U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
This chapter outlines procedures for completing form FHWA-562, State Driver Licenses and Fees. This form is designed to record, on an annual basis, the total number of drivers licensed during a year, classified by kinds of permits or licenses issued, term of licenses, renewal dates, and fees collected. The number of licensed drivers, classified by age and sex, is also reported. The FHWA uses this information to develop its DL series of national tables on driver licenses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also uses these data for safety analyses.
Since data quality and consistency of information published in Highway Statistics is very important, in July of 2008, FHWA determined that data quality could be improved by using a new and improved Excel template that contains all four forms in one workbook (or file). In order to cross-check data among the four different forms (FHWA-561, FHWA-562, FHWA-566 and FHWA-571), each of the forms has to be opened in Excel for comparison to the other forms. Each page of each form is in a separate worksheet inside the file. . The template can be found at the following URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/eforms/mv-dl.htm.
There is an Instruction Page to assist the States with their data entry process. The spreadsheet is color-coded. All cells that accept user input are in yellow. All cells that contain formulas are in tan. Users are instructed in data entry and also in calculation of a fee where multiple fees are involved in an individual category.
The improved Excel forms use formulas that cannot be overwritten. Totals that should match are automatically populated in the proper locations — some on different pages of the form, some on separate forms. The data validation, which compares the data entered with the previous years' data, will flag the numbers by showing them in red if the data submitted to FHWA is above or below a certain threshold. The data validation may improve the quality of the data by alerting the States when the data seem unreasonable and asking for explanations.
In the following instructions, those aspects of the procedures that may not be self-explanatory are emphasized.
Calendar/fiscal year - The data on driver licenses are reported on a calendar year basis for all States when possible. If calendar year reporting is causing a hardship on the reporting agency, it may substitute fiscal year reporting and so note on the form.
Section I. Total Number of Licensed Drivers
Annual Information - This section should contain the total number of driver licenses in force at the end of the reporting year stratified by age and sex. The entries should exclude: learner's or instruction permits, non-driver identification cards; and any license in a suspended status as of the end of the reporting year. Licenses cancelled due to emigration, death, or revocation should also be excluded.
All fifty States and the District of Columbia have some form of graduated licensing program (GDL) for teenage drivers. In 2006, the FHWA revised its definition of licensed drivers to be more consistent with GDL programs and the various types of licenses teenaged drivers obtain. GDL programs typically consists of three-stages: a "learner" stage, during which all driving must be supervised; followed by an "intermediate or provisional" stage, during which unsupervised driving is permitted except under certain conditions (e.g., at night or with passengers); and finally full unrestricted driving privileges. A learner's/instruction permit allows a new driver to begin the learning process of operating a motor vehicle, and for FHWA reporting purposed is not considered a licensed driver. Thus, when preparing Form FHWA-562 (State Drivers Licenses and Fees), in Section 1, data providers should include data for drivers with "intermediate or provisional" licenses and those with full unrestricted driving privileges. . The revised data definition is not a new data requirement; it is a clarification of already required data.
Section II. Driver licenses issued
Annual Information–
Item A only requires the breakout of learner permits that are commercial or non-commercial.
Item B requires all classes of licenses to be listed including bus, motorcycle, and scooter driver licenses. A few of the more common class breakouts have been provided for your convenience. The separation of renewals and new licenses has also been listed to help those that have a different pay scale for new licenses versus renewals. These breakouts are only there as a guide because they are the most common classes; if your State has different classes, they may be added below the regular listing. The Commercial Driver License (CDL) group is as described in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Subpart F, Section 383.91. Non-CDL license groups vary by the individual State's or Commonwealths administrative practice as defined by law.
COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE: The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 establishes minimum standard requirements and requires a single State-issued license for operators of commercial motor vehicles. As the regulations are implemented and any necessary changes are made in a State's classification scheme, the license classes reported in this section will change. If a class includes both commercial and noncommercial licenses, specify the number of commercial licenses included in a note. If fees are charged for commercial license examinations, show the number of tests administered, the fees charged, and the resulting revenue under Item G.
Item D (Duplicates) is a single entry for all duplicates.
Item E (Endorsements) is a single entry for all endorsements.
Item F (Non-driver Identification Cards) is for non-driver identification cards only.
Item G (Miscellaneous) is a breakout of miscellaneous fees associated with driver licensing in general. This is only a small portion of the types of breakouts that may or may not be pertinent to your State. You may add any different breakouts or you may combine all the miscellaneous fees into the miscellaneous line item.
The following is a list of general terms or column headings and definitions:
Term for which Issued - Enter the time length of each class or kind of license issued. If the State has optional terms, show the optional terms and the number of licenses issued for each on separate lines.
Renewal Date - Enter the renewal date (such as birthday or issuance) for each class or kind of license.
Number of Licenses Issued During Year - Record the total number of licenses issued during the reporting year, classified by kinds issued (as listed in Item B). This includes all types of licenses and permits, including restricted, DWI and hardship permits. Non-driver identification cards (if issued by the licensing agency) should be shown in Item F on the form.
Fee Per Issue - Show the fee per license. If there is a local service charge or agent's fee in addition to the basic issuance fee, it should be shown in item G and explained in a "Notes and Comments" space. Learner or beginner permit fees should be shown separately when there is a separate charge. Where part of the learner permit fee is applied to the driver license fee, show that amount with the driver license fee and explain in "Notes and Comments."
Total Collections - Include all receipts for the licenses or permits shown in previous columns. If you are using a Lotus template, these will be calculated automatically.
Net Licenses in Force at End of Reporting Year - Enter the number of driver licenses in force by class. This is determined by deducting from the number of unexpired licenses any cancellations resulting from licensing in another State or deaths, revoked licenses, and any licenses in a "suspended" status at the end of the year. Each driver should be counted only once in this column and should be included in the category for the highest class license he or she holds. The total of this column will not be equivalent to the total in Section I in most cases because of the various kinds of permits and licenses issued in some States that will not be included in Section I.
Any legislative actions or administrative decisions made during the reporting year that affect driver license administration or fees should be described in "Notes and Comments." Copies of new legislation and administrative regulations affecting driver licensing should be sent to the FHWA, Office of Highway Policy Information, HPPI, Washington, DC 20590.
| << Prev | Contents | Next >> |
