NY issues new driver's license, ID cards with enhanced security features. What to know

New York State Team

New Yorkers who get a new driver’s permit, driver’s license or non-driver ID this year will get a revamped card with new security features, the Department of Motor Vehicles announced this month.

Anyone who applies for a new permit, license or non-driver ID card after March 10 will receive a new card, which has been fortified with elements that verify the document’s authenticity and prevent counterfeiting.

“We pride ourselves on providing secure identity documents to millions of New Yorkers and we introduce enhanced features every few years to stay at the cutting edge of emerging trends,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “The new security features on our redesigned documents will keep us one step ahead of potential counterfeiters.”

This is the DMV’s first redesign of the documents since 2013.

The newly designed driver's license card was released by New York Department of Motor Vehicles this month. Drivers or residents who apply for a new or renewed license, permit or non-driver ID card after March 10, 2022, will receive a new card with enhanced security features.

Enhanced security features include:

Embossed lettering and images, which can be felt on the card’s surface
The state seal and clear windows within the document were redesigned using multiple laser imaging, which allows two different images (the motorist’s photo and birth month/year) to appear when the card is held at different angles
The embedded chip in the document is now exposed on enhanced driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs

Are you renewing your New York driver’s license this year or next? You might want to consider upgrading to a Real ID compliant license or an enhanced driver’s license, and those documents will soon be required for domestic flights for passengers 18 and older.

A video from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles discusses the type of IDs available in the state, including the REAL ID.

What's a Real ID and when will I need it?

The U.S. began issuing Real ID compliant documents in 2017. The document was to be required on domestic flights starting in Oct. 2021, but that deadline was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the deadline for having a Real ID or other federally compliant document to board domestic flights, such as an enhanced driver's license, is May 3, 2023.

A Real ID can also be used to enter certain federal buildings or military bases. It does not count as valid identification to cross into Mexico or Canada.

Residents can get a Real ID at any time, but must go into a DMV office in person. You cannot get a Real ID by phone or mail, or online.

Required documents to get a Real ID include proof of identity, like a current driver’s license; proof of Social Security, like a Social Security card; and proof of date of birth.

There is no additional fee for a Real ID compliant document. Costs for a new license, permit or non-driver ID card will still apply. For more, visit www.dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/federal-real-id.

Enhanced driver’s licenses can be used on domestic flights, as well as to cross the border into Mexico and Canada and fly into some Caribbean countries.

Sarah Taddeo is the New York State Team Editor for the USA Today Network. Got a story tip or comment? Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com or on Twitter @Sjtaddeo. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Please consider becoming a digital subscriber.

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