Driver License Designs

  General Information

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A Nevada driver’s license is valid for four years and expires on the motorist's birthday unless immigration documents are presented as evidence of name and date of birth. If immigration documents are used, the expiration of the license or ID card will coincide with the departure date on the immigration documents, or in four years, whichever is sooner.

Drivers can renew by Internet, telephone or mail after the first four years. You must visit a DMV office to renew in person and receive a new license after eight years.

Nevada began issuing digitized licenses in May, 2002. Film-based licenses continued to be issued by travel teams in remote areas.

The most significant change was the addition of a signature pad at the camera station in the DMV office.  Motorists are required to sign once during the licensing process and again at the camera station to help enhance ID security.

Licenses are printed at the DMV office and given to the driver just a few minutes after the photo is taken.

Photographs and digital signatures are stored on a DMV computer system to help enhance security in issuing duplicate and replacement licenses.

Photographs and other personal information from DMV records are not available to the general public.

  Digitized Formats

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Nevada's digitized driver licenses use the latest in technology and are the most secure the state has ever issued.  They include a 2-D barcode, digitized image and signature and a host of new security features.

One of the more prominent changes are the new licenses issued to drivers under 21. These are printed in a vertical format and include a bright yellow bar indicating the date the bearer will turn 21. These features will help retailers and others immediately recognize underage customers.

  Film-Based Designs

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The license issued to drivers over 21.

The license issued to drivers between 18 and 21 has a yellow header bar across the top with the words, MINOR DRIVER UNDER 21, in red print.

The license issued to young people under 18 has a light blue header bar across the top of the license with the words, MINOR UNDER 18, printed in yellow in the upper right corner.

Nevada began issuing the Under 21 licenses pictured above in April, 1998.  Under 21 licenses issued prior to that date are identical to the adult license.