What is a DMV-approved translation?
A DMV-approved translation is a certified translation of a foreign driver's license that meets the specific requirements set by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent vehicle licensing agency in each U.S. state.
It ensures your foreign license is accurately and officially represented in English, so the DMV can verify your driving credentials and authorize you to drive legally in that state.
“DMV-approved” is not one national standard. Each state has its own approval system, publishes its own list (or doesn't), and sets its own format rules. Approval in one state does not carry over to another.
Connecticut is a useful example of what “approved” actually means in practice. The state requires that any document not in English be translated by a DMV-approved business or individual. It also publishes the current list of approved translators, organized by language, on its website: CT DMV Approved Translators list.
The certification process involves a professional translator or translation company issuing a signed certificate. This certificate confirms the translation is a true and complete representation of the original. Depending on the state, you may also need a notarized translation.
The translated document becomes an official legal document accepted by the DMV and other government bodies for legal purposes such as license conversion, driving tests, or permit applications.
Since the DMV is a government body responsible for vehicle registration and driver licensing, your translation needs to comply with its standards to avoid delays or rejection.
How to get your driver's license translated for the DMV
Here's the process from start to finish, in five steps.
Step 1: Check your state's translation rules
Before you translate anything, find out exactly what your state's DMV requires. Requirements vary by state: some publish a list of approved translators, some accept any certified translation, and some require specific elements on the document itself. For example, in Connecticut, a translation is not accepted unless it includes:
The DMV-approved translator number
The type of document translated
The date of translation
The translation business, where applicable
The translator's printed name and signature
The original document, submitted alongside the translation
Check your own state's DMV website for its equivalent requirements before you commission a translation, not after.
Step 2: Use a translator or translation company your state accepts
Once you know your state's rules, choose a certified translator or translation service that meets the requirements. If you're in Connecticut, the state's DMV is not currently accepting applications for DMV-approved translator status.
If your state maintains an approved list, check it directly rather than assuming any certified translator will do. You don't need to hand over your physical license to your translator. A clear scanned copy or photo is enough for them to work from.
Step 3: Check whether notarization is required
Not every DMV requires a notarized translation, but some do. Notarization means a notary public reviews the translated document, confirms it matches the certification, and adds an official stamp or seal. Confirm with your state's DMV whether notarization applies to your situation before you pay for it.
In practice, most authorities in the US require notarization. Based on our internal order data, certified driver's license translations are notarized roughly 3 times as often as typical certified document translations.
Step 4: Submit the original and the translation together
Submit your original driver's license along with the certified translation. The DMV needs the original to verify its authenticity and check details such as your photo, issue date, and any stamps or seals. The translation also lets staff who don't read the original language understand those details. Your original will be returned to you once the DMV confirms it matches the translation. Keep copies of both for your records.
Step 5: Verification at the counter
The DMV checks that your translation matches your original license: your name, date of birth, license type, and any restrictions. If everything lines up, they accept the translation as a valid representation of your license for their purposes.
What your DMV translation must contain
Whatever state you're in, most DMV translations are checked against the same basic list:
A certified translation of your foreign driver's license
Notarization, if your state requires it
Additional supporting documents, such as proof of address or ID
Confirmation of whether your state accepts submissions online or requires an in-person visit
A translator whose credentials you've verified, and who can confirm they meet your state's specific format requirements, not just “a certified translation” in general.
For translator credentials in the U.S., look for membership in a recognized body, such as the American Translators Association (ATA). International credentials alone may not carry weight with a state DMV.
Fees vary significantly by state and by transaction type, so check your own state's fee schedule. A few official starting points:
How much does a DMV driver's license translation cost?
A certified driver's license translation from Translayte costs $24.99 per page. Factors that may influence pricing include document length, language pair, and urgency.
Among the license-related translation requests we receive for the U.S., the most common source languages are Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Arabic.
Additionally, license translations are time-sensitive. From our internal order data, they are more urgent than other certified document translation requests in the US. Don’t wait till the last minute. Request a quote to get your driver's license translated for the DMV.
