Can Notaries accept a learner’s permit as proof of identity?

Updated 8-13-24. Driver’s licenses are the most common ID that signers present to Notaries. But can a Notary accept a learner’s permit for a student driver as proof of identity? The answer depends on your state’s laws and the information included on the learner’s permit.

Does the permit say “Not For ID Purposes”? If so, don’t accept it

A learner’s instructional permit can differ significantly from a standard driver’s license. Some learner’s permits lack a photograph or other identifying information about the bearer and are not intended to be used as identification. These permits are typically printed with the phrase “Not for ID purposes” or similar wording that indicates the permit isn’t acceptable as proof of signer identity.

A learner’s permit that is not marked as unsuitable may be acceptable to a Notary, provided certain conditions are met. Ask yourself these questions to determine if a learner’s permit meets all of your state’s ID requirements (see below).

Is the permit on your state’s list of acceptable signer IDs?

If you’re commissioned in a state where the law lists specific IDs Notaries may accept, check to see if a learner’s permit is included on the list. If not, then the signer will have to use a different form of ID. In California and Florida, a learner’s permit may not be accepted as identification.

Does the permit include all required ID elements?

Some states allow Notaries to accept any form of ID that includes certain required elements. In these states, if a learner’s permit includes all of your state’s required ID features and is not marked as unsuitable for identification purposes, you can accept it.

In Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas, for example, a Notary can accept a current ID issued by the federal or state government that includes a photograph and signature. Nevada allows Notaries to accept an identifying document that contains a signature and a photograph.

What about states without ID guidelines?

If your state does not have a statute specifying requirements for IDs, then it is your decision whether to accept a learner’s permit as proof of identity and you should base your decision on an accepted standard of professional practice.

David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association.

The 3 ways Notaries can properly identify signers

27 Comments

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Andrew Denzer

15 Aug 2024

This article contains false information. Under Florida Statute 117.05(5)(b)(2)(a) it is permissible to accept for notarial purposes "A Florida identification card or driver license issued by the public agency authorized to issue driver licenses." Under Florida Statute 322.01(47) it states that "'Identification card' means a personal identification card issued by the department which conforms to the definition in 18 U.S.C. s. 1028(d)." This applies to learner's permits issued by the state of Florida. By saying a learners permit is not acceptable as identification in Florida, this article provides false information to the public.

National Notary Association

16 Aug 2024

Thank you for contacting the National Notary Association about Florida learner's licensees. We looked over the statutes you cite, and none are conclusive in establishing that a Florida learner's license is in fact an identification card. In construing Florida Statutes 117.05(5)(b)(2)(a), we must look at the words used in that statute. We give the terms "identification card" and "driver's license" the meaning that is most plain and natural. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' department issues three separate credentials to individuals: a driver's license, an identification card, and a learner's license. For our purpose here, there appears to be a difference between a driver's license and a learner's license, and a learner's license and an identification card. The actual learner's license is so labeled because the FHSMV wants to be very clear that a learner's license is a restricted license that must be used under controlled circumstances that do not apply to a permanent driver's license. Please see https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/licensing-requirements-teens-graduated-driver-license-laws-driving-curfews/ . A reasonable Notary would look at the title of a learner's license and note that it is not labeled a driver's license. Then, when they look at the statute, they are note they authorized to accept a driver's license or identification card, but a learner's license is not expressly listed. In a matter as important as identifying a document signer, properly understanding the words of the statute is critical. We have not found any information published by the Executive Office of the Governor's Notary section clarifying that a learner's license is a driver's license. We should add that other states do not consider a learner's permit a driver's license, but at the end of the day, we are interested in providing the public with the most accurate information we can find. It is possible our information is factually incorrect or inaccurate, but we have explained in this response why we arrive at the position taken by our article. If you have information from the Executive Office of the Governor or the FHSMV clarifying that a learner's license is a driver's license for purposes of FS 117.05(5)(b)(2)(a), we would be happy to review it and, if upon further consideration we believe the information is compelling, correct our article. Thanks again for contacting the NNA.

Tamika Williams 30 May 2023

17 Jul 2023

I like chiming in on the conversations. Learn a lot about different state laws

Jessica Frankel

05 Jul 2023

Do you recommend a centralized network where Notaries can locate current State guidelines for acceptable forms of identification?

