Driver's License Scanner SDK for Mobile and Web

download sample code

Because the driver’s license is widely accepted as a form of identification in different areas and is considered the primary method of identification in countries like the US, it is imperative to use a barcode reader that accurately reads and extracts the data. Barcode recognition technology is considered more accurate and cost-effective than OCR for extracting data.

Supported driver's licenses:

  • AAMVA driver’s license
  • South African driver’s license

Decode PDF417 on US Driver’s Licenses

Cross-platform and Cross-device ID Barcode Scanner

Dynamsoft Barcode SDK is designed to read barcodes from a variety of platforms and devices. Below are some of the ways you can use the barcode SDK for reading the PDF417 and extracting information on driver licenses.

Scan documents and read driver’s license with Dynamic Web TWAIN

Read from document scanners: decode driver’s licenses in web

Working together with Dynamic Web TWAIN, the barcode reader add-on allows you to scan a picture of a US driver’s license from a document scanner and extract data from PDF417.

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Decode PDF417 from cameras in a web application

Read from cameras: decode driver’s licenses in web

Dynamsoft JavaScript Barcode SDK provides high-performance barcode scanning functionality for web developers. It also offers built-in camera module APIs, making the process of creating an HTML5 barcode reader with cameras extremely convenient.

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Read driver’s licenses in mobile App

Read from cameras: decode driver’s licenses in mobile native apps

With Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK for iOS and Android, developers can easily create a barcode reader app to extract information from PDF417 codes on driver’s licenses.

download sample code

PDF417 Driver's License Parser

Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK is capable of quickly parsing PDF417 barcode symbology. Once decoded, a parser is required to convert the information contained in the barcode into human-readable formats.

The parser breaks down the decoded PDF417 values into field-value pairs, such as cardholder’s name, eye color, height, date of birth, etc.

An example of parsed PDF417 values is shown below:

First Name
HEIDIFIRSTNAMEUPTO40CHARACTERSXYWXYWXYWX
Given Name
HEIDIFIRSTNAMEUPTO40CHARACTERSXYWXYWXYWX
Middle Name or Initial
MIDDLENAMEUPTO40CHARACTERSXYWXYWXYWXYWXY
Middle Name
MIDDLENAMEUPTO40CHARACTERSXYWXYWXYWXYWXY
Mailing Street Address1
123 SAMPLE DRIVE
Mailing Street Address2
APT B
Mailing City
INDIANAPOLIS
Mailing Jurisdiction Code
IN
Mailing Postal Code
462040000

How Driver’s License Scanner Works on Mobile

Using a smart device (mobile phone or tablet), a user turns on the video stream via the built-in camera and points the camera at the barcode area on the driver’s license.

The user then verifies the decoded results and saves the parsed information.

With Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK, developers can easily create a barcode reader app to extract information from PDF417 codes on driver’s licenses.

How Driver’s License Scanner Works on Mobile

Case Studies

  • Millennial Vision, Inc.
  • VALID USA, Inc

Millennial Vision, Inc. (MVi) is known for providing enterprise content management and document management solutions to credit unions and various financial institutions across the United States and the Caribbean. While looking for a robust barcode reader SDK, MVi tried Dynamsoft Barcode SDK and selected it for its simplicity, power, and cost-effectiveness.

Our barcode reader SDK helps MVi scan PDF417 barcodes from driver’s licenses and further use the extracted data to auto-populate metadata fields for financial institution forms and applications.

Another essential factor in MVi’s decision to choose Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK was the time to market. With DBR, they saved a lot of time that would have been required to develop a barcode reader solution in-house.

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Millennial Vision uses Dynamsoft Barcode Reader to read driver’s licenses

VALID USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of its Brazilian parent company VALID S.A, was looking for an image capture software development kit (SDK) for its popular product, WebLink ID. WebLink ID is an enrolment, credentials, and application management web app. The application is used for issuing mass student IDs, transit cards, access control cards, ID documents, and state driver’s licenses. Thus, document scanning/image capture capabilities were a requirement for the software. But, VALID did not want to build this capability from scratch in order to focus on its core expertise.

After trying and testing many products, VALID chose Dynamsoft's ImageCapture Suite SDK, which helped them shorten time to market and build better software.

Today, the application is used by thousands of workers to capture millions of images annually in diverse environments. Some of these are K-12 and higher education institutions, US state governments, the public transit industry, and many other vertical markets that require photo identification.

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VALID chooses Dynamsoft's SDK to market and build better software

FAQ on Dynamsoft's Driver's License Reader

What is the barcode format on the back of the driving licenses?

According to the 2020 AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard, the PDF417 two dimensional bar code symbology is the minimum mandatory machine-readable technology that must be present on compliant DL/ID documents.

What information is included in the driver’s license pdf417 code?

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) specification, PDF417 symbology is used for storing personal information on US driver licenses. It comprises critical information about the cardholder, such as their name, gender, date of birth, height, etc. Many organizations, both government and private, use the driver’s license for identification purposes and age verification.

Mandatory data elements:

  • Family name
  • Given names
  • Date of birth
  • Date of Issue
  • Date of expiry
  • Customer identifier
  • Document discriminator
  • Portrait
  • Signature
  • Cardholder
  • Vehicle classifications
  • Endorsements
  • Restrictions
  • Cardholder sex
  • Height
  • Eye color

Does the driver’s license SDK need an internet connection to work?

No. The SDK works completely offline.

Is the driver’s license SDK secure?

Yes, it is GDPR-Compliant as the processing of the driver’s license data is on-device. All the captured user information stays in your closed system.

Does Dynamsoft have any other ID scanner SDKs?

Yes. Dynamsoft also provides an MRZ scanner SDK for passports.