FLORIDA
DRIVER LICENSE
AND ID CARD
RETAIL GUIDE
ISSUED AUGUST 2020
2
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
SECTION 01
WELCOME LETTER .........................................................04
SECTION 02
FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD .........................05
OVERVIEW ........................................................................................05
NOTABLE CHANGES ........................................................................06
NOTABLE FEATURES ....................................................................... 08
CARD FRONT DIAGRAMS .................................................................12
CARD BACK DIAGRAM ...................................................................... 18
SECURITY FEATURES/COUNTERFEIT DETECTION .........................20
SECTION 03
SUSPECTED FRAUD ........................................................22
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUD ........................................... 22
3
DOES YOUR ID
have a star in the upper right-hand corner?
WHEN DO I NEED REAL ID?
WHY DO I NEED REAL ID?
If you don’t have a REAL ID, you MAY NOT be able to y
domestically or enter some federal buildings or military bases.
NO? Then you are not REAL ID compliant!
For information on becoming REAL ID compliant, visit
FLHSMV.GOV/REALID
Enforcement begins
OCTOBER 1, 2021
4
WELCOME LETTER
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 the.
Inside this booklet you will find an overview of new features included in Florida’s modified
driver license and ID card, including additional security features. Modified credentials
will begin to be issued in select oices in the coming weeks. Aer August 2020, 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
SECTION 01
5
OVERVIEW
Florida’s modified driver license and ID card incorporates additional security features and
is the most secure over-the-counter driver license and ID card available today. The new
security features make it highly diicult for criminals to alter or counterfeit credentials.
The modified 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 2020, the modified 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 modified
credential until they are replaced or phased out, please note that aer August 2020, this
will be the only card design issued in Florida. Any credentials with an issue date aer
August 2020, without the new design, are fraudulent.
FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE
AND ID CARD
SECTION 02
6
ISSUE DATES:
MAY 2019 - AUGUST 2020
ISSUE DATES:
JUNE 2004 - DECEMBER 2017
NOTABLE CHANGES
OVERALL LOOK
The modified 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 modified 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.
ISSUE DATES:
AUGUST 2017 - AUGUST 2019
ISSUE DATE: AUGUST 2020
PREVIOUS DRIVER LICENSE DESIGNS (FRONT)
MODIFIED DRIVER LICENSE DESIGN (FRONT)
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
7
The 2D barcode remains on the back of the credential and is located at the top instead of
the bottom of the credential, as with previous cards. To obtain a copy of the 2D barcode or
magnetic strip calibration sheets, please go to flhsmv.gov/newDL.
Please note: Retail technology that only supports the magnetic strip will not function on
any Florida credentials issued aer 2019.
Magnetic Strip
Magnetic Strip
2D Barcode
2D Barcode
2D Barcode
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
ISSUE DATES:
AUGUST 2017 - AUGUST 2019
ISSUE DATE: MAY 2019
ISSUE DATES:
JUNE 2004 - DECEMBER 2017
PREVIOUS DRIVER LICENSE DESIGNS (BACK)
MODIFIED DRIVER LICENSE DESIGN (BACK)
8
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 field
(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.
NOTABLE FEATURES
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
9
AAMVA Standard Mandatory Data Element Numbers
# Data Element Definition
1 Family Name
Family name (commonly called surname or last
name) or primary identifier of the individual.
2 Given Names
Given name or names (includes all of what are
commonly referred to as first and middle names),
or secondary identifier, 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 Identifier
The alphanumeric string assigned by FLHSMV
(ID/DL number).
5
Document
Discriminator
A unique number indicating issuance oice,
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 Classifications 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”
21
Inventory Control
Number
A string of letters and/or numbers located on
the card back for FLHSMV inventory purposes only.
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
10
RED
ID Card
BLUE
Commercial
Driver License
GREEN
Driver License
ORANGE
Learner’s License
(UNDER 21)
(vertical format)
Four dierent color headers help to identify the type of credential.
THESE INCLUDE:
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
Veteran Designation
DESIGNATIONS
• Veteran Designation:
The modified 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.
11
• Sexual Predator/Oender Designation:
The modified Florida driver license and ID card will continue to allow for the
identification of sexual predators and sexual oenders 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 oenders have “943.0435, F.S.” listed in this area.
Sexual Predator Designations
Sexual Oender Designations
“SP” UV Marker
“SO” UV Marker
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
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 DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
12
13
CLASS E ADULT DRIVER LICENSE
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
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
14
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
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
15
CLASS E UNDER 21 LEARNER’S LICENSE
(vertical format)
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND 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
License Type
Driver License Number
Designated Header Color
Learner’s license credentials are indicated 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
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.
Tactile Feature
ID CARD
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
17
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
COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL)
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
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 classifications - 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.
18
19
DRIVER LICENSE AND AND ID CARDS: CARD BACK DIAGRAM
Sportsman’s Boater
Freshwater
Saltwater
Hunting
Lifetime License Designations
Indicators always appear in the same order and location:
Redundant Data
1D Barcode
(For inventory use only)
Replacement Statement
Section 322.19, F.S.
FLHSMV Website
2D Barcode
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
ISSUE DATES:
AUGUST 2017 - AUGUST 2019
ISSUE DATES:
JUNE 2004 - DECEMBER 2017
PREVIOUS DRIVER LICENSE DESIGNS (BACK)
20
SECURITY FEATURES/COUNTERFEIT DETECTION
The modified 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, flashlight).
• 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 fluoresces 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.
Tactile Feature
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
21
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”.
Five outlines of the state of Florida together
with the letters “FL”.
SECTION 02 FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE AND ID CARD
UV LIGHT - 365 NM
• Fluorescence: The optically variable ghost photograph and data include an ultraviolet
(UV) response that fluoresces purple under UV lighting, regardless of the viewing angle.
• Look-through element with UV: The gold tint of the look-through element fluoresces
yellow/green under UV light.
• UV ink: When placed under a UV light, the card reveals in fluorescent yellow/green two
diagonal ribbons of repeating “FLFLFL” and five outlines of the state of Florida together
with the letters “FL”.
In order to prevent the issuance of driver licenses and ID cards to people who are not
eligible to receive these documents, the FLHSMV has enacted stringent requirements
relating to the documents that must be presented in order for a customer to prove his/her
identity, residency, and citizenship or lawful presence in the United States.
In an eort to make it easier for concerned citizens and employees to assist in thwarting
driver license fraud, the FLHSMV has set up an e-mail address for the reporting of suspected
criminal activity.
SUSPECTED FRAUD
SECTION 03 SUSPECTED FRAUD
22
Customers and employees of the FLHSMV can e-mail request for a fraud investigation to:
fraud@flhsmv.gov
to report fraud directly to the Fraud Section. Or go to,
flhsmv.gov/fraud
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