What to know about Michigan’s new-look driver’s licenses and IDs

Michigan has started to roll out new driver’s licenses and IDs that have enhanced security technology. Here’s everything you need to know.

The new look is based on security best practices and new technology aimed at reducing the risk of counterfeiting and fraud, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.

The font and color theme have been updated to clearly distinguish from the current design and cards will prominently display the Michigan Coat of Arms. The names of the five Great Lakes can be seen in multicolored text when the card is held at certain angles. Shading and curved lines in the new design are difficult to replicate, strengthening the integrity of the cards.

The new cards will include a two-line name format that will accommodate more characters than the current design. In another visual change, the state will use a gold Michigan shape with a star in it to indicate licenses and IDs that are REAL ID-compliant. Currently, cards in Michigan that are compliant feature a star within a gold circle.

As of May 7, 2025, by federal law, a standard Michigan driver’s license or state ID without the REAL ID-compliant indicator will no longer be adequate to board an aircraft for a domestic flight or to enter military bases or certain other federal facilities. Learn more about how to upgrade at Michigan.gov/REALID.

As part of the card redesign, the magnetic stripe on the back of driver’s licenses and state IDs has been removed. Bar codes that contain the information from the front of the card will remain on the back in scannable format.

The move to a new design affects all standard and enhanced driver’s licenses and state IDs, including commercial, chauffeur’s, graduated, moped, and salvage vehicle agent licenses.

Current licenses and state IDs are valid until their expiration date. All Michigan residents will be issued the new design when they renew, replace, or correct their license or ID. There will be no change in current driver’s license or state ID fees as a result of the new design.

Michigan Just Released A New ID Format

Michigan recently released a new ID format which features not only a new design, but new security features as well. The old design featured the beloved Mackinac Bridge. The new Michigan ID design will no longer feature the bridge, but will instead feature the Michigan Coat of Arms. 

Another new ID feature will be the two line name format, designed to accommodate individuals with longer names. There are also several new security features that have been added in an effort to make counterfeiting IDs more difficult. 

For those individuals under 21, while the design may change, the orientation will still be in the vertical format for quick determination that a person is under 21. However, the one major change for under 21 IDs is that the IDs will no longer say “Under the age of” and will instead read “Under the age of 21 UNTIL”

New design features

• Mackinac Bridge replaced with the Michigan Coat of Arms
• Font and color scheme have been updated
• Names of the 5 Great Lakes are displayed in multicolor text
• Two line name format for longer names
• White star inside a gold Michigan emblem to indicate REAL ID compliance
• New phrasing on under 21 IDs (see above)

New security features

• Laser perforations
• Touchable indentations
• Engraved data
• Magnetic stripe on the back has been replaced with a scannable barcode
• Waving American flag

Is my current ID still valid? 

Yes, your current Michigan ID is still valid until the expiration date on the current ID. The new ID format has just begun the rollout process, so unless your card needs to be renewed, replaced, or updated, the old ID format will still be sufficient. 

Does VeriScan still work with the new ID format?

Yes. As with all new ID formats, we ensure our AI is trained to read the new ID. This includes our ID authentication engine, in which we ensure all new security features have been introduced into VeriScan so that fake IDs without the new security features are easily flagged as fake. If you are using VeriScan and having trouble getting the new Michigan IDs to scan, please make sure your software has been updated. In the event that you’re still having issues, don’t hesitate to reach out, as we are more than happy to help troubleshoot the issue and make sure you’re able to scan the new ID format