06 Jul 2023

Hello. You can look up identification guidelines by state in our online U.S. Notary Reference Manual: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/news/us-notary-reference

Joshua Peto

I don't understand why this article mentions Florida as a state that doesn't accept a Florida Learners License. The Florida Learners License is issued by the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The license is identical in appearance to a regular license, except that it says learner license. A person has to show the same documentation to obtain a learner license as a regular license. A learner license is a driver license in Florida, it just has restrictions. Florida State Statute 316.1615 explains the learner license and under section (d) explains they are required to meet all other requirements set forth in law and by rule of the department. This is a picture ID and has a unique license number issued to that person. Also, please review the State's requirements for learner license at https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/newdl/. Thank you, I hope this helps.

12 Jul 2023

Hello. The state of Florida has a very specific list of forms of ID can be accepted to identify a signer. Learner’s permits are not on that list: Identification Documents: Reasonable reliance on the presentation to the notary public of any one of the following forms of identification, if the document is current or has been issued within the past five years and bears a serial or other identifying number: (FS 117.05[5][b][2][a-j] FL identification card or driver’s license issued by the public agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses; Passport issued by the US Department of State; Passport issued by a foreign government if the document is stamped by the United State Immigration and Naturalization Service; Driver’s license or an identification card issued by a public agency authorized to issue driver’s license in a state other than Florida, a territory of the United States, or Canada or Mexico; An Identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States; A Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; An Inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1991 by the Florida Department of Corrections for an inmate who is in custody of the department; Inmate Identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Federal Prisons, for an inmate who is in custody of the department; An identification card issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; A sworn, written statement from a law enforcement officer that the forms of identification for an inmate in an institution of confinement were confiscated upon confinement and that the person named in the document is the person whose signature is to be notarized.

Marjorie Thomas

03 Jul 2023

I am in New York, and Learner's Permit are accepted, they have all government stamps as the DL and is issued by DMV just like the DL .

Christina Chitwood

Are Washington State notaries allowed to accept learner's permits for identification?

Hello. Washington Notaries can accept the following forms of identification: “A notarial officer has satisfactory evidence of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the officer can identify the individual: “(a) By means of: “(i) A passport, driver’s license, or government-issued nondriver identification card, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act; or “(ii) Another form of government identification issued to an individual, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act, contains the signature or a photograph of the individual, and is satisfactory to the officer; or “(b) By a verification on oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally appearing before the officer and personally known to the officer and who provides satisfactory evidence of his or her identity as described in (a) of this subsection” (RCW 42.45.050[2]).

Blanca Rodriguez

Can someone provide the website for the state of Florida on what ID’s are allowed? Thank you!

Hello. Here you go: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0117/Sections/0117.05.html

Theresa Clark

I live in New York but I would feel better accepting an ID with a photo to ensure identification.

Christopher E Vaughn

The State of Texas requires notaries to verify the identification of every signer. Only valid, non-expired identification, with a photograph is acceptable. These Guidelines are set by the State of Texas, and can be found on the Secretary of State’s website, and are not at the discretion of your notary. Signers Must Provide one of the Following: Valid Driver’s License or VALID State Issued ID Card, issued by any US state Valid USA Passport US Military Identification Valid Driver’s License or ID Card issued in Mexico or Canada Valid Foreign Passport (issued outside of USA) that has a stamp from the Citizenship and Immigration Services Inmate Identification, if signer is currently an inmate, issued by the state of Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) NOT ACCEPTED Identity includes: Social Security Cards / Work Identification Badges / Membership Club Cards / Gym Identification Cards / Student Identification Cards / Medicare Cards / Driver’s License without Photo ID including a temporary license

