Throwing away an old driver’s license without destroying it first is a bad idea. The card still shows your full name, date of birth, address, photo, and license number, and any of that in a stranger’s hands is a starting point for identity theft or fake IDs. Shred it, cut it into small pieces, or hand it back to your state’s motor vehicle office. In some situations you’re actually required to surrender it rather than dispose of it yourself.
Why the Trash Is the Wrong Place
An intact license in the garbage gives a thief nearly everything they need to impersonate you: legal name, birthdate, address, photo, and a government-issued ID number. With those details, someone can open credit accounts, apply for loans, or produce a convincing fake ID. The FTC logged over 1.1 million identity theft reports in 2024, and about 9,500 involved a forged or fraudulently issued driver’s license.1Federal Trade Commission. Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024
The fallout isn’t only financial. Someone using your license during a traffic stop can leave you with tickets or warrants you never knew about, and clearing that up can take months. Cutting the card in half doesn’t solve the problem either, because the two halves together still show every identifying detail.
How to Destroy an Old License
The goal is to make every piece of personal information unreadable and unreassemblable.
A cross-cut shredder rated for credit cards is the cleanest option. It reduces the card to small, irregular pieces rather than the neat strips a standard paper shredder produces.
Without a shredder that handles plastic, use heavy scissors or tin snips. Cut through each element of identifying information separately: the photo, the barcode, any magnetic stripe, the license number, your name, and your date of birth. The pieces should be small enough that no single fragment contains a complete data point. For extra caution, split the pieces between separate trash bags or spread disposal across a couple of pickup days.
Some enhanced driver’s licenses issued in border states contain an RFID chip that stores a reference number and can be read wirelessly. You can usually feel the chip as a slight bump. Cut through it so it can’t be scanned after the card leaves your hands.
Your state’s motor vehicle office may accept old cards for destruction, which takes the task off your plate. Call ahead, because not every location offers this.
When You Have to Surrender It
There’s no single federal rule forcing every driver to give back an old license at renewal, but many states handle it at the counter. Some collect the old card when they issue the new one. Others punch a hole through it and hand it back, marking it invalid. When you move to a new state, most states cancel your prior license once the new one is issued, and many require you to hand over the old card during the application.
REAL ID adds another layer. Under the implementing rules, you can hold only one REAL ID card at a time, and a state issuing you a REAL ID license must confirm that any license previously issued by another state has been terminated before completing the process.2eCFR. 6 CFR 37.29 – Prohibition Against Holding More Than One REAL ID Card or More Than One Driver’s License Even if the old state didn’t ask for the card back, your prior license is canceled in the system behind the scenes.
Commercial driver’s license holders face a stricter rule. Federal law prohibits anyone who operates a commercial motor vehicle from possessing more than one driver’s license at a time.3eCFR. 49 CFR 383.21 – Number of Drivers’ Licenses Violations can trigger civil penalties of up to $2,500 per offense.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 521 – Civil Penalties Employers are also barred from letting a driver operate a commercial vehicle while holding more than one license or learner’s permit.5eCFR. 49 CFR Part 383 – Commercial Driver’s License Standards; Requirements and Penalties If you’ve just renewed or transferred a CDL, destroy or surrender the old card right away.
Reasons to Hold Onto It Briefly
Before shredding, think about whether you might need the old card as a short-term backup ID. TSA accepts expired driver’s licenses for up to two years past expiration, which can help if the replacement is delayed in the mail or you misplace it before a flight.6Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint The expired license has to be REAL ID-compliant to work at a checkpoint. Since May 7, 2025, TSA no longer accepts state-issued IDs that don’t meet REAL ID standards, whether current or expired.7Transportation Security Administration. TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement on May 7
One thing you don’t need to keep the card for: organ donation. Donor registrations live in state and national registries and are checked electronically, so the physical designation on the card isn’t what makes your wishes binding.
If Your Old License Is Lost or Stolen
An old license that disappeared during a move, or was inside a stolen wallet, creates real exposure. A few steps limit the damage.
- Request a duplicate from your state’s motor vehicle agency. Replacement fees typically run between $11 and $37 depending on the state, and having a valid current ID makes everything else easier.
- Report the theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov or 1-877-438-4338. That generates an official Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan you can show to businesses.8Federal Trade Commission: IdentityTheft.gov. What To Do Right Away
- Consider a police report. It’s optional but useful if fraudulent accounts surface later. Bring the FTC report, a current photo ID, proof of address, and any evidence of the theft.8Federal Trade Commission: IdentityTheft.gov. What To Do Right Away
- Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The freeze is free, lasts until you lift it, and blocks new accounts from being opened in your name.9Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- Place a fraud alert. An initial alert lasts one year and requires lenders to verify your identity before approving new credit. Contacting one bureau is enough; it notifies the other two.9Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
A freeze and a fraud alert do different jobs and work well together. The freeze blocks access to your credit report; the alert adds a verification step for anything that does get through.