How to Tell If You’re an Organ Donor on Your License

To tell if you’re an organ donor on your license, look at the front of the card for a small heart symbol, often with a “Y” inside it, or the word “DONOR” printed near your photo, date of birth, license class, or expiration date. If that mark is there, you’re registered. If your card is worn, if you’re not sure what you’re seeing, or if you want to be certain, check your state’s donor registry online or the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org, which is the authoritative record donation professionals actually rely on.1Donate Life America. National Donate Life Registry

Where the Mark Appears on the Card

Placement varies by state, but the donor indicator is almost always on the front. Common spots are near the photograph, next to the date of birth, alongside the license class, or near the expiration date. A few states put it on the back or along the bottom edge. The mark is small by design, but distinct enough that hospital staff and organ procurement professionals can spot it quickly.

Flip the card over too, just to be sure. If the license is faded, scratched, or laminated in a way that obscures part of the card, the printed mark alone may not be readable. That’s one reason the symbol on the license is never the only record of your decision.

What the Donor Symbol Looks Like

The most common indicator is a heart symbol, sometimes with the letter “Y” printed inside it. Some states use a red or pink heart, others a black one. You might also see “DONOR” or “ORGAN DONOR” spelled out in text, sometimes alongside the heart. A handful of states use a small sticker applied to the card rather than a printed designation, and stickers can peel off over time.

There is no single national standard for the symbol’s design, color, or placement. What matters legally is whether your name appears in your state’s electronic donor registry. The license mark is a visible reminder of your choice; the registry entry is the record.

How to Verify Your Status Online

Every state maintains an electronic organ donor registry, and that registry is the definitive record of your donation decision. You have a few ways to check:

  • Your state registry website. Visit your state’s DMV or motor vehicle agency site and look for a donor registry section. Many states let you log in with your license number to see whether you’re registered.
  • RegisterMe.org. The National Donate Life Registry lets you check your status or register for the first time. This national database is checked alongside your state registry at the time of death, so registering here helps your wishes travel with you if you move.1Donate Life America. National Donate Life Registry
  • The iPhone Health app. Open the Health app, tap your profile picture, then tap “Organ Donation.” You can view your current registration status, sign up through Donate Life America, or edit your registration from the app.2Apple. Register as an Organ Donor in Health on iPhone
  • Organdonor.gov. The federal site redirects you to the appropriate state registry.3Health Resources & Services Administration. Sign Up To Be An Organ Donor

One note on mobile IDs. As states roll out digital driver’s licenses stored in phone wallets, donor status is typically included in the digital record but may not display by default on the screen. You might need to share additional information fields before a verifier can see it. If you rely on a mobile ID, confirm your status through one of the methods above rather than assuming it will appear on the digital card.

When the Card and the Registry Disagree

The printed mark and the electronic registry can fall out of sync, and it’s worth knowing which one governs. The registry does. If your license shows a donor symbol but you’ve since removed yourself from the registry, or if you’re registered but carrying an old card with no mark, the registry entry is what donation professionals check.

If you want to remove your registration, you can do that through your state’s online donor registry or through RegisterMe.org at any time.4Donate Life America. Your Information – Donate Life America Removing your name from the registry does not automatically change what’s printed on your physical license. If your card still shows the donor mark and you want it gone, request a replacement license from your motor vehicle agency. Replacement fees vary by state but generally run between $10 and $40.

To add yourself, register online through your state registry or RegisterMe.org, or sign up in person the next time you apply for or renew your license. The DMV will ask, and your answer gets recorded in the state registry and printed on the new card.

What Being Registered Actually Means

Seeing the mark on your card is not a soft preference or a note to your family. Under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act adopted by every state, your registration is a legally binding first-person authorization. If you’re over 18 and listed in your state’s donor registry, you have given legal permission for donation, and no one can change that consent.5Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ

Your family cannot override your decision after your death. The law was designed to prevent that. Your registration stays in effect unless you personally remove it during your lifetime. Telling your family about your decision still matters, because a family that already knows your wishes can help the process move smoothly, but the legal authority sits with your registry entry.5Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ

The scope is also broader than many people realize. When you say “yes” at the DMV or register online, you’re consenting to donate all eligible organs and tissues after death. Transplantable organs include kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines. Tissues include corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.6Health Resources & Services Administration. The Gift of Life – Organ Donation RegisterMe.org describes the registration as a “binding, legal document of gift.”4Donate Life America. Your Information – Donate Life America Most states let you log back in and specify preferences if you want to limit your donation to certain organs or tissues.