New California Drivers License Includes Latest In Visual Card Security

Annually, the California Department of Motor Vehicles issues nearly 8.25 million driver license and identification cards. Therefore, it is critical that identification documents and systems be completely authenticated and accurate in order to positively identify every individual. The California legislature has declared the California driver license and identification card as the primary identification documents in this state.

September 2010 marks California’s issuance of driver license and identification cards with new security features and a dramatic new design. The newly designed cards contain multiple layers of advanced security features to guard against ID counterfeiting, tampering and electronic fraud.

The new look is the first major revision to driver license and state identification cards since 2001 and makes the new California IDs easier to use and harder to fake. The DMV is committed to protecting personal information and is pleased to present the new and improved driver license and identification cards with features that can be seen and felt without the aid of expensive tools, printed using high-end ID card printers.

• Tactile raised date of birth and digital signature.

• UltraViolet printing of photo and date of birth of cardholder.

• Cardholder Last Name placed on a single line; first and middle names on a second line.

• Illustrations of well-known California landmarks in the background.

• California Brown Bear outline is visible when a flashlight is pressed against the back of the card.

• Card Format is vertical for minors (persons under 21) and horizontal for adults (persons 21 and over).

• Reverse Side of all cards has a 2d Barcode and Magnetic Stripe which hold the same information found on the front of the card.

• Smaller and Lighter Color UV Image Image is visible only under ultra violet light.

• Tactile Laser Engraved Signature The cardholder’s signature is engraved with raised lettering that can be felt by touch.

• Name Format There are two lines allotted for name. The last name will be displayed on the first line. The second line will show the first and middle name. This change improves naming conventions and identification of the cardholder.

• New Card Format Driver license and identification cards for persons under age 21 are vertical to aid retailers and law enforcement in identifying the age of the cardholder.