12/04/2026
We’re adding a new security feature to driver licences by embossing the driver’s date of birth over their photo.
We’ll be doing this to all driver licences we issue from 13 April 2026 onwards.
You don’t need to do anything with your existing, flat driver licence – it’s still valid until it expires, even without your date of birth being embossed on it.
This is a new security feature our licence manufacturer can do for us. It doesn’t cost us anything to add to our manufacturing process so it’s a no-brainer for us.
The embossing provides a secondary verification of the driver's date of birth which is already printed beside the photo.
The embossing isn’t easily replicated, which is a great way for us to reduce the opportunity for fraud. It also means the photo on a card can’t easily be modified, and it provides an extra verification of the driver’s date of birth.
This won’t affect the Government’s plan to introduce digital driver licences. Even when digital licences are available, you’ll still have the option to get a physical card.
