PennDOT Form DL-8611 – Organ Donor Designation – Pennsylvania residents who want the “Organ Donor” designation printed on their driver’s license or photo identification card can use official PennDOT Form DL-8611. This free form is especially important for applicants under age 18, who must obtain parental or guardian consent. Completing the form at a PennDOT Photo Driver’s License Center allows the organ donor designation to appear on the new card with no additional fee.
Organ and tissue donation saves and improves thousands of lives each year across the United States. In Pennsylvania, the designation is recorded in the Donate Life PA Registry and serves as legal authorization for donation under state law.
What Is PennDOT Form DL-8611?
Form DL-8611 is the official Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) document titled “Request for Organ Donor Designation on Pennsylvania Driver’s License or Photo ID Card.” The current version is DL-8611 (2-07). It is used primarily when an applicant visits a Photo Driver’s License Center to have a photo taken for a new or replacement driver’s license or photo ID.
Key points about the form:
- It requests that the “Organ Donor” designation be printed on the Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo ID card.
- No fee is required when the form is presented at a Photo Driver’s License Center.
- Applicants under 18 years of age must have the form completed and signed by a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is at least 18 years of age.
- The form must be presented in person at the Photo Driver’s License Center.
You can download the official form directly from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website:
Download Pennsylvania PennDOT Form DL-8611 (PDF)
Who Needs to Use Form DL-8611?
Form DL-8611 is required for applicants under 18 who want the organ donor designation added at the time their photo is taken for a driver’s license or photo ID card. Adults (18 and older) can usually request the designation verbally or through online systems, but the form remains available for anyone who prefers a paper request at the photo center.
Pennsylvania law requires parental or guardian consent for minors. The consenting adult must certify that they are the parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse (at least 18) of the applicant and that the request is made with their full consent.
How to Complete and Submit Form DL-8611?
Follow these steps to properly complete and submit the form:
- Download the official PDF from the link above.
- Fill in the applicant’s information: driver’s license or photo ID number (if available), last name, first name, middle name, date of birth, age, telephone number, and email address (optional).
- The applicant signs and dates the certification section stating they request the organ donor designation.
- If the applicant is under 18, the parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or qualifying spouse must complete the consent section, check the appropriate relationship box, and sign and date the form in ink.
- Present the completed form in person at any PennDOT Photo Driver’s License Center when the applicant’s photo is taken.
There is no fee for adding the organ donor designation at the time the photo is taken. The designation will be printed on the new driver’s license or photo ID card.
Alternative Ways to Register as an Organ Donor in Pennsylvania
While Form DL-8611 is used at photo centers (especially for minors), Pennsylvania offers convenient alternatives for adults and existing cardholders:
- Online registration – Visit the secure PennDOT Organ Donor Designation page. You will need your driver’s license or photo ID number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. After registering, you receive a confirmation card to carry until your next renewal or replacement. Register online as an organ donor.
- At renewal or replacement – You can add or remove the designation when renewing or requesting a replacement product.
- After receiving your card – To add or remove the designation before expiration, submit Form DL-80 (non-commercial driver’s license), Form DL-80CD (commercial driver’s license), or Form DL-54B (photo ID) and pay the applicable fee for an updated product.
Official information on organ donation registration is available on the Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicle Services website: PennDOT Organ and Tissue Donation page.
Benefits of Organ and Tissue Donation
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 people through tissue donation. Pennsylvania strongly supports voluntary organ and tissue donation. More than 4.9 million Pennsylvanians are currently registered as organ donors, yet thousands remain on transplant waiting lists.
The designation on a driver’s license or photo ID is recorded in the Donate Life PA Registry. Under Pennsylvania law (20 Pa.C.S. § 8619), this recorded designation is sufficient legal authorization for organ and tissue donation. It is not revoked by license suspension, expiration, or cancellation.
Note: Vascularized Composite Allografts (such as hand or face transplants) require separate specific authorization and are never assumed under a standard organ donor designation.
Legal Background of Organ Donor Designation in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law requires PennDOT to ask applicants whether they wish to have the organ donor designation printed on their driver’s license or identification card. An affirmative response is noted on the front of the card and stored in the Donate Life PA Registry. This process is governed by Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Chapter 86 (Anatomical Gifts).
For the most current statutory language, refer to official Pennsylvania legislative resources or the Commonwealth’s organ donation pages.
Additional Resources and Contact Information
For more information about organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania, contact:
- Pennsylvania Department of Health – 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258)
- Donate Life Pennsylvania – donatelifepa.org or 877-DONOR-PA
- Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) – Western Pennsylvania – 1-800-DONORS-7
- Gift of Life Donor Program – Eastern Pennsylvania – 1-888-DONORS-1
You may also contribute $3 to the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund when renewing a motor vehicle registration, driver’s license, or photo ID.