Canadian · Driver licence numbers
Ontario driver licence number format.
An Ontario driver's licence number is 15 characters: one letter followed by 14 digits. The letter, the birth-year digits and the day of birth are part of the number, which is why it should be treated as sensitive. This page checks the layout only.
Short answer: One letter plus 14 digits, usually printed A1234-56789-01215. The letter is the first letter of the last name; the 9th and 10th digits are the last two digits of the birth year; the last two digits are the day of birth (01-31).
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Result
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The layout
The Ontario Design System says the number is 15 characters: the first is a letter and the next 14 are numbers, with the last two being 01 to 31. The FMCSA chart records Ontario as one letter followed by 14 digits.
What the digits relate to
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), in its guidance on checking ID, says the number starts with the first letter of the holder's last name, that the 9th and 10th numbers match the last two digits of the year of birth, and that the last two numbers give the day of birth. No source we found documents the other digits, so this page does not interpret them.
Why not check more
No official source we found publishes a rule for validating the middle digits, so this page does not invent one. Only the Ministry of Transportation can confirm a licence, and this page never contacts it.
Handle with care
Part of your date of birth is inside the number. Do not post it publicly. This page runs locally and stores nothing.
Sources
- Ontario Design System, hint text component ("A driver's licence number is 15 characters in length; the first character is a letter and the next 14 are numbers. The last two characters must be a number from 01 to 31.") (retrieved October 2026)
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Tips for checking ID (first letter of last name; 9th and 10th numbers are the last two digits of the birth year; last two numbers are the day of birth) (retrieved October 2026)
- US FMCSA, Canadian driver's licence number formats (Ontario: A99999999999999) (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many characters is an Ontario driver's licence number?
15: one letter followed by 14 digits, according to the Ontario Design System.
What is the first letter of an Ontario licence number?
The first letter of the holder's last name, according to the AGCO.
Which digits show the date of birth?
The AGCO says the 9th and 10th numbers are the last two digits of the birth year and the last two numbers are the day of birth. The Ontario Design System says the last two must be 01 to 31.
Can this tell me if an Ontario licence is real or valid?
No. It checks the layout only and never contacts the Ministry of Transportation.
Format check only — not a verification
This page checks the shape of a number only. It does not query, copy or proxy any provincial register, cannot confirm that a number was issued, belongs to anyone or is current, and does not verify identity or coverage. Anything you type stays in your browser. Rules change, so confirm against the sources cited above before relying on it.