“An officer may not take the acknowledgment of a written instrument unless the officer knows or has satisfactory evidence that the acknowledging person is the person who executed the instrument and is described in it. An officer may accept, as satisfactory evidence of the identity of an acknowledging person, only: “(1) the oath of a credible witness personally known to the officer; “(2) a current identification card or other document issued by the federal government or any state government that contains the photograph and signature of the acknowledging person” (CPRC 121.005[a]; see also EI). “The methods by which a traditional notary public identifies a principal are as follows: “(1) Traditional notary public personally knows the principal; or “(2) Principal is introduced by oath of credible witness who personally knows the principal and either is personally known to the traditional notary public or provides qualifying identification in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection; or “(3) Identification by a credential” (1 TAC 87.40[b]). “This section shall apply to a traditional notary public who performs notarizations on tangible or electronic records” (1 TAC 87.40[e]). “Credential means a valid, unexpired identification card or other document issued by the federal government or any state government, as defined by §311.05 of the Government Code, that contains the photograph and signature of the principal. With respect to a deed or other instrument relating to a residential real estate transaction, credential also includes a current passport issued by a foreign country” (1 TAC 87.1[1]). “Traditional Notary Public means an individual commissioned by the secretary of state under Subchapter A, Chapter 406 of the Government Code. A traditional notary public does not have the authority to perform an online notarization unless also commissioned as an online notary public” (1 TAC 87.1[9]). In addition, a notarial officer may accept, only “with respect to a deed or other instrument relating to a residential real estate transaction, a current passport issued by a foreign country” (CPRC 121.005[b][3]).

Veronica Herrera

11 Jul 2022

What about Illinois? Can a learner's permit? What about temporary dl ? What about the non resident drivers license?

15 Jul 2022

Hello. In order to accept a signer's identification in Illinois, the ID must be valid at the time of the notarial act, issued by a state agency, federal government agency, or consulate, and bearing the photographic image of the individual’s face and signature of the individual (5 ILCS 312/6-102[d]). Any learner's permit, temporary licenses or nonresident license that does not meet these requirements cannot be accepted as proof of a signer's identity in Illinois.

Della Steele

I’m in TEXAS and have recently run across an adoption firm where a 12 year old girl was supposed to SIGN her name. She couldn’t write in cursive (they’re not teaching our children cursive any longer in TX) so she had to print her name ( looked like a 2nd graders printing) .. what’s the protocol for such.?? They’re growing up through high school not able to write in cursive.

22 Jul 2022

A signature can be printed and need not be completed in cursive writing in order for it to be notarized.

Shelly

19 Jul 2021

I am in Idaho. Currently any drivers licensed issue that IS NOT a "star" card has printed . Not for real ID Purposes. Based on this post it seems like you are saying we should not accept them. It is not possible to turn down all those cards. I wouldn't be notarizing for half of the signers. Do you agree that they are ok to take as ID even though they say " Not for Real ID Purposes" Just because they have not upgraded to the "star card"?

20 Jul 2021

Hello. Idaho Notaries may accept the following identification documents: A passport, driver’s license or government-issued nondriver identification card that is current or expired not more than three (3) years before performance of the notarial act; or Another form of government identification issued to an individual that is current or expired not more than three (3) years before performance of the notarial act, that contains the signature or a photograph of the individual, and that is satisfactory to the notary public (IC 51-107[2]). The "star" and words "Not for REAL ID Purposes" you describe refer to whether or not the identification is compliant with the federal "REAL ID" Act for purposes such as boarding commercial aircraft. For more information, please see this article: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2019/03/real-id-what-notaries-need-to-know

Jeff Hamilton

I’m Jeff hamilton

Earl Harrison

27 Jul 2020

Very informative we need these information and KYN

John Clark

30 Jul 2019

What good is a conditional permit to drive a vehicle that does not positively identify the holder? Unless prohibited by state law, a learner's permit is valid for notarial identification as long as genuine on its face and current, with the party's likeness, sex, height, eye color, and signature matching the presenter's.

Hello. Not all states issue learner's permits with information that meets all state Notary law requirements for satisfactory proof of a signer's identity. Notaries must always check their own state's ID requirements before accepting a learner's permit as proof of identity.

arnele maldonado

02 Jul 2019

want to read article

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Can Notaries accept a learner’s permit as proof of identity?

Does the permit say “Not For ID Purposes”? If so, don’t accept it

Is the permit on your state’s list of acceptable signer IDs?

Does the permit include all required ID elements?

What about states without ID guidelines?

Related Articles:

27 Comments

Andrew Denzer

National Notary Association

Tamika Williams 30 May 2023

Jessica Frankel

National Notary Association

Joshua Peto

National Notary Association

Marjorie Thomas

Christina Chitwood

National Notary Association

Blanca Rodriguez

National Notary Association

Theresa Clark

Christopher E Vaughn

National Notary Association

Veronica Herrera

National Notary Association

Della Steele

National Notary Association

Shelly

National Notary Association

Jeff Hamilton

Earl Harrison

John Clark

National Notary Association

arnele maldonado

arnele maldonado

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