Central Issuance FAQ

What does “Central Issuance” mean?
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is implementing a Central Issuance (CI) program to increase security and help prevent identity theft. The Nevada DMV will no longer issue driver’s licenses, instruction permits, or identification (ID) cards over-the-counter in our offices. Customers will not be leaving the DMV office with a card in their hand.

Instead, a paper interim (temporary) document will be printed in the DMV office and handed to the customer once a transaction has been successfully completed. An interim document will never be valid for over 30 days. The interim driver’s license (DL) or interim instruction permit allows the applicant the privilege to drive up to the interim document’s expiration date or until the new card is received in the mail, whichever is sooner. However, the interim document for an identification (ID) card only serves as confirmation that the application is pending; it is not a form of identification.

If you have a previous driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card in your possession, a hole will be punched through the expiration date (invalidating the card) and it will be returned to you. The new card will be produced at a separate, secure facility and mailed to you within ten business days. Since the interim document is NOT used for identification purposes, it will be important for you to keep the invalidated card with the interim document until your new card arrives in the mail.

Why did the Nevada DMV make this change?
Central Issuance is a safer and more secure way to handle one of the most important documents a person possesses.

1. Central Issuance will increase protection against identity theft. Our newly designed driver’s licenses and ID cards will contain many security features, making them much harder to counterfeit! In addition, a new facial recognition system is part of Central Issuance, helping to ensure only one driver’s license or ID card is issued to each qualified applicant. For examples of facial recognition in action, see our Nnews Rreleases from 12/16/08 and 12/18/08.
2. Central Issuance will provide more safety for our customers, employees, and equipment. Other states have reported greater security since implementing a Central Issuance program. Producing permanent cards at a secure off-site facility will greatly reduce our risk of a break-in.
3. Central Issuance will reduce processing time in DMV offices by moving the production of the driver’s licenses, instruction permits, and ID cards to L-1 Identity Solutions’ secure facility. L-1 currently produces 80% of all centrally issued driver’s licenses in the U.S. today and about 35 million credentials in North America each year.

Does Central Issuance affect both driver’s licenses and ID cards?
Yes. It affects all driver’s licenses, instruction permits, and ID cards issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

How much more will this cost?
The fee for a driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card will increase by 75 cents.

My driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card is good for a few more years. Do I need to do anything now?
No. You may wait and renew before the card’s expiration date. Keep in mind that you will not receive your permanent card on the same day as you apply, so plan ahead and renew early. If you renew your driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card within six months before it expires, your new card will be valid for the full time for which you qualify.

Will this change be advertised to the public and to the business community?
Yes. The DMV is communicating this change to the public, the business community, law enforcement, and other governmental agencies.

What are you going to do so that it is not obvious what is contained in the envelope and the cards aren’t visible from the outside?
The driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card will be in an envelope (inside a card carrier) with the Nevada DMV’s return address printed on the envelope. However, there will be no indication on the envelope that the driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card is inside. If undeliverable, it will be returned to the Nevada DMV.

PRODUCTION AND MAILING TIME

Today, I went to a Nevada DMV office to get my driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card. How long will it be before I get my permanent card in the mail?
Your driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card should be mailed to you within ten business days. If the permanent card cannot be delivered by the USPS to the address you provided, it will not be forwarded; it will be returned to the DMV.

Can I arrange pick-up of my driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card? No.

Can I still use a mailing address of General Delivery to receive my permanent driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card? No.

INTERIM DOCUMENT

Do I have to pay extra for the interim document?
No. There is no additional charge for the interim document; it is included in the issuance or renewal fee for a driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card.

Does the interim document expire?
Yes. The interim document will never be valid for longer than 30 days from the date of issuance. The interim driver’s license or interim instruction permit allows the applicant the privilege to drive up to its expiration date or until the permanent card is received in the mail, whichever is sooner. However, the interim document for an ID card only serves as a confirmation that the application is pending; it is not a form of identification.

My interim document was lost or destroyed. Can I get another one?
Yes, you may request another interim document if the original was lost or destroyed. The replacement interim document will be a reprint of the original interim document or a substitute interim document for you to use until you receive your new card in the mail. However, you will be required to come to a DMV office and present your identity documents.

IDENTIFICATION QUESTIONS

Will businesses accept the interim document as identification for cashing checks, buying liquor, etc.?
The interim documents are not intended to be used as identification. If you had a previous driver’s license (DL), instruction permit, or ID card, our DMV technicians will invalidate it (punch a hole through the expiration date) and return it to you to keep with your interim document, still providing you with a form of identification with your photo. However, each business must decide if the interim document, along with your invalidated DL, instruction permit, or ID card, will be accepted for cashing checks, buying liquor, etc.

