FLORIDA
DRIVER LICENSE
AND ID CARD
Retail Guide
Issued May 2019 - Present
2
3
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
SECTION 01
WELCOME LETTER 04
SECTION 02
FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE & ID CARD 05
OVERVIEW 05
NOTABLE CHANGES 06
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS 12
CARD BACK DIAGRAM 18
SECURITY FEATURES/ 20
COUNTERFEIT DETECTION
SECTION 03
SUSPECTED FRAUD 22
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUD 22
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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
strives to provide the best service and maintain the highest level of security
for all Floridians. As a retail organization that uses Florida credentials
to verify identity and/or age, we understand that it is critical for you to
have all of the information necessary to ensure that the individuals you
encounter are representing themselves lawfully and legitimately. We are
committed to issuing the most secure Florida driver license and ID card,
which provides our customers protections against fraud and identity theft.
Inside this booklet you will nd an overview of many new features included
in Florida’s modied driver license and ID card, including additional
security features. Modied credentials will begin to be issued in select
oces starting May 2019. After August 2019, this will be the only card
design issued in Florida. Please review the important details within this
Retail Guide so that you will be able to easily identify an authentic Florida
credential and recognize and report fraudulent or counterfeit credentials.
The FLHSMV is committed to working with our partners in an eort to
make A Safer Florida.
Terry L. Rhodes
Executive Director
WELCOME LETTER
SECTION 01
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OVERVIEW
Florida’s modied driver license and ID card incorporates additional
security features, improved layout of data and the removal of the magnetic
strip and is the most secure over-the-counter driver license and ID card
available today. The new security features make it highly dicult for
criminals to alter or counterfeit credentials.
The modied credential is also compliant with the American Association
of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) 2016 driver license and ID card
design standard and the Federal REAL ID Act.
By the end of August 2019, the modied credential will be available at all
service centers throughout Florida and online. Individuals will only need
to renew their driver license or ID card upon its expiration or if a required
change is needed, such as a name or address change.
Though previous driver license and ID cards will still be in use alongside
the modied credential until they are replaced or phased out, please note
that after August 2019, this will be the only card design issued in Florida.
Any credentials with an issue date after August 2019, without the new
design, are fraudulent. Credentials with the previous design and magnetic
strip will not be in circulation after March 2027.
NEW DRIVER
LICENSE & ID CARD
SECTION 02
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NOTABLE CHANGES
Overall Look
The modied Florida driver license and ID card has a background image that
incorporates a pastel-colored linear rendering of the Florida State Seal and a
large orange “FL” over a stark white base. The modied design also incorporates
additional security features compared to the previous card design. Pages 20-21
contain a list of security features and counterfeit detection methods.
Previous two driver license designs
(front)
New driver license design (front)
SECTION 02 NEW LICENSE AND ID CARD
Issue Dates
June 2004
-
December 2017
August 2017
-
August 2019
May 2019
-
Present
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• The 2D barcode remains on the back of the credential. The magnetic strip
will be removed and replaced with a tactile authentication feature. The 2D
barcode will be located at the top instead of the bottom of the credential.
To obtain a copy of the 2D barcode or magnetic strip calibration sheets,
please contact FLHSMV at newDL@hsmv.gov.
Please note: Retail technology that only supports the magnetic strip
will not be usable on any Florida credentials issued after 2019.
Previous two driver license designs (back)
New driver license design (back)
NOTABLE CHANGES
Magnetic Strip
Old Location
Magnetic Strip
Old Location
2D Barcode
Old Location
2D Barcode
Old Location
2D Barcode
New Location
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American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA)
Standard Mandatory Data Element Numbers
• Every Florida driver license and ID card will show small numbers
next to each data eld (i.e. name, expiration date, sex, height).
The inclusion of these numbers is required by the AAMVA driver
license and ID card design standard and has been adopted by many
states. The table on the following page provides a reference showing
the data element to which each number corresponds.
SECTION 02 NEW LICENSE AND ID CARD
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AAMVA Standard Mandatory Data Element Numbers
# Data Element Denition
1 Family Name
Family name (commonly called surname or last
name) or primary identier of the individual.
2 Given Names
Given name or names (includes all of what are
commonly referred to as rst and middle names),
or secondary identier, of the individual.
3 Date of Birth
Cardholder’s date of birth: month, day and year.
Format: MM/DD/CCYY
4A Date of Issue
Date credential was issued.
Format: MM/DD/CCYY
4B Date of Expiration
Date credential expires.
Format: MM/DD/CCYY
4D Cardholder Identier
The alphanumeric string assigned by FLHSMV
(ID/DL number).
