The cards are now made of a polycarbonate material, which is more tamper-resistant and harder to reproduce. They also feature laser-engraving as a form of extra protection against alterations and forgery, making them even more difficult to fake.
Visible identifiers on the front of the card will help those who have health conditions that hamper their ability to communicate with others.
The new design also identifies veterans and disabled veterans, along with their branch of service, on the front. Additionally, the new card features met the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators national standards.
The new cards will also continue to be REAL ID compliant, featuring the gold star in the upper right corner. By Oct. 1, 2020, you will need a REAL ID compliant driver license with a gold star if you’d like to travel on commercial airlines without the need of a passport.