Florida Debuts Newly Redesigned Driver Licenses and ID Cards Featuring Enhanced Security and State Heritage

On September 30, 2026, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) began issuing a newly designed Florida driver license and identification card that pays homage to Florida’s rich history. The updated credential will be available at all service centers statewide on Sept. 30 and will be accessible for online orders through MyDMVPortal.flhsmv.gov by early November. Downloadable resources are available at flhsmv.gov/newDL.

The background image on the front of the card showcases Castillo de San Marcos.  Located in St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortress in the continental United States. Florida’s iconic orange is cleverly integrated as the “O” in “Florida,” and the bottom left corner displays the Florida manatee, one of the state’s most recognizable native species and an endangered aquatic mammal. And we couldn’t forget the Florida gator which is incorporated into the REAL ID star in the top righthand corner of all cards.

The back of the card pays tribute to Florida’s Space Coast with an image of the historic Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched 39 missions and spent 365 days in space before making its final landing in Florida on March 9, 2011. It also features the motto “Let Us Alone” from Florida’s first unofficial flag.

This new design does not require Florida residents to replace their existing driver’s license or identification card. All valid credentials will remain in circulation and be phased out over time.

The Look

Issue dates: September 2026 – Present

Issue dates: May 2019 – Present

Issue dates: August 2017 – August 2019

Issue dates: 2005 – August 2017

Fraud Protection

FLHSMV is committed to ensuring Florida’s credential remains secure. The new credential design incorporates nearly double the fraud protection measures compared to the previous design, including redundant data, tactile security features, ultraviolet (UV) ink and optically variable features.

Designated Header Colors

Credentials are 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.

Designations

The credential 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.

Issue dates: August 2020 – Present

Designation	Symbol	Description
Deaf/Hard of Hearing		Designation showing that the cardholder is deaf or hard of hearing
Developmentally Disabled		Designation showing that a driver license or identification card holder 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

Visit our Designation Fees & Required Documentation page 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:

The new credential is available at all service centers  on September 29, 2026.

ONLINE:

The modified credential will be available for online renewals at MyDMV Portal by the end of November 2026.

Other Notable Items

Motorcycle Endorsements:

Issue dates: August 2020:

Motorcycle endorsements are not spelled out on the front of Florida driver licenses. Motorcycle-also and motorcycle-only endorsements 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:

Issue dates: August 2020:

The 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.

Career Offender, October 2026:

The Florida driver license and ID card allows for the identification of career offenders with a blue identifier of “775.261, F.S.” on the bottom right of the front of the card.

AAMVA Mandatory Data Element Numbers:

Issue dates: August 2020 – Present

The Florida driver license and ID card 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.

Visit our FAQ page for more information.