Tennessee driver’s licenses have a new look, new security features, and new self-service kiosks that may mean shorter times to get them.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) started issuing the new licenses Monday. The colorful new cards feature a stylized version of Tennessee’s historic State Capitol Building and state flag. However, the driver’s photo is in black and white.
The new design features an inlay of tight, wavy lines meant to make it hard for them to be photo-scanned or easily reproduced. They also feature a new printing method that overlaps data, graphics, and laser-engraved elements that will show if a license has been altered or is fake.
The back of the card has a barcode, which contains all of the driver’s information. The back also includes a mini “ghost image” repeated from the photograph to help reduce identity theft.
Many of the new elements make them more difficult to “counterfeit, alter, or duplicate,” said TDOSHS Commissioner Jeff Long. All in all, the measures “help prevent theft and fraud and help keep your identity safe.”
All current licenses are valid until their expiration dates. So, drivers do not need to rush out to get a license with the new design.
New kiosks at many Driver Service Centers across the state will allow drivers to self-serve a host of transactions. At the kiosks, drivers can renew or replace a license or ID card, change their address, update emergency contact information, advance a teen/graduate driver’s license, pay reinstatement fees, and request a license reissue. The new kiosks can take photos and process payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and credit and debit cards.
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