Here at Aceable, we help people get their Texas drivers license , California drivers license , Florida drivers license , and really licenses for every state . And since there's a listicle for everything these days, we thought we'd make one for driver license designs, ranking them worst to best.
A note about driver licenses: There's lots of restrictions when it comes to designing them due to a recently passed Act of Congress called Real ID. This act requires state IDs, or driver licenses, to have tons security features that they didn't have before -- so if your license design has changed in the last few years, that's probably why. While not all driver licenses are currently Real ID compliant, state governments are working toward it because citizens boarding an airplane will be required to have Real ID by 2020.
In short, don't take these driver license design rankings too seriously. The design is less important than what they enable you to do (drive, duh.) But if your state ranks at the top of the list, definitely brag about it. Now on to the rankings!
51. Oklahoma
I'm so sorry, Oklahoma, but you're last.
50. New Hampshire
Couldn't find a good image of a New Hampshire driver license, so by default ...
49. Illinois
Designer: What you want, fam?
Driver License Office Employee: You know the patterns that a lie detector makes?
Designer: Say no more.
48. Oregon
Should we color in the rest? Nah, just leave it white.
47. Ohio
Ohio did color in the rest.
46. Utah
Keepin' it minimalistic.
45. Louisiana
The best part of this sample license is that that's not even a picture of a real human, but rather what appears to be a VINTAGE BARBIE.
44. Pennsylvania
Simple and straightforward.
43. Indiana
Very pink.
42. Connecticut
Also pink. Plus, sail boats.
41. Nebraska
Feel like that's the palace in the Wizard of Oz.
40. Washington
I see you Mount Olympus.
39. South Dakota
Mount Rushmore is cooler cause it has faces.
38. Massachusetts
There's a lot happening.
37. New Jersey
Ooh, capitol fading into state outline.
36. Vermont
Green, naturally.
35. South Carolina
Palmetto! Iconic.
34. Michigan
Nice bridge.
33. Iowa
Wind power for the win.
32. North Carolina
No Wright Bros. airplane?
image via NCDOT.gov
31. Wisconsin
Sorry, Wisconsin, but everyone did the capitol building thing.
30. Kansas
Another capitol building.
29. Alabama
Capitol building, again.
28. New York
Very periwinkle.
27. Virginia
Looks like it could be foreign currency.
26. Missouri
The first of many licenses that went with the city skyline concept.
25. Texas
Ditto Missouri.
24. Tennessee
Ditto Missouri, ditto Texas.
23. Nevada
A+ use of wildlife.
22. Minnesota
The gradient on that font, though.
21. Alaska
Mountains plus lots o' squiggles.
20. Georgia
Them Georgia peaches.
image via Team.Georgia.gov
19. Florida
Aww, Nick Sample. <3
18. West Virginia
Ooh, an actual photograph of mountains this time.
17. Washington DC
Looks like a purple-y map of Europe.
16. Arkansas
Executed the ombré effect well.
15. Mississippi
Spirograph pattern on point.
14. Montana
Not the best of the mountain-themed licenses, but also not the worst.
13. California
Bears!
12. Arizona
The Grand Canyon. Nice, but predictable.
11. Kentucky
Pleasant-looking pastures.
10. Idaho
Pretty scenery, soothing colors.
9. Maryland
Abstract. Also, the only license to fully utilize the state flag.
8. Delaware
Tropical looking (despite Delaware not being very tropical).
7. Wyoming
Bucking broncos. Cowboys. The epitome of the wild, wild west.
6. North Dakota
Bison!
5. Maine
Moose! (cuter than bison)
4. Colorado
Font. Color palette. Yes.
3. New Mexico
Desert scenes and geometric patterned everything.
2. Rhode Island
Sailboats, rocky cliffs, the setting for a Nicholas Sparks novel.
1. Hawaii
Also known as the fake ID McLovin' had in Superbad. See, this is why there are Real ID laws.
