Trying to decode the Ontario Driver's License #

Question

**The Ontario Driver's License follows the below format:**

LXxxx-FFFMY-YMMDD

Where:

• L is the first letter of your last name

• X is a numeric encoding of the last name (See Chart 1 below)

• xxx is a numeric coding of the last name. it appears no one has been able to decipher xxx (At this point in time) Some sort of soundex variation. That being said from my research every last name matching will have the exact same code here. For example, the last name of Smith will always be 778 (or S5778 if you include L & X). If you have access to a number of DL #'s and can pick out a large number of Last name's with their designated codes, you will over time be able to properly track the full driver's license combination.

• FFF is a numeric encoding of the first name. It follows a similar coding to the first name 3 digits, however, is a totally separate string of numbers. From my research I have found that these 3 numbers will also always be the same on a driver's license of someone matching the same first name. If you have access to collect a large number of first names you will be able to connect those with the collected last name code in order to guess the full proper driver's license # values.

• M is a numeric encoding of the middle name (See Chart 2 below)

• YY is the last 2 digits of year of birth

• MM is the month of birth, ranges 01-12 for males, 51-62 for females (add 50 to the month for females)

• DD is the day of birth

• Chart 1

  • 0 - A
  • 1 - B,C,D
  • 2 - E
  • 3 - F,G,H
  • 4 - I,J,K
  • 5 - L,M,N
  • 6 - 0
  • 7 - P,Q,R
  • 8 - S,T
  • 9 - U,V,W,X,Y,Z

• Chart 2

  • 1 - A
  • 2 - C,D
  • 3 - E,F,
  • 4 - G,H,
  • 5 - J,K,
  • 6 - L,M,N
  • 7 - P,Q,R
  • 8 - S,T,
  • 9 - W
  • 0 - Y,Z,

I still have not found where B,I,O,U,V, or X falls on this chart. If you know anyone whose middle name starts with one of these letters please ask them what the 9th digit of their license is, this will give you that specific value for the chart. Also, I will mention that if a license has no middle name, the 9th digit is always a 0.

I guess at this point I am looking for some additional direction on how digits 3-8 are calculated using an actual formula instead of tracking all possible outcomes as I come across them.

On a side note if anyone needs some explanation on how to decode Quebec License #'s I have some additional information available.

Answer 1

Just let you know, anyone with same last name will have same first 4 numbers regardless of what their first name is.

You can see this with Chinese last names. Anyone with last name Chen, by the way, it will ALWAYS be C3344.

Example:

1. CHEN, Jian-Bo: C3344 - 40108
2. CHEN, Meng: C3344 - 53908
3. CHEN, Yuan C3344 - 49008

The same goes for people with a last name like ZHEN. Z3344.

Now to compare two very similar names:

• CHEN, Meng: C3344 - 53908
• CHEN, Ming: C3344 - 55608 *note that the last digit, 8, should be ignored as the 8 is part of the last 6 digits, which is a series of numbers that represent your birthdate. It is not associated with your name and therefore can be disregarded

But then for Last name CHAN, it is C3175

• CHAN, Kingsley: C3175 43598

Compare a similar name:

• CHAN, Kimberly: C3175 43568

*again, the last digit for both names is associated with birth date, and can be disregarded.

for the last names WANG, TANG & YANG it is the same.

• WANG, xuan: W0418 - 78908
• YANG, zhenfei: Y0418- 79608
• TANG, jiasheng: T0418 40109

(^ Note the similarities between Wang, Xuan and Yang, Zhenfei. Last digit 8 can be disregarded )

I have heard that first numbers are indeed last name but only maybe the first 2 (starting from your 2nd letter) and then the last 2 letters.)

I've heard that the middle numbers are the first names but might exclude certain letters or all vowels of the alphabet, or have some letters may have two digits, and m vowels. And that a single number can represent multiple letters, of course.

I've also heard it might get even more complex - with things like if a letter in the name is followed by a specific letter, then both letters become a different number.

(*i read somewhere that new jersey uses the same system for coding licenses. You can find the actual new jersey license coding information online however idk if this is still how its done, I wouldn't bet on it.)*

• however despite this, the middle numbers are very difficult to correctly code because of the simple reason: there is the case where 2 or more people may have the exact same name, and same birthday, and are of same sex. These people will still have at least 1 or 2 numbers of the middle sequence that are different. This may actually be randomized.

Anyways, moving on. More examples.

For the last name

• ZHANG , Jiwei: Z3187 20408
• ZHANG Shuyu: Z3187 70909

2 letter last names will have many zeros. Double or triple Zeros seem to appear when there is a lack of letters for the code. L

• OU, min chun: O9001- 55528
• MA, wen-bo: M0001 - 78009
• HA, somang: H0001 71808
• LI, L4001
• YU, Y9001

Also, I'm sure u know the last digits are birthday but for females, you add +50 to the month number. If you're a girl born in January, which is 01, the code will put 51. (Because 01+50=51. Then followed by ur day of birth at the end.

Answer 2

Chart 2

Code	Encode
A	1
B	1
C	2
D	2
E	3
F	3
G	4
H	4
I	4
J	5
K	5
L	6
M	6
N	6
O	7
P	7
Q	7
R	7
S	8
T	8
U	8
V	8
X	9
Y	9
Z	9

NOTE: This data was empirically determined.