Only 39 states issued them by 1935 and few required a test, despite widespread concern about incompetent drivers. By 1918 all US states required license plates states were slower to require licenses for drivers. In 1901, New York became the first state to register automobiles. According to the United States Department of Transportation, as of 2018, there are approximately 227 million licensed drivers in the United States.Ī Maryland driver's license from the mid-1980sĪs the number of motor vehicles in the US reached tens of thousands, state and local governments assumed a new power: authorizing vehicles and drivers.

This is required by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ design standard and has been adopted by many US states. Many driving permits and ID cards display small digits next to each data field. commercial license classes are standardized by federal regulation at 49 CFR 383. Many states share a common system of license classes, with some exceptions, e.g.

A state may also suspend an individual's driving privilege within its borders for traffic violations. Generally, a minimum age of 16 is required to obtain a drivers/M1 license. There are also licenses for motorcycle use. Drivers are normally required to obtain a license from their state of residence and all states recognize each other's licenses for non-resident age requirements. In the United States, driver's licenses are issued by each individual state, territory, and the District of Columbia rather than by the federal government due to federalism.

An example driver license issued in Florida

Michigan driver license types