DMV translation requirements by state
DMV translation rules aren't federal; they're set state by state. Here are the rules by state;
State | Translator requirement | Source |
Connecticut | Requires a DMV-approved translator; publishes the current list by language; the translator's Approved Translator Number must appear on every translation. | CT DMV |
Maryland | Requires an MVA-approved translator; approved translators are assigned an Interpreter/Translator number via forms DL-200/201/203, valid for three years. | MD MVA |
Nevada | Requires a DMV-approved Translator Number issued by Nevada DMV; translation must include a specific certification statement. | NV DMV |
California | Certified translation OR affidavit of translation; no notarization or specific credential required. | CA DMV |
Texas | Foreign licenses not in English or Spanish must be translated by a translation service or the applicant's consulate before the applicant arrives in Texas. No official translator list. | DPS Texas |
New York | Certified translation must be certified by a consulate, the US Department of State, or another official government agency. No approved list. | DMV NY |
Florida | Documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by a written English translation. No approved list. | FLHSMV |
Illinois | Foreign-language documents must include a complete certified English translation with a signed translator certification. No approved list. | Illinois SOS |
Ohio | Certified translation required if the license isn't in English, or an IDP. No approved list. | Ohio BMV |
Georgia | DDS does not accept translated documents for identity purposes; an IDP is the official translation for driving on a foreign license. | Georgia DDS |
Virginia | Certified English translation by a professional translator required. No approved list. | Virginia DMV |
New Jersey | Certified English translation required; translator must be 18+ and sign a certification statement. No confirmed current approved list. | NJ MVC |
Indiana | The license must be presented in English, with an accurate translation or an IDP. The translation must be typed on the letterhead of a government entity, accredited school, or translation agency. | Indiana BMV |
Tennessee | Translation must be accompanied by either a Certificate of Accurate Translation with a notary block or a valid IDP. | TN DOS |
Massachusetts | Requires Form LIC114 (Translation into English of a Foreign Driver License), an IDP, or an alternative translation document with photo, to drive on a foreign license. | MA RMV |
Washington | Foreign documents accepted only with an English translation from an embassy or an accredited foreign-language school. No approved list. | WA DOL |
Michigan | IDP or English translation required; any bilingual person may translate, no certification required by law | Michigan SOS |
North Carolina | No explicit published translation requirement for the license itself; NCDMV does not recognize the IDP as a standalone license. | NCDMV |
Arizona | No explicit certified-translation mandate published; an IDP is recommended but not required. | AZ MVD |
Pennsylvania | No explicit certified-translation mandate has been published; an IDP is strongly recommended and serves as the translation. | PennDOT |
Missouri | All documents must be provided "in English"; no published translator list or format requirements | Missouri DOR |
Wisconsin | Advisory only. Visitors are advised to obtain an IDP or attach an English translation. Korea/Taiwan reciprocity requires a translation certified by the Korean Consulate in Chicago. | WisDOT |
Do you need a translator or an interpreter at the DMV?
These sound similar but function differently. A translator converts your written driver's license into English, producing a certified translation the DMV requires.
An interpreter speaks for you at the counter or helps you through the knowledge test. They translate in your language, in person and in real time.
Most searches for “DMV translator” and “DMV interpreter” get lumped together. But the DMV can require both at different points, and neither substitutes for the other.
In some search results, “DMV” doesn't mean Department of Motor Vehicles at all. It refers to the Washington D.C.–Maryland–Virginia region. If your search results look off-topic, that's usually why.
Free DMV interpreter services (and when they are not enough)
Several states provide interpreters at no cost to you, separate from the certified translation you need for your license itself.
California: DMV provides interpreters at no charge. Let the staff know when you check in. Or call 1-800-777-0133 during business hours and say you need foreign language assistance. California also offers ASL interpreters at no additional cost. Call 1-800-735-2929 from a TDD phone through the California Relay Telephone Service, or 1-800-735-2922 from a voice phone.
North Carolina: NCDMV offers interpreter services to customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. This also applies to those who aren't fluent in English. Request one online or by calling the NCDMV Call Center at (919) 715-7000, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online requests in North Carolina ask for:
Your name, email, and phone number
Your state ID or driver's license number, where applicable
Your county
Your preferred DMV office location
The reason for your request
The difference is that an interpreter helps you communicate at the counter. They do not produce the certified written translation of your license that the DMV keeps on file. That's a separate document, and it's what Translayte provides. Upload your document for a free quote. No commitment required.
