New Design for DL & ID Cards
DENVER, Thursday, April 30, 2020 -- The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will roll out a design update for the credentials it currently issues in early May.
The design update reorganizes the information, which allows for more space and a slightly larger font. All of the information on current Colorado driver licenses, ID cards and instruction permits except “Hair Color,” “Weight” and “Previous Type” are on the new cards’ frontside. Previous Type, which was moved to the backside, referred to the credential holder’s previous license type such as Adult, Minor, Temporary, etc … “Hair Color” and “Weight” were removed because they can change drastically during renewal cycles, which range from 3 to 5 years.
The design refresh is part of the DMV’s continued efforts to better serve all Coloradans, especially first responders and retailers. The DMV hosted a focus group of law enforcement professionals from throughout the state in mid-2018, and this update is based on their feedback.
“We wanted to help those, such as law enforcement officers, be able to better read our credentials in less-than-ideal environments like during a nighttime traffic stop or a retailer, who’s checking a customer’s age to ensure they are indeed old enough to buy that Colorado Lottery ticket or watch that R rated movie,” DMV Senior Director Mike Dixon said. “It’s our hope that this change will make their jobs protecting Coloradans and safeguarding our youth a little easier.”
In early May, first responders and retailers will start to see these new credentials and should be aware that these credentials are not fake. The DMV encourages stakeholders to use their current precautions when inspecting a Colorado-issued credential.
In addition to being easier to read, the design update will make it harder for fraudsters to create fake credentials by forcing them to adjust the processes they use to create fake IDs. The DMV takes safeguarding Coloradans’ personal information seriously; and this proactive measure combined with first responders’ and stakeholders’ diligence will help keep fraudsters on their heels.
Other than adjusting the layout and font size to make state-issued credentials easier to read, the overall design will remain largely the same.
Current cards will remain valid through their expiration date and fees for DMV-issued credentials will not change as a result of this design update.
Credentials issued under the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act (CO-RCSA) will still contain a black box that states “Not Valid For Federal Identification, Voting or Public Benefit Purposes”.
Please visit Colorado.gov/DMV for more information.