AUSTIN, Texas — Texas began issuing redesigned driver licenses and identification cards Monday with enhanced security features aimed at preventing counterfeiting and identity theft.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said all newly issued licenses and ID cards will feature the updated design starting Aug. 18, though previously issued cards remain valid until their expiration dates.
“This new card design will make it even more difficult for criminals to produce counterfeit cards, and it enhances ways we can protect Texans’ identities from being stolen,” said Sheri Gipson, chief of DPS’s Driver License Division.
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The new cards are made of tamper-resistant polycarbonate material that officials say is difficult to reproduce and meets standards set by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Instead of the gold star used on previous licenses, there will not be a black, laser-engraved star in the upper right corner. The cards also reorganize personal information in what DPS describes as a clearer, more readable format for identification and verification.
DPS emphasized that Texans do not need to replace their current licenses.