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Document
Discriminator
A unique number indicating issuance oce,
issue date and form number.
8 Cardholder Address
The place where the cardholder resides and/or may
be contacted (street/house number, municipality).
9 Vehicle Classications Vehicle types the cardholder is authorized to operate.
9A Endorsements
Codes denoting additional privileges granted to
the cardholders.
12
Restrictions/
Conditions
Codes used to indicate restrictions or conditions
that apply to the cardholder, including medical,
administrative or legal limitations (shown as
alphanumeric codes or pictographs).
15 Sex Cardholder’s sex: M for male, F for female.
16 Height
Cardholder’s height: feet and inches.
Format: 6 foot 1 inch = 6’-01”
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Inventory Control
Number
A string of letters and/or numbers located on
the card back for FLHSMV inventory purposes only.
NOTABLE CHANGES
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• Customer photographs are printed with transparent backgrounds.
The customer photograph will overlap the linear image of the Florida
State Seal on the front of the credential.
• Four dierent color headers help to identify the type
of credential. These include:
RED
ID Card
BLUE
Commercial
Driver License
GREEN
Driver License
GREEN
Learner’s License
(UNDER 21)
(vertical format)
SECTION 02 NEW LICENSE AND ID CARD
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Designations:
• Veteran Designation:
The modied Florida driver license and ID card will continue to have a
designation available to show that the cardholder is a Veteran of the
United States Armed Forces.
• Sexual Predator/Oender Designation:
The modied Florida driver license and ID card will continue to allow
for the identication of sexual predators and sexual oenders with
a blue identier on the bottom right of the front of the card. Sexual
predators will have “SEXUAL PREDATOR” spelled out on the card,
while sexual oenders have “943.0435 F.S.” listed in this area.
Sexual Predator/Oender Designations
NOTABLE CHANGES
Veteran Designation
12
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS
The front of each Florida driver license and ID card contains the following
personal identifying information:
• Photograph of the individual overlapping the linear image of the
Florida State Seal;
• Driver license or ID card number;
• License type (i.e. Class E);
• Family name/given names;
• Cardholder address;
• Date of birth;
• Sex;
• Date of expiration;
• Height;
• Issue date; and
• Restrictions, endorsements & designations.
Examples of each card front are displayed on pages 13-17.
SECTION 02 FLORIDA LICENSE AND ID CARD
13
CLASS E ADULT DRIVER LICENSE
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Visible with card tilt and fluoresces with UV light.
REAL ID Compliant
1 LAST NAME
2 FIRST MIDDLE NAME
License Type
Driver License Number
Designated Header Color
Class E driver licenses are indicated
by a green header.
Expiration Date
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit and
fluoresces under UV light with
mini-portrait.
Designations
Restrictions and Endorsements
Open area below will show date until which certain
cardholder restrictions and/or endorsements
expire, including:
EPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Employment Purposes Only)
BPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Business Purposes Only)
IID UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Ignition Interlock Device)
HAZMAT UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (HazMat Endorsement)
Issue Date
Date of Birth
Tactile Feature
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SECTION 02 FLORIDA LICENSE AND ID CARD
CLASS E UNDER 21 DRIVER LICENSE
(vertical format)
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Visible with card tilt and fluoresces with UV light.
REAL ID Compliant
1 LAST NAME
2 FIRST MIDDLE NAME
License Type
Driver License Number
Designated Header Color
Class E driver license is indicated by a
green header.
Expiration Date
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit and
fluoresces under UV light with
mini-portrait.
Designations
Additional Information
Open area below will show date until which certain
cardholder restrictions and/or endorsements
expire, including:
EPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Employment Purposes Only)
BPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Business Purposes Only)
IID UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Ignition Interlock Device)
HAZMAT UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (HazMat Endorsement)
Issue Date
Restrictions and Endorsements
Cardholder Under 21
Date of Birth
Tactile
Feature
15
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS
CLASS E LEARNER’S LICENSE
(vertical format)
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Visible with card tilt and fluoresces with UV light.
REAL ID Compliant
1 LAST NAME
2 FIRST MIDDLE NAME
License Type
Driver License Number
Designated Header Color
Learner’s license credentials are indicat-
ed by an orange header.
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit and
fluoresces under UV light with
mini-portrait.
Designations
Additional Information
Open area below will show date until which certain
cardholder restrictions and/or endorsements
expire, including:
EPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Employment Purposes Only)
BPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Business Purposes Only)
IID UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Ignition Interlock Device)
HAZMAT UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (HazMat Endorsement)
Issue Date
Restrictions and Endorsements
Cardholder Under 21
Expiration Date
Date of Birth
Tactile
Feature
16
SECTION 02 FLORIDA LICENSE AND ID CARD
ID CARD
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Visible with card tilt and fluoresces with UV light.
