Overview

• The DMV started issuing the new driver’s licenses on Oct. 1, 2025, according to the agency’s announcement.
• A digital security signature is embedded in one of two barcodes on the back, a feature the DMV says few states use.
• The magnetic strip has been eliminated from the card to shift how data is stored and read.
• The front design features imagery of California’s redwood trees, poppies and coastline.
• The same design and security updates apply to state identification cards, with issuance occurring through routine renewals.