Massachusetts Motorists Prohibited From Using Social Security Numbers On Their Licenses
Federal Law Gives RMV Leverage to Make Change
Due to a change made to the federal law in 2004, beginning on December 18,
2005, the RMV is no longer allowed to use your Social Security Number (SSN) as your Driver's
License, Learner's Permit, Massachusetts Identification Card, or Liquor Identification Card
number. All licenses, permits, or ID cards issued after this date will be assigned a
computer-generated number. If your license, permit, or ID card currently displays your SSN,
it will still be valid until its expiration date. You will be assigned a new number the next
time you renew, amend, upgrade, downgrade, or order a duplicate. Despite this change, you are
still required to provide a verifiable SSN (for proof of identity) to obtain a license, permit,
or ID card. |
The Registry of Motor Vehicles today announced that starting Sunday, December 18, 2005 customers will no longer be allowed to use their Social Security
Number as their Driver's License Number. The change comes as a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Instead, all customers
will be issued a random, computer-generated State Assigned Number.
"This law has been a long time coming," said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Anne Collins. "Despite our best efforts to switch people over to a State
Assigned Number, 1.5 million Massachusetts citizens still choose to use their Social Security Number on their license."
Despite this change, customers must still provide a verifiable Social Security Number to obtain a license. Customers currently using their Social Security Number as their
license number will be allowed to use them until the license expires. |
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