Report the theft to DPS when ready
Contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) as soon as you realize your license is missing. Call the DPS Driver's License Division at 1-888-589-6556 during business hours, or visit a DPS office in person. Have your name, date of birth, and driver's license number ready when you call.
DPS will flag your license as stolen in their system, which prevents someone else from using it to get a replacement or to conduct fraud in your name. This step takes minutes but stops most when ready misuse. If you cannot reach DPS by phone, you can also report the theft at any DPS office — there are locations in every Texas county.
Keep the date and time you reported the theft. If your stolen license is later used fraudulently, you will need proof that you reported it before the fraudulent activity occurred.
Key Takeaways
- Report your stolen license to DPS by phone at 1-888-589-6556 or in person at a local DPS office within one business day of discovering the theft.
- You can drive legally with a police report number while waiting for your replacement, but carry the report with you in case you are stopped.
- A replacement license costs the same as a renewal and takes about two weeks by mail or can be issued the same day at a DPS office.
- File a police report with your local police department or sheriff's office to create an official record of the theft, which protects you if the license is used fraudulently.
- Monitor your credit and consider a fraud alert with the credit bureaus if you are concerned about identity theft beyond the license itself.
File a police report with your local department
Contact your city police department or county sheriff's office and file a report for the stolen license. This creates an official record that you did not authorize any use of the license after the theft date. You can file the report in person, by phone, or online depending on your jurisdiction — many Texas police departments now accept reports through their websites.
Bring your name, date of birth, and the date you discovered the theft. If you know where you lost the license, tell the officer or include that detail in the online report. The police will issue you a report number, which you should save and provide to DPS if they ask for it.
A police report is not required to get a replacement license, but it is your best protection if someone uses your stolen license to commit fraud or get pulled over. Without a report, you may have difficulty proving you were not responsible for violations or charges made under your name.
Get a replacement license at DPS
You have two options for replacing your stolen license: visit a DPS office in person or request a replacement by mail. At a DPS office, you can get a new license the same day. By mail, the replacement typically arrives within two weeks.
Bring your Social Security card, proof of residency (a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 90 days), and proof of identity (a passport, birth certificate, or military ID). If you have already reported the theft to DPS, tell the clerk — they can pull up the report in their system. The replacement license costs the same as a standard renewal, which varies by license type but is typically under $50 for a five-year license.
If you need to drive before your replacement arrives, you can use the police report number as proof that your license was stolen. Carry the report with you in case you are stopped. Most officers will accept it, but some may ask you to provide additional identification.
Protect yourself from identity theft
A stolen driver's license can be used to open accounts, explore for credit, or commit fraud in your name. Monitor your credit reports for unauthorized activity. You can view your credit reports free once per year at annualcreditreport.com, which is the official government site for this service.
Consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A fraud alert tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. You can place an alert by contacting any one of the three bureaus, and they will notify the others. The alert lasts one year and is free.
If you discover that someone has used your stolen license to open accounts or make charges, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. The FTC will create an identity theft report, which you can use to dispute fraudulent accounts and remove unauthorized charges from your credit.
What to do if your license is used fraudulently
If you discover that your stolen license was used to get a traffic ticket, make a purchase, or open an account, gather documentation of the fraudulent use. This might include the ticket itself, a credit card statement, or a letter from a creditor. Contact DPS and your local police department again with this new information and provide them with the documentation.
For traffic violations or criminal charges filed under your stolen license, you will need to appear in court or contact the court where the charge was filed to prove the violation was not yours. Bring your police report, your replacement license, and any other evidence that you were not the person who committed the violation. The court can dismiss the charge once you prove the license was stolen at the time of the violation.
For fraudulent credit or financial accounts, dispute the charges with the creditor and provide them with your police report and fraud alert documentation. Most creditors will remove charges once you provide proof of identity theft.
Driving legally while you wait for your replacement
Texas law allows you to drive with a police report number if your license has been stolen and you have reported the theft to DPS. The police report serves as temporary proof that your license was not in your possession and that you reported the theft before any fraudulent use occurred.
Carry the police report with you whenever you drive. If you are stopped, provide the report number to the officer along with any other identification you have, such as a passport or military ID. Most officers will accept the report as proof that you are not driving with a suspended or invalid license.
This protection is temporary and only lasts until your replacement license arrives. Once you receive your new license, carry it with you instead of the police report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone use my stolen Texas license to get a duplicate?
Not if you report the theft to DPS first. Once DPS flags your license as stolen, their system will reject any request for a duplicate or replacement made by someone other than you. This is why reporting to DPS when ready is so important — it closes off the most direct path to fraud.
Do I have to pay to replace a stolen license?
Yes, a replacement license costs the same as a renewal. The fee depends on your license type and how long you want it to be valid. Standard fees are typically under $50 for a five-year license, but you can confirm the exact amount at your local DPS office or on the DPS website.
What if I find my stolen license after I get a replacement?
Destroy it or turn it in to DPS. Do not attempt to use the old license — it is no longer valid once you have received a replacement. If you turn it in to DPS, they will deactivate it in their system.
How long does it take to get a replacement license by mail?
Typically two weeks from the date DPS processes your request. Processing can take a few days after you submit your process, so the total time from process to delivery is usually three to four weeks. If you need a license sooner, visit a DPS office in person for same-day issuance.
Will a stolen license affect my driving record?
Only if someone uses it to commit a traffic violation or crime before you report it stolen. That is why filing a police report when ready is critical — it creates a record that you did not authorize any use of the license after the theft date. If a violation appears on your record that you did not commit, you can contest it in court using your police report as evidence.