Starting Wednesday, Californians getting a new or renewed driver's license will be receiving a redesigned card that features better security measures and a brand-new look, officials said.
The new look is the first major revision to the driver's license and the state identification card since 2001 and makes the IDs easier to use and harder to fake, according to officials with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Among the new features, licenses for drivers under age 21 will be printed vertically, making them easier to identify for police and shopkeepers. The cardholder's signature and birthday will be raised, allowing them to be felt by touch.
Hidden images can be seen only with the use of ultraviolet light, and a laser perforation outline of the California brown bear will be visible when a flashlight is pressed against the back of the card.
DMV officials point out that although the new cards are available this week, existing ID or license holders are not required to get a new card until their old one expires.
Annually, the DMV issues more than 8.25 million driver license and ID cards to Californians.