From 1 September 2022, the card number on a driver license will be a mandatory verification field for NSW, ACT, SA, TAS, NT and WA issued licenses. This change does not impact VIC & QLD at the moment.
With this change, new customers who opt for driver license verification to sign up for a Syfe account from 1 September 2022 will need to provide both the license number and card number along with the other mandatory driver license details.
The table below provides a summary of the current status in each State and what it means for you.
| State of Issue | Status | When will the card number be mandatory? | What does this mean for customers? |
| NSW, ACT, SA, TAS, NT & WA | All active and not expired NSW, ACT, SA, TAS & NT card numbers will be available via DVS by 1 Sept. 2022 | 1 Sept. 2022 | Must capture driver license card number starting 1 Sept 2022, otherwise verification will fail. |
| VIC & QLN | No card number data available via DVS | In 2023 | No impact on matching. |
What is Driver License Card Number?
Driver License card number is a unique identifier which is updated each time a driver's license is re-issued. All active and not expired cards will have a card number printed on them and that card number can be verified via the DVS.
Including card number in the matching criteria ensures that the document being presented is the most recently issued document. This will minimize the risk of identity theft using a stolen or lost driver by ensuring that only the most recently issued card will verify.
Will the card number be included in Digital Driver Licenses?
NSW digital driver licenses already include the card number. SA is in the process of adding the card number to the SA digital license. QLD is in the process of rolling out a digital license and it will include the card number.
How is the card number different to a license number?
License number is an existing field and is already mandatory. Card number was never used for verification and will now be used, based on each state’s timeline. The license number identifies the individual while the card number is used to verify that it is the latest card.
Where is the card number located? Is it the same for all jurisdictions?
The location of the card number field differs between jurisdictions, and for NT driver licenses, it can differ depending on the issuing date.
For driver license card number field image samples, refer below samples:
| Name of State | Sample |
|
New South Wales (NSW) |
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|
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) |
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|
South Australia (SA) |
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|
Northern Territory (NT) |
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Queensland (exempt) |
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Western Australia (WA) |
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| Tasmania |  |
|
Victoria (exempt) |
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Once unable to be verified with the driver license, will I be able to verify using other documents?
Yes, customers will be able to continue verification using other documents (e.g. Passport or Medicare card).
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us at support.au@syfe.com.