Penndot Upgrades Photo Licenses

As part of an effort to make driver's licenses and IDs more secure, PennDOT is implementing new photo technology and equipment at its 97 Photo License Centers. The implementation began in October at the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg and will gradually extend to centers across the commonwealth by March.

Along with this upgrade, all driver's licenses, including photo identification cards, will be outfitted with a new overlay and security features, which will aid in mitigating the risk for fraud. These are subtle changes that will not impact PennDOT's customers.

In addition to the new overlay and security features on all driver's license products, PennDOT will issue temporary driver's licenses and Photo ID cards to individuals who have never had a Pennsylvania DL or Photo ID card, i.e. new drivers and new residents. The temporary DL or Photo ID card will be a valid credential for 15 days.

While the customer is at a PennDOT Driver License Center, all initial verifications to prove identity and residency prior to issuing the temporary DL or Photo ID card (i.e. verification of Social Security number, birth certificate, immigration/naturalization credentials) will be completed. Using state-of-the-art technology, the 15-day period will be used to validate that the individual's photograph does not match another photograph in PennDOT's database under a different driver name(s), thereby further aiding PennDOT in identifying individuals who have potentially committed identity theft. Once this validation is completed, individuals will receive their permanent DL or Photo ID card in the mail within 15 days.

The front and back of the temporary DL/Photo ID card will have the same functionality as the current Pennsylvania DL/Photo ID card and will look the same, except the banners will be gray, the word "temporary" will be printed in red across the front and the expiration date will be outlined in red. The product can be used by any business to validate name, age, address, etc., just as a permanent DL/Photo ID card.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Why is PennDOT putting new equipment in their Photo License Centers?
A. The equipment/software used to produce driver's licenses/identification cards has been in place for more than six years and is old and outdated. This technology refresh will replace every piece of equipment used to produce a driver's license/identification card.

Q. Why are you issuing temporary products?
A. Issuing a temporary product provides PennDOT sufficient time to use state-of-the-art technology to ensure the individual's photo does not match another photograph in PennDOT's database under a different name(s). This new process will identify individuals who have potentially committed identity theft.

Q. How do I know if I will be receiving a temporary driver's license?
A. You will be issued a temporary driver's license/identification card if you never had a Pennsylvania driver's license or identification card, i.e. new drivers and new residents.

Q. What should I do if I do not get my permanent driver's license in the mail within 15 days?
A. If you do not receive your permanent driver's license, you should call PennDOT's Customer Call Center at 1-800-932-4600 to inquire on the status. The Call Center hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Q. Why can't PennDOT check my photo against their records while I am at the Driver License Center?
A. The time required to query millions of photos in our database would drastically slow down the process at a Photo Center. For this reason, a temporary product is being issued and the validation will be done before issuing a permanent product.

Q. What will happen if my photo matches another record?
A. The records will be investigated, and depending on the outcome of the investigation, the appropriate action will be taken.

Q. Will businesses accept temporary products as proof of identity?
A. Before a temporary product is issued, all verifications to prove identity and residency will be completed (i.e. verification of Social Security number, birth certificate, immigration/naturalization credentials, and residency documents). Therefore, businesses should recognize the temporary product as an official PennDOT document.