Starting September 30, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will roll out a fresh look for state driver licenses and ID cards. These updated cards pull in pieces of Florida’s history and will show up at service centers across the state; you’ll also be able to order them online through MyDMVPortal.flhsmv.gov by early November.
Governor Ron DeSantis shared the news today at a Florida Cabinet meeting in the State Capitol. The new design doesn’t just look different. It offers extra layers of protection, making Florida’s IDs some of the most secure out there. The familiar state seal now works as an added security feature. For commercial drivers and learners, the cards display a “Temporary Non-Domiciled” marking.
Dave Kerner, Executive Director of FLHSMV, said this update pushes Florida even further ahead in safe credentialing. The last big redesign nearly doubled fraud protection. FLHSMV has since kept tweaking its methods to outpace new fraud schemes and keep identity checks strong across state agencies. This new launch strengthens Florida’s position as a leader in secure IDs and REAL ID compliance.
The card’s front highlights Castillo de San Marcos, America’s oldest masonry fortress, right in St. Augustine. There’s an orange woven into the word “Florida,” a manatee at the bottom left, and an alligator in the REAL ID star at the top right. The back celebrates the Space Coast with a nod to the Space Shuttle Discovery, which completed 39 missions before its last Florida landing in 2011. The state’s early motto, “Let Us Alone,” also makes an appearance, straight from Florida’s first unofficial flag.
If you already have a valid license or ID, you don’t need to rush out and get the new one. Your current card stays good until it expires, and the state will phase the new ones in over time.
To see more or get resources, head to flhsmv.gov/newDL.
