How To Report A Stolen Driver's License To Credit Companies

A stolen driver's license may be used to open credit card accounts or get loans in your name, the Equifax credit bureau warns. The thief will run up large bills in your name as long as he is able to keep opening accounts. Fortunately, you can stop him by reporting your stolen driver's license to the credit bureaus and asking them to put fraud alerts on all of your credit reports. This notifies creditors that someone may be impersonating you. They will be especially careful to verify your identity before extending credit.

Step 1

Contact one of the three credit bureaus by phone or online to report the stolen driver's license and ask for an initial fraud alert. This will last for 90 days. You can contact either Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. Whichever bureau you choose will pass the information to the others so the fraud alert will show up on all three reports, Equifax explains.

Step 2

Report the theft of your driver's license to your local police department. An officer will fill out a report on the crime that you can use to extend your fraud alerts in case the thief tries to use your identity again after the 90-day period expires.

Step 3

Report your stolen driver's license to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Equifax recommends. The DMV will help you obtain a new license.

Step 4

Contact the three credit bureaus and ask them to extend the fraud alert to the maximum length of seven years. According to Equifax, they will require a copy of your police report to prove you are an identity-theft victim before they will do the extension. You will need to request this separately from each bureau.

Tips and Warnings

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that you are entitled to free copies of your credit reports once you have requested fraud alerts. Get these copies and review your reports carefully for any unfamiliar accounts. Contact the listed lender and challenge the account immediately.
Fraud alerts may not completely stop problems related to the theft of your driver's license. Most lenders will take extra steps before granting credit in your name, but this is voluntary, so some may not. The FTC states you can freeze your credit, which keeps anyone from viewing your reports without your specific permission. There may be a charge of up to $10, but some states waive it for identity-theft victims, according to the FTC.