The heart symbol marks you as an organ and tissue donor
The heart symbol on your driver's license indicates that you have registered as an organ and tissue donor. When you see this symbol—usually printed in red or displayed as a notation on your license—it tells law enforcement, medical personnel, and anyone checking your ID that you have made a legal decision to donate your organs and tissues after death.
This symbol is not decorative or optional. It represents a binding commitment that will be honored if you die and are declared brain dead or meet other criteria for donation. The presence of the heart on your license is the quickest way for hospital staff to know your wishes during a medical emergency, which is why it matters that the symbol is visible and when ready recognizable.
Different states use slightly different designs—some show an actual heart shape, others use the word "Donor" with a heart icon, and a few states place the notation elsewhere on the card. Regardless of the design, the meaning is the same across all states: you have consented to donation.
Key Takeaways
- The heart symbol on your license is a legal record that you have registered as an organ and tissue donor in your state.
- Hospital staff use the heart symbol to quickly confirm your donation wishes during medical emergencies without having to search a registry.
- Adding or removing the heart symbol requires you to actively register or change your status through your state's DMV or donor registry.
- Your family cannot override your donor status if the heart symbol is present, though they will be notified and involved in the process.
- The symbol covers donation of organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas) and tissues (corneas, skin, bone, heart valves) depending on medical suitability.
How the heart symbol gets on your license
When you renew or explore for a driver's license, your state's DMV will ask whether you want to register as an organ donor. You can say yes, no, or decline to answer. If you choose yes, the heart symbol is printed on your new license or added to your digital record.
You do not have to wait for license renewal to register. Every state maintains a separate donor registry—sometimes called the state organ donor registry or donor registry—that is independent of your license. You can register through your state's DMV website, at the time of license renewal in person, or through a national registry service like Donate Life America. Once you register, your name enters the medical system's database, and hospitals can confirm your status even if your physical license does not yet show the symbol.
The heart symbol on a newly printed license typically appears within two to four weeks of your registration, depending on your state's processing time. If you registered through the DMV website or a national registry but have not yet renewed your license, you are still a registered donor—the symbol is just not visible on your current card yet.
What happens if you are a registered donor
If you are declared brain dead or meet your state's criteria for donation, hospital staff will check your driver's license, your state's donor registry, and your medical records for evidence of your wishes. The presence of the heart symbol on your license is the fastest confirmation they can get. They will then contact your family to inform them of your status and begin the evaluation process to determine which of your organs and tissues are medically suitable for transplant.
Donation does not happen when ready. Medical tests must confirm that your organs are healthy enough to transplant and that you do not have infections or diseases that would make donation unsafe. This process can take hours. Your body is treated with respect throughout, and funeral arrangements are not delayed by donation—your family can still have an open casket funeral if they choose.
You will not be charged for the cost of organ removal or processing. Those costs are covered by the transplant centers and the recipients' insurance. Your family will not receive payment for your donation, and you cannot designate specific recipients—organs are allocated through a national system based on medical need, blood type, and waiting time.
Removing the heart symbol if you change your mind
Registering as a donor is not permanent. You can change your status at any time by contacting your state's donor registry, visiting your state's DMV website, or calling the registry directly. The process is straightforward and takes minutes.
When you remove yourself from the registry, your name is deleted from the donor database. Your current license may still show the heart symbol until you renew it, but hospital staff will check the registry first and will see that you are no longer registered. To remove the symbol from your physical license when ready, you can request a replacement card from your DMV, though this is not necessary—the registry status is what matters.
If you are unsure whether you are currently registered, you can check your state's donor registry website or call your state's DMV. They can tell you your status in minutes and help you make changes if you want to.
What organs and tissues can be donated
When you register as a donor, you are consenting to the donation of any organs and tissues that are medically suitable at the time of your death. This includes vital organs—the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and pancreas—as well as tissues like corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, and tendons.
Not all of your organs will necessarily be used. Medical testing determines which ones are healthy enough to transplant. A person who dies at age 80 might be a suitable donor for corneas and bone, while a younger person might be suitable for multiple organs. The medical team makes these decisions based on test results, not on your age or health history at the time of registration.
Some states allow you to specify which organs or tissues you do or do not want to donate, but most do not—you either consent to donation or you do not. If your state offers this choice, you can usually make those selections when you register or by contacting the registry directly.
Your family's role if you are a registered donor
If the heart symbol is on your license and you are declared brain dead, your family will be notified of your donor status. They will be given information about the donation process and asked questions about your medical history that might affect suitability. Your family cannot override your decision to be a donor, but they will be involved and informed throughout the process.
If you are not registered as a donor and have no heart symbol on your license, hospitals will ask your family whether they know your wishes regarding donation. This is called a "family consent" donation. Your family's answer will determine whether donation happens, which is why it is important to tell your family what you want—registered status removes that burden from them during a crisis.
Some families find comfort in knowing that their loved one's donation helped save or improve other people's lives. Others have concerns about the donation process itself. Either way, being registered means your own wishes are honored, not your family's preferences in a moment of grief.
The heart symbol and your privacy
The heart symbol on your driver's license is visible to anyone who sees your ID—a police officer during a traffic stop, a bartender checking your age, a bank teller verifying your identity. Your donor status is not private information once it is on your license.
Your state's donor registry itself is confidential and accessible only to authorized medical personnel, your family, and you. Hospital staff cannot access the registry to check your status without a medical reason—they are not looking up random people. But once you are in a hospital setting and declared brain dead, your status will be checked as part of standard medical protocol.
If you are uncomfortable with your donor status being visible on your ID, you can remove yourself from the registry. You can also register as a donor without having the symbol printed on your license in some states—contact your state's donor registry to learn whether this option is available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having the heart symbol mean hospitals will let me die to harvest my organs?
No. You will receive the same level of medical care and resuscitation efforts as anyone else. Organ donation only happens after you are declared dead by neurological criteria (brain death) or after your heart stops and cannot be restarted. The teams that care for you and the teams that evaluate you for donation are separate, and donation decisions happen only after death is confirmed.
Can I be a donor if I have a medical condition or take medications?
Yes. Most medical conditions do not disqualify you from registration. At the time of your death, medical testing will determine which organs are suitable for transplant. Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or HIV may affect which organs can be used, but they do not prevent you from registering or from being a donor. Register and let the medical team decide suitability later.
What if I want to donate only certain organs?
Some states allow you to specify which organs or tissues you consent to donate when you register. Contact your state's donor registry to ask whether this option is available. If your state does not offer this choice, you can register as a donor and discuss your preferences with your family—they can communicate your wishes to hospital staff if needed.
Does organ donation cost my family money?
No. The cost of organ removal, testing, and processing is paid by the transplant centers and the recipients' insurance. Your family will not receive a bill, and they will not receive payment for your donation. Funeral costs are separate and are the family's responsibility, but donation itself is free.
How do I know if I am already registered as a donor?
Check your current driver's license for the heart symbol. You can also visit your state's donor registry website or call your state's DMV to confirm your registration status. Most state registries have a search tool where you can enter your name and date of birth to see whether you are listed.