New Hampshire Residents Get New, More Secure Driver’s License and ID Cards

As of January 2, 2017, New Hampshire has rolled out its newly redesigned driver’s licenses and ID cards to residents, sporting both a new aesthetic and more secure features. Among some of the features of the redesigned New Hampshire ID cards– a more colorful background, and depictions of iconic New Hampshire symbols including the purple lilac, a profile of The Old Man of the Mountain, and a silhouette of the state of New Hampshire (seen below). The REAL ID-compliant features of the new cards add a level of security that ranks New Hampshire among the most advanced in the nation, according to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. The cards will enable citizens to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings, among other federal ID purposes, whereas non-compliant forms of ID will only work until October 1, 2020. New Hampshire residents will receive the new design when applying, and current New Hampshire license and ID cardholders will receive the new design when they renew, though they are not required to renew until the expiration date listed on their current ID/license. Existing New Hampshire driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until their expiration. For more information about the new New Hampshire license and ID card design or to learn more about Real ID compliance, visit NH.gov/dmv.