How to OCR Driver License in C#

Manual data entry is time-consuming, prone to errors, and requires a lot of effort. That's where Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software comes in. In this article, we will explore how IronOCR can help you extract data accurately.

IronOCR: C# OCR Library

IronOCR is a powerful OCR document processing engine that enables you to extract text from various documents and driver licenses with ease. It supports multiple file formats, including PDF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, making it flexible and versatile. IronOCR is built on the .NET Framework and can be easily integrated into your existing applications.

Functions of IronOCR

IronOCR offers several features, including:

1. Text recognition from images and scanned documents
2. Support for various image formats such as JPEG, PNG, BMP, and more
3. Multi-page document support
4. Multiple OCR engine options, including Tesseract and GOCR
5. Language detection and support for over 120 languages
6. Automatic image preprocessing for enhanced OCR accuracy
7. Easy integration with .NET applications

Install IronOCR Library

Installing the IronOCR library is a straightforward process. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages".
2. Search for IronOCR: In the "Browse" tab of the "Manage NuGet Packages" window, search for "IronOCR".
3. Install the package: Click on the "Install" button next to the IronOCR package to install it.

That's it! You have now installed the IronOCR library and can begin using it in your project.

Extract Data from Driver's license

Using IronOCR for data extraction from customers on a driver's license is simple. All you need to do is load the image into the IronOCR Computer Vision engine, and it will automatically recognize the text and extract it for you. IronOCR can extract essential details of customers such as name, address, date of birth, and license number, making it a valuable tool for many industries.

Here's a simple example of how to use IronOCR to extract text from an image of a driver's license:

using IronOcr;
using System;

var ocrTesseract = new IronTesseract();

using (var ocrInput = new OcrInput(@"C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\License.jpg")) 
{
    var ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput);
    Console.WriteLine(ocrResult.Text);
}

using IronOcr;
using System;

var ocrTesseract = new IronTesseract();

using (var ocrInput = new OcrInput(@"C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\License.jpg")) 
{
    var ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput);
    Console.WriteLine(ocrResult.Text);
}

Imports IronOcr
Imports System

Private ocrTesseract = New IronTesseract()

Using ocrInput As New OcrInput("C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\License.jpg")
	Dim ocrResult = ocrTesseract.Read(ocrInput)
	Console.WriteLine(ocrResult.Text)
End Using

Driving License

Explanation of the Program

1. Import the required namespaces: IronOcr and System.
2. Create a new instance of IronTesseract.
3. Open the driving license image using the OcrInput class.
4. Use the Read method of the IronTesseract instance to perform OCR on the input image.
5. Print the extracted text to the console.

The output of IronOCR is impressive, and the accuracy is exceptional. IronOCR uses advanced algorithms to recognize text, and it can handle data in a wide range of fonts, sizes, and styles.

Output text from IronOCR library

Results of performing OCR on the UK Drivers License

DRIVING LICENCE

1. WHEEL
2. MRS ANGELA DIANNE
3. 11.11.1953 UNITED KINGDOM
4a. 04.09.2070 4b. 19.12.2020 4c. DVLA
1. WHEAL561113AD9US 76

TL

8. 7SEAROAD,
WINCHELSEA, AN34 3NA

V 9. AM/A/B1/B/C 1/D1/BE/C1E/D1E!i'%/)/n/p/q

Use cases of OCR of Driver licenses

By implementing an OCR solution for driving license verification, car rental services can automate this process, improving efficiency and accuracy. Here's a high-level overview of how this can be applied in various use cases:

1. Car Rental Services

As mentioned earlier, car rental companies can use OCR technology to automate the process of verifying customers' driver licenses. This can help speed up the registration process, reduce wait times, and improve customer satisfaction.

2. Insurance Companies

Insurance providers can use OCR to extract driving license information for assessing policyholders' risk profiles or verifying identity during the claims process. This can help streamline workflows and ensure accurate data is used for decision-making.

3. Traffic Enforcement Agencies

Law enforcement agencies can use OCR technology to quickly and accurately process driving licenses during traffic stops or checkpoints. This can reduce the time officers spend on manual data entry and allow them to focus on more critical tasks.

4. Identity Verification Services

Companies that provide identity verification services can integrate driver's license OCR to enhance their offerings. By extracting data from driver licenses, these companies can provide additional layers of authentication for their clients, such as banks, financial institutions, or online platforms.

By integrating OCR technology into their systems, businesses and government agencies can streamline their workflows, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency. The use cases listed above demonstrate the potential benefits of automating driving license data extraction across various industries and sectors.

Summary

OCR of driver's licenses is a valuable tool for many industries. It saves time, reduces errors, and simplifies the verification process. IronOCR is a powerful OCR engine and solution that extracts data from driver's licenses quickly and accurately. With its support for multiple file formats and exceptional accuracy, IronOCR is an excellent tool for any organization or company that processes or needs to process driver's licenses.

IronOCR comes with a licensing fee that starts from $749, depending on the selected license plan. However, IronOCR also offers a free trial period, allowing potential customers to test the software and its features free of cost, before committing to a purchase. During the free trial period, users can access all the features and functionalities of the software and determine if it meets their specific needs and requirements.