Coming Soon: Florida’s NEW Driver License and ID Card
Starting in August 2017, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will begin issuing a new, more secure Florida driver license and ID card. By the end of December 2017, new credential will be available at all service centers throughout Florida and online. Previous driver license and ID cards will still be in use alongside the new credential until replaced or phased out.
This article can be found at: https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/newdl/
The new credential provides Floridians the most secure over-the-counter credential on the market today.
Please review the service center implementation timeline to find out when the new credential will be available locally.
A New Look
Florida’s new driver license and ID card is uniquely Florida! The card front incorporates a pastel-colored linear rendering of the Florida state seal and a large orange “FL” over a stark white base. On the card back, an image of the state of Florida rests among ocean waves and the year 1845 is displayed, referring to the year Florida became the 27th state in the Union.
Photograph images will now be printed with a transparent background and appear in four locations on the credential.
Fraud Protection
The new credential design incorporates nearly double the fraud protection measures compared to the previous design, including redundant data, ultraviolet (UV) ink and optically variable features.
Designated Header Colors
New credentials will be issued with designated header colors that denote the type of license the customer holds. Credentials held by customers under 21 years of age will display a red box on the card front that indicates the date until which the customer will be under 21.
New/Updated Designations
The new design incorporates designations for lifetime sportsman’s, boater, freshwater, saltwater and hunting licenses, as well as designations for veteran, organ donor, deaf/hard of hearing and developmentally disabled.
| DESIGNATION | DESCRIPTION | |
|---|---|---|
| Deaf/Hard of Hearing |  |
Designation showing that the cardholder is deaf or hard of hearing |
| Developmentally Disabled |  |
Designation showing that an ID cardholder is developmentally disabled |
| FWC Lifetime Boater |  |
Lifetime Boater Safety endorsement from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) |
| FWC Lifetime Freshwater |  |
Lifetime FWC Freshwater Fishing License |
| FWC Lifetime Hunting |  |
Lifetime FWC hunting license |
| FWC Lifetime Saltwater |  |
Lifetime FWC Saltwater Fishing License |
| FWC Lifetime Sportsman’s |  |
Lifetime FWC Sportsman’s License |
| Insulin Dependent | INSULIN DEP | Designation showing that the cardholder is insulin dependent |
| Organ Donor |  |
Designation showing that the cardholder wishes to be an organ donor |
| Veteran |  |
Designation showing that the cardholder is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces |
Please click here for information on fees associated with adding designations.
Getting Your New Card
Individuals are only required to replace their current driver license or ID card if their current credential has reached its expiration or a required change is needed, such as a name or address change.
IN PERSON:
Beginning August 2017, the new credential will be offered at select service centers, with additional service centers each month. The new credential will be available at all service centers by the end of December 2017.
Please review the service center implementation timeline to find out when the new credential will be available locally.
ONLINE:
The new credential will be available for online renewals at GoRenew.com by the end of December 2017.
Other Notable Updates
Changes to Motorcycle Endorsements:
Motorcycle endorsements will no longer be spelled out on the front of Florida driver licenses. Motorcycle-also and motorcycle-only endorsements have been added and are designated by an “A” or “O” in the endorsement field located on the front of the card and are also indicated by a “A-MTRCL Also” or “O-MTRCL Only” on the back of the card.
Sexual Predator/offender Identifiers:
The new Florida driver license and ID card allows for the identification of sexual predators and sexual offenders with a blue identifier on the bottom right of the front of the card. Sexual predators will have “Sexual Predator” spelled out on the card, while sexual offenders have “943.0435 F.S.”listed in this area.
AAMVA Mandatory Data Element Numbers:
The new Florida driver license and ID card will display small numbers next to each data field (i.e. name, expiration date, sex, height). The inclusion of these numbers is required by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ driver license and ID card design standard and has been adopted by many states.
Why is Florida producing new driver licenses and ID cards? Florida last updated its driver license and ID card in 2003. The new credential uses the latest technology to safeguard your personal information and provide Floridians with the most secure over-the-counter credential on the market today.
What are some of the features of the new card? The new credential design has a completely new look and feel and incorporates nearly double the fraud protection measures compared to the previous design, including redundant data, ultraviolet (UV) ink and optically variable features. In addition, the new design incorporates designations for lifetime sportsman’s, boater, freshwater, saltwater and hunting licenses, as well as designations for veteran, organ donor, deaf/hard of hearing and developmentally disabled.
When will Florida begin issuing the new driver license and ID card? Starting in August 2017, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will begin issuing the new credential. By the end of December 2017, the new credential will be available at all service centers throughout Florida and online.
Does this change the way I obtain a Florida driver license or ID card? No. To obtain a new Florida driver license or ID card, please see our information on What To Bring. Click here for a list of local service centers. Visit GoRenew.com to renew your credential online.
Can I obtain my new credential over-the-counter at a service center? Yes. Beginning August 2017, the new license will be offered at select locations, with additional locations each month. The new credential will be available at all locations by the end of December 2017. Please review the service center implementation timeline to find out when the new credential will be available locally. The new credential will also be available for online renewals at GoRenew.com by the end of December 2017.
Will I have to pay more for my Florida driver license or ID card? No. There is no fee increase for the new credential.
Can I still renew my Florida driver license or ID card online? Yes. You may renew your Florida driver license or ID card online at GoRenew.com. However, the newly-designed credential will only be available online after December 2017. Customers who renew their credential online prior to December 2017 will receive the previous design. When renewing online, remember to keep your old card and receipt until your new credential arrives in the mail within 7-10 business days.
My current credential is valid for a few more months/years. Do I need to do anything now? No. Individuals are not required to replace their current driver license or ID card during this time, unless their current credential has reached its expiration or a required change is needed, such as a name or address change.
Does Florida’s new driver license and ID card meet federal requirements? Yes. The new credential conforms to federal REAL ID security standards and can be used as your official identification for domestic air travel and access to federal facilities.
I renewed my credential right before the new, more secure version was introduced. Can I obtain the new credential before my existing one expires? Yes. However, a replacement fee and other applicable fees may apply. If you wish to add one of the new designations, you may visit a local service center to obtain the newly-designed credential with certain fees waived.