Driver License Designs

A Nevada driver’s license is valid for four years and expires on the motorist's birthday unless immigration documents are presented as evidence of name and date of birth. If immigration documents are used, the expiration of the license or ID card will coincide with the departure date on the immigration documents, or in four years, whichever is sooner.

Drivers can renew by Internet or mail after the first four years. You must visit a DMV office to renew in person and receive a new license after eight years.

Nevada switched to a Central Issuance system and a new design during the fall of 2008. New licenses are mailed to the motorist following all transactions including address changes and renewals. Prior to Central Issuance, drivers received a sticker for the back of the license following mailed or Internet transactions. Stickers are no longer issued.

Digitized Formats
	ADULT LICENSE May 4, 2010 to Present The current design of all cards except those issued to minors. Commercial licenses, ID cards, etc., are designated as such in the banner that shows "DRIVER LICENSE" in this example. The back of the license includes a barcode, information on endorsements and restrictions and security enhancements.
	MINOR LICENSE May 4, 2010 to Present Cards issued to those under 21 years of age use a vertical format. If the holder is under 18 at issuance, the card will feature a red banner with the words "Under 18 Until" followed by the date the cardholder will turn 18. Cards issued at ages 18-20 are in the vertical format but do not include the red banner.
	ASI LICENSES January to April, 2010 Nevada licenses issued under the Advanced Secure Issuance (ASI) Real ID process have a Gold Star in the upper right hand corner. These cards were issued beginning at the Carson City office Monday, January 11, 2010 with a rollout proceeding to all offices statewide through March 12. The ASI program terminated April 30, 2010. Licenses and ID cards issued from January 11 through April 30 may or may not have a gold star. Cards for minors were issued in the vertical format. No instruction permits contained a star. ASI/Real ID Act Information
	ADULT LICENSE 2008 to 2010 The first Nevada license under Central Issuance was issued at the Carson City office on October 10, 2008. The statewide rollout was completed on January 13, 2009. Central Issuance News Releases Northern Nevada - 10/9/2008 Southern Nevada - 1/7/2009
	MINOR LICENSE 2008 to 2010 Licenses issued to drivers under 18 have a red banner indicating their 18th birthday. Licenses issued to drivers 18 - 20 are in the vertical format but do not have a red banner. Minor licenses issued in early 2010 followed the ASI rules listed above and may or may not have a gold star.
	ADULT LICENSE 2002 to 2009 Digitized driver licenses and identification cards in the original style were issued from May, 2002, through January, 2009. Digitized License News Releases Northern Nevada - 4/30/2002 Southern Nevada - 5/21/2002
	MINOR LICENSE 2002 to 2008 Under 21 cards displayed a vertical format and the words "Under 21 Until" followed by the date the cardholder would turn 21 in a yellow bar.
Film-Based Designs
	ADULT LICENSE Film-based licenses and ID cards were issued to all Nevadans prior to 2002. Travel teams in remote areas continued to issue film licenses through 2006.
	UNDER 21 No Alcohol The license issued to drivers between 18 and 21 had a yellow header bar across the top with the words "MINOR DRIVER UNDER 21" in red print.
	UNDER 18 No Alcohol / No Tobacco The license issued to young people under 18 has a light blue header bar across the top of the license with the words "MINOR DRIVER UNDER 18" printed in yellow in the upper right corner. Nevada began issuing the Under 21 licenses pictured here in April, 1998. Under 21 licenses issued prior to that date were identical to the adult license.