The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began issuing newly designed driver licenses and state identification cards at select locations on March 6, 2026. All driver licensing service locations across the state will begin issuing the new design by mid-April.
Current credentials with the previous design will remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card and may remain in circulation for up to six years.
A key feature of the new credential is the use of a black-and-white (monochrome) photograph of the cardholder. Black-and-white images enhance the ability to distinguish facial features by emphasizing structure, lighting, and texture rather than color, which supports identity verification efforts for law enforcement and businesses.
The PDF417 barcode on the back of the credential contains the information printed on the front of the document, along with the cardholder’s full legal name and race/ethnicity as reported to the DMV. The barcode format conforms to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) 2025 specifications.
Please note: Pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statute §60-4,111.01, compilation or storage of the information contained in the barcode by unauthorized parties is prohibited.
Examples of the new credentials and barcode calibration details are available online at:
https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dl/driver-license.
Newly designed documents may be presented as soon as March 16, 2026. Credit Unions should share this information with staff, and other relevant stakeholders to help ensure awareness of the new credential design and its features.
