Both spellings are correct, but they mean different things

Driver license (no apostrophe) is the official name of the document itself — the card you carry. Driver's license (with apostrophe) is the possessive form, meaning "a license that belongs to a driver." In everyday speech, most people use them interchangeably, and both will be understood. However, government agencies, legal documents, and official forms almost always use "driver license" without the apostrophe.

The difference matters most when you are reading official paperwork or filling out forms. Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles will call it a "driver license" on their website and on the document itself. If you see "driver's license" in a sentence, it is usually just conversational English, not a mistake.

This same pattern holds for other documents: "passport" not "passport's," "social security card" not "social security's card." The official name of the thing does not use a possessive apostrophe, even though you might say "my driver's license" in conversation.

Key Takeaways

  • Government agencies and official documents use "driver license" without an apostrophe as the correct name of the card.
  • "Driver's license" with an apostrophe is grammatically correct in conversation but is not the official spelling.
  • Both versions will be understood by anyone reading or hearing them, so either is acceptable in casual writing.
  • When filling out official forms or reading legal documents, match the spelling used by your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

Why government uses "driver license" without the apostrophe

Official names of documents and programs typically do not use possessive apostrophes, even when the name describes what the document is for. The same rule applies to "social security card," "library card," "student ID," and "passport." These are compound nouns — two words that together name one thing — rather than possessive phrases.

Your state's DMV website, your driver license itself, and any official correspondence about the document will use "driver license" as the standard form. This is not a regional difference; it is consistent across all 50 states. When you renew your license or explore for a replacement, the forms will say "driver license."

When to use "driver's license" in writing

In everyday writing and conversation, "driver's license" is perfectly acceptable and is actually more common in casual speech. If you are writing an email, a text message, or a social media post, either spelling will be understood and neither will be marked wrong.

The possessive form sounds more natural to many people because you often say things like "my driver's license" or "her driver's license." This possessive phrasing is grammatically correct — you are describing a license that belongs to a driver. The difference is that when you are naming the document itself as an official thing, you drop the apostrophe.

Regional and historical differences

There is no regional variation in how states spell the official document name. All states use "driver license" on their official materials, websites, and the physical card itself. However, in everyday speech and informal writing, people in different regions may favor one spelling over the other based on habit.

Historically, "driver's license" was more common in American English, and some style guides still list it as acceptable. Over time, government standardization has pushed toward "driver license" as the official form, and this is now the standard across federal and state documents.

How to know which spelling to use

If you are filling out an official form, renewing your license, or writing something that will be reviewed by a government agency, use "driver license" without the apostrophe. Check the form itself — it will show you the correct spelling.

If you are writing an email, a resume, a cover letter, or any informal document, either spelling is fine. Most readers will not notice the difference, and both are widely accepted in professional writing. The key is to be consistent within the same document — do not switch back and forth.

Common places you will see each spelling

Driver license (no apostrophe) appears on your actual license card, on your state's DMV website, on renewal forms, on police reports, on insurance documents when referring to the official document, and in legal paperwork.

Driver's license (with apostrophe) appears in news articles, in casual conversation, in personal emails, in blog posts, and in informal writing. You will also see it in older books and documents written before the standardization toward "driver license" became widespread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a form be rejected if I write "driver's license" instead of "driver license"?

No. Government forms are designed to accept both spellings. If you are filling out a form online and it auto-corrects or flags your spelling, follow what the form shows. In most cases, the form will accept either version without issue.

Which spelling should I use on a resume or job process?

Either spelling is acceptable on a resume or job process. Most employers will not notice or care about the apostrophe. If the form itself shows a specific spelling, match that. Otherwise, use whichever feels more natural to you.

Is "driver license" only correct in the United States?

The United States uses "driver license" as the official term. Other English-speaking countries use different terms entirely — the United Kingdom calls it a "driving licence," Canada uses "driver's license," and Australia uses "driver's licence." The apostrophe rules vary by country and by whether you are using the official name or the possessive form.

Can I use "driver license" and "driver's license" in the same document?

You can, but it is better to pick one and stick with it. If you are writing something formal or official, use "driver license" throughout. If you are writing something casual, either is fine — just be consistent to look polished.