An identification method is an identification method for use in an identification apparatus that identifies types of brushless DC motors each including a circuit board on which a terminal for tachometer is mounted. The duty ratios of pulses outputted from the terminals for tachometer vary among multiple types of brushless DC motors. The identification method includes: supplying a power supply voltage from the identification apparatus to a brushless DC motor; inputting pulses outputted from the terminal for tachometer of the circuit board to the identification apparatus; obtaining the duty ratio of the pulses as a unique information piece of the brushless DC motor; and identifying the type of the brushless DC motor based on the unique information piece of the brushless DC motor.