REAL ID Compliant
1 LAST NAME
2 FIRST MIDDLE NAME
ID Card Number
Designated Header Color
ID cards are indicated by
a red header.
Expiration Date
Issue Date
Date of Birth
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit and
fluoresces under UV light with
mini-portrait.
Designations
Tactile Feature
17
COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL)
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Visible with card tilt and fluoresces with UV light.
REAL ID Compliant
1 LAST NAME
2 FIRST MIDDLE NAME
License Type
Driver License Number
Designated Header Color
CDL credentials are indicated
by a blue header.
Expiration Date
Restrictions and Endorsements
Open area below will show date until which certain
cardholder restrictions and/or endorsements
expire, including:
EPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Employment Purposes Only)
BPO UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Business Purposes Only)
IID UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (Ignition Interlock Device)
HAZMAT UNTIL MM/DD/CCYY (HazMat Endorsement)
Issue Date
Date of Birth
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit and
fluoresces under UV light with
mini-portrait.
Designations
Tactile Feature
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CARD BACK DIAGRAM
The back of each Florida driver license and ID card contains the following:
• Description of endorsements (“END”) and restrictions (“REST”)
corresponding to codes on the card front.
• Vehicle description classications - The class and description of
vehicles the driver is authorized to operate.
• Redundant data - Data featured on the card front that also appears on
the card back.
• 1D Barcode - Contains the inventory control number (for FLHSMV
use only).
• 2D Barcode - Contains all printed demographic cardholder data.
SECTION 02 FLORIDA LICENSE AND ID CARD
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Sportsman’s Boater
Freshwater
Saltwater
Hunting
Lifetime License Designations
Indicators always appear in the same order and location:
DRIVER LICENSE & ID CARDS: CARD BACK DIAGRAM
CARD BACK DIAGRAM
Redundant Data
1D Barcode
(For inventory use only)
Replacement Statement
Section 322.19, F.S.
FLHSMV Website
2D Barcode
Previous two driver license designs (back)
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SECURITY FEATURES/
COUNTERFEIT DETECTION
The modied Florida driver license and ID card contains the following
security features:
• Look-through element: Gold circle turns mostly clear in any
transmitted light (e.g. sunlight, ashlight).
• Duplicate photograph: Duplicate image of the cardholder photograph
present within look-through element on the card front and back.
• Optically variable ghost and data: Visible with card tilt and uoresces
with UV light.
• Tactile authentication feature
Optically Variable Data (OVD)
Visible with card tilt. Shows first initial first name,
first initial last name and the last two digits of the
cardholder’s birth year.
Gold Look-Through Element
Turns clear when backlit (e.g. sunlight or flashlight).
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG)
Visible with card tilt.
Redundant Data
Duplicate image of the cardholder
photograph present within look-through
element on the card front and back.
Restrictions, endorsements, driver
license type and date of birth are
repeated on the card back.
The visibility of both the Optically Variable
Ghost (OVG) Portrait and Variable Data changes
when the card is tilted.
SECTION 02 FLORIDA LICENSE AND ID CARD
Tactile Feature
21
• UV Light – 365 nm
• Fluorescence: The optically variable ghost photograph and
data include an ultraviolet (UV) response that uoresces purple
under UV lighting, regardless of the viewing angle.
• Look-through element with UV: The gold tint of the
look-through element uoresces yellow/green under UV light.
• UV ink: When placed under a UV light, the card reveals in
uorescent yellow/green two diagonal ribbons of repeating
“FLFLFL” and two outlines of the state of Florida together with
the letters “FL”.
Optically Variable Data (OVD) with UV
Fluoresces purple with UV light.
Gold Look-Through Element
Fluoresces yellow/green under UV light.
Optically Variable Ghost (OVG) with UV
Fluoresces purple with UV light.
Ultraviolet (UV) Ink
UV features fluoresce yellow/green when exposed to
UV light source – 365 nanometers. In low light
conditions, the UV light reveals the following
on the front of the card:
Two diagonal ribbons of repeating “FLFLFL”.
Two outlines of the state of Florida together
with the letters “FL”.
SECURITY FEATURES/COUNTERFEIT DETECTION
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WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUD
In instances of suspected fraud or identity theft using a Florida driver
license or ID card, please contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles’ Fraud Unit.
Fraud Line: (850) 617-2405
Email: Fraud@hsmv.gov
SUSPECTED FRAUD
SECTION 03
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Providing Highway Safety
and Security through Excellence in
Service, Education and Enforcement
Terry L. Rhodes, Executive Director
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0500