Your driver's license may not seem like a jackpot for thieves, but it can be used to create fake driver's licenses, open accounts in your name, avoid traffic tickets or collect government benefits such as unemployment checks. Worse, if your license data has been stolen in a data breach, you may not even know it's being misused. The information from more than million U. Add to that the countless driver's licenses that are stolen each year when wallets are pickpocketed or purses snatched.
To secure your driver's license information—and your identity—follow the steps below. How does your driver's license information wind up in the hands of identity thieves? Your driver's license information may be on file at any number of places: your state's department of motor vehicles, your employer's human resources files, your doctor's office or any other place that's copied it for identification.
If any of these places experiences a theft of their physical or digital records, your information could be stolen. The clearest sign your driver's license credentials are at risk is that you've been notified the information was included in a data breach. If this happens, take the following steps to assess the damage:.
Having your driver's license stolen with your wallet or purse is a slightly different issue. The thief may or may not be interested in stealing your identity: They may be looking for cash, valuables or credit cards they can try using immediately.
On the other hand, if they are inclined to steal your identity, a stolen purse may contain a trove of material for a fraudster to work with including your credit cards and health insurance information. They'll also gain access to your driver's license, which could cause a variety of issues.
Here's what you'll need to do immediately. Consider changing the locks on your doors if thieves got your keys in addition to your wallet. If they have your driver's license, they also have your address. If your investigation turns up any signs of identity theft, take immediate steps to address it :.
In the modern world, it's nearly impossible to remove all risk of identity theft, but taking steps to protect your data is always a good practice. Shop safely online and by phone.
Be mindful of sharing your personal information, including your driver's license credentials or your license itself as well as credit card information, identifiable information like your Social Security number, bank account information, and any other personal information that may be used to take over your accounts or steal your identity. Often, the best defense against identity theft is early detection. The faster you can detect, report and halt identity crimes, the less damage they're likely to do.
To further protect your identity, instead of simply replacing your lost drivers license, you can request a new Texas drivers license or ID number by:. Jump over to our license guide for help. If your permanent residence is in Texas but you're temporarily out of the state e. Texas Department of Public Safety P. Box Austin, TX Report a Lost or Stolen TX Driver's License The first thing you should do to remedy a missing driving license is report it to the police.
Requests for a New Texas Driver's License or ID Number To further protect your identity, instead of simply replacing your lost drivers license, you can request a new Texas drivers license or ID number by: Visiting your local driver license office.
For more information on what to do if you have become a victim of identity theft, visit the Identity Theft Information Guide. You can visit any driver license office in the state of Texas to obtain a replacement driver license or identification card.
You may also be eligible to obtain a replacement online. You can either contact the law enforcement agency in the city or county you were traveling through when the incident occurred, or you can contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in your home state for further information regarding license replacement.
If you do not find the answer to your question listed here within our FAQs, you can always contact our Customer Service Center for assistance. What documents will I need to bring to the driver license office to replace my lost driver license or identification card? I am a resident of Texas who is currently in another state and I have lost my driver license or identification card.
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