Will Social Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other government agencies accept the Interim document as identification?
It will be up to each government agency to decide if they will or will not accept the interim document as identification. While you carry the interim document, you should carry your previous (invalidated) driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card with you, along with additional proof of identification. A government agency or airport security may request additional identification. The Nevada DMV has informed government agencies of these changes.

Will other states/countries recognize the interim document as valid identification?
If you are planning to travel, please plan ahead and come to the DMV early. A paper interim document will be printed in the DMV office and handed to the customer once a transaction has been successfully completed. Any previous card will have a hole punched through the expiration date and handed back to you to carry with your interim document until your new card arrives in the mail. Your new driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card will be produced at a separate and secure facility and mailed to you within ten business days.

Interim documents are not intended to be used for identification. The interim document is a paper-based document printed and given to the applicant at a Nevada DMV office for a driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card. The interim document will never be valid for longer than 30 days from the date of issuance. The interim document for a driver’s license or instruction permit allows the applicant the privilege to drive up to its expiration date or until the permanent card is received in the mail (whichever is sooner). However, the interim document for an ID card only serves as confirmation that the application is pending; it is not a form of identification.

ADDRESS CHANGES

After I went in and applied for my driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card, I later changed my address (before the permanent card arrived). What address will show on my permanent card? Will the post office forward my permanent card?
The mailing address you provided at the time you applied will be printed on your driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card. The post office will not forward the envelope containing your permanent card. If it is undeliverable, it will be returned to the DMV. If you do not receive your permanent card in the mail within 20 days, you should call the Nevada DMV. (Please see contact information at the end of this document.)

Please note, whenever you change your address, this must be reported to the DMV. You will be required to complete a Change of Address Notification (form DLD22) and pay $3 for a new driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card. We do not accept address changes by e-mail.

Can I have my driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card mailed to a one-time address?
No. We will mail the driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card to your mailing address of record.

Can I live at one location but have my driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card mailed to another location if I have problems receiving my mail? And if so, do I still need to provide proof of that address?
When you complete your application, you will provide your Nevada residential address and your mailing address. Your permanent card will be sent to your mailing address. You will not be required to provide proof of either address.

CORRECTIONS

There are errors on my interim document. How can I get them corrected? How long will it take? Will this delay getting my permanent card?
To reduce errors, when you apply for a driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card, a customer confirmation form will print for every transaction. This form will include all of the same information that will appear on the actual driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card. The DMV technician will ask you to carefully read this customer confirmation form. If the information is not correct, it can be corrected at that time. If you determine the information is accurate, you will be asked to sign the customer confirmation form, indicating your approval.

If you find an error on your interim document after you have signed this customer confirmation form, you will be required to pay for a new card. You will need to come to a DMV office to have the corrections made. A new interim document will be printed and given to you at the DMV office, and your corrected driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card will be mailed to you within ten business days.

WHAT IF?

If I get suspended while waiting for the driver’s license or instruction permit to come by mail, will it still be mailed to me?
If the DMV is made aware of the suspension or revocation before your permanent card is mailed, it will be pulled at the factory and not mailed to you. If the DMV is notified of the suspension or revocation after your card has been mailed, the DMV will suspend or revoke your driver’s license and send you notification of that action.

Law enforcement confiscated my interim document and issued me a temporary driver’s license/instruction permit. Now my new driver’s license or instruction permit card came in the mail. What should I do?
Your new card is invalid. You should take it to a DMV office and surrender it.

What happens if my driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card is returned to the Nevada DMV by the post office? Will you call me if it is returned?
No. Undeliverable driver’s licenses, instruction permits, or ID cards will be delivered to the DMV, but you will not be called. If you do not receive your new card in the mail within 20 days, you should contact the Nevada DMV.

How long will it take for my permanent driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card to be sent to me?
Your permanent driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card will be mailed within ten business days to the mailing address you provided on your application.

What if my permanent driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card never arrives?
If you do not receive your permanent card within 20 days, please contact the Nevada DMV.

If my new driver’s license, instruction permit, or ID card never arrives, do I have to get another photo taken?
If you do not receive your new card within 20 days, please contact the Nevada DMV. One of our technicians will be able to determine when your card was produced and mailed. The technician will ask you to confirm your mailing address. If you have moved or changed your address since you received your interim document, you will need to come to a DMV office to correct your address, and you will be required to pay for a new card. There will be no need to have a new photo taken if we already have a recent photo of you on file.

What about defective materials in the new card? Can the card be replaced at no cost?
If the material is defective, we will replace the new card at no cost to you. Please bring the defective card to one of our Nevada DMV offices to apply for a replacement card.

How may I contact the Nevada DMV?
Email us at or Call one of the following telephone numbers: