Verify a driver's license against issuing DMV records using the AAMVA Driver's License Data Verification (DLDV) service

Steps

1. Apply for DLDV access through AAMVA (aamva.org); applicants must be a commercial or government entity with a legitimate permissible purpose, sign an NDA, and receive approval from AAMVA before receiving documentation.
2. After approval, integrate with the DLDV web service using the WSDL and schema documents provided by AAMVA; the service uses a SOAP/XML request containing the DL/ID number, issuing state, name, date of birth, and optionally address fields.
3. Submit the verification request; the service queries the issuing jurisdiction's DMV in real time and returns a flag for each submitted data element indicating Match, No Match, or Unable to Verify.
4. Use the response flags to validate identity documents during onboarding; a full match across name, DOB, and DL number provides strong document authenticity evidence.
5. Log verification results with timestamps for compliance audit trails; many regulated industries (financial services, gig economy) require retention of verification records.
6. Handle the approximately 56 jurisdictions currently participating; for non-participating states, fall back to manual document review or alternative verification methods.