Get a drivers license if you don't have a Social Security number

Yes. You will have to:

• Sign a declaration that says you don’t have a Social Security number (SSN)
• Provide the other proof of identity and residency that the DOL requires
• Have your photo taken

If you want a Commercial Driver License (CDL), you must have a Social Security number and Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency. 

If you do give a Social Security number, the DOL confirms with the Social Security Administration to make sure it is yours.

You ask for it at the DOL. An agent at your local auto licensing office can give you the required declaration form.

The DOL requires specific documents to prove who you are and where you live. You will have to provide original documents as your proof. You will most likely need multiple documents to prove who you are, like:

• A valid driver's license or ID card issued by a U.S. state or territory. You can use expired IDs but will have to provide other kinds of proof along with it.
• Citizenship, refugee, work permit, residency or naturalization certification documents.
• Military ID.
• U.S. Passport or Passport card.
• Verification letter from Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) for foster youth.
• DOC offender badge or other DOC verification
• Tribal enrollment card.
• Birth certificate or Consular Report of birth abroad.
• Court issued adoption papers.
• Dependency orders.
• Jobs Corp ID card.
• U.S. Merchant Mariners card.
• Foreign driver’s license or photo ID.
• Documents that show your name and date of birth, like school records.
• Documents that show your signature or photo, like marriage certificates.

The DOL will double-check your proof. Your proof must include your name and current Washington home address.

If you can’t prove your identity but can prove where you live, you may get a license marked “not valid for identification.” 

If you lost identity documents in a disaster or otherwise, you can try to replace your documents.

Anyone under age 25 who doesn’t have enough proof of who they are can bring a parent or guardian to their local DOL office. Your parent or guardian can attest to your identity. Before they can attest to who you are, your parent or guardian must show their own proof of who they are and that they are your parent or guardian. If you have different last names, DOL will require extra proof that they are your parent or guardian.

If you have a court-appointed guardian, you can bring them with you to prove who you are. They must bring their own proof of identity and proof of appointed guardianship.

Ask your DSHS caseworker to fill out the form 16-029 “Request for Identicard”. After you have filled out the form, bring it to your local auto licensing office to get a Washington State ID card. There will be a fee. 

If you need an accommodation or help accessing DOL services, you can call (360) 902-3900 or email ada@dol.wa.gov.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use 7-1-1 relay to call DOL to arrange a sign language interpreter for your appointment. You can also email ada@dol.wa.gov.

If you need a spoken language interpreter for your appointment or any help in a language other than English, you can email LanguageAccess@dol.wa.gov. Email DOL to ask for an interpreter as soon as possible. It can take up to a week for DOL to schedule an interpreter.