on a driver's license?
North American driver's licenses and state IDs use a PDF417 barcode, a 2D stacked format defined by the AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard. It sits on the back of the card and holds far more data than a 1D retail barcode. Every US state and Canadian province follows this standard, so the same PDF417 layout works nationwide.
What information is stored in a driver's license barcode?
The PDF417 barcode stores the same personal details printed on the front: full name, address, date of birth, license number, issue and expiration dates, sex, height, and eye color, plus a document discriminator. The data is stored as plain text, not encrypted, which is why the standard exists mainly for fast, accurate data entry rather than security.
Can I scan a driver's license barcode with my phone?
Yes, but not with the default camera app. You need an app or a web-based scanner that supports PDF417. Open barcodescanner.online in your phone browser, point the camera at the barcode or upload a photo of it, and the fields decode instantly. Because the data is sensitive, use a scanner that processes the image locally on your device.