US Driver's License (Generic, State-Dependent) Regex for JavaScript
/^[A-Z0-9]{1,2}[0-9]{1,18}$|^[A-Z][0-9]{3,8}[A-Z0-9]{0,3}$/iWhat this pattern does
This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching us driver's license (generic, state-dependent), ported and verified for JavaScript. Identity and credential patterns need both correctness and safety, since they're frequent targets for adversarial input. The snippet below is ready to drop into your JavaScript project — whether you're validating in an Express middleware, a Next.js API route, or a client-side form.
Javascript Implementation
// US Driver's License (Generic, State-Dependent)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Identity & PII > Driver's License Numbers
const usDriversLicenseGenericStatedependentRegex = /^[A-Z0-9]{1,2}[0-9]{1,18}$|^[A-Z][0-9]{3,8}[A-Z0-9]{0,3}$/i;
function validateUsDriversLicenseGenericStatedependent(input: string): boolean {
return usDriversLicenseGenericStatedependentRegex.test(input);
}
// Example
console.log(validateUsDriversLicenseGenericStatedependent("A12345678")); // trueTest Cases
Matches (Valid) | Rejects (Invalid) |
|---|---|
A12345678 | ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR |
123456789 | !234567 |
A000000000 | — |
D1234567 | — |
A1 | — |
When to use this pattern
This pattern is drawn from the Identity & PII > Driver's License Numbers category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for JavaScript developers because especially critical in long-running Node.js event loops where a ReDoS vulnerability can block the entire process. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.
Common Pitfalls
Without knowing the issuing state, US DL format validation is extremely permissive. Always capture the issuing state alongside the DL number. State DMV formats change over time without notice.
Technical Notes
US driver's license formats vary dramatically by state. California: 1 letter + 7 digits. Texas: 8 digits. New York: 9 digits or 1 letter + 18 digits. Florida: 1 letter + 12 digits. Use a state-specific library (e.g., driver-license-validator) for precise validation.
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