Shining a light on a lesser-known Arizona driver license feature

The Arizona Travel ID deadline is almost upon us. But, if you haven’t gotten yours yet – or maybe even if you have – there’s a feature of your card that many don’t know exists.

If you have a Travel ID, or any Arizona driver license or ID card with the most recent design, you can shine a blacklight on it to reveal a howling coyote and “Arizona” on one side, and a scorpion under a starry night and “The Grand Canyon State” on the other.

But it’s not just a neat party trick. The “secret” images are one of the several updated security features included with the new design released in March 2023 to help prevent fraudulent duplication and use.

Other security features of the new design include:

• 100% polycarbonate material that consists of multiple layers of plastic fused together to form a solid structure impervious to tampering. 
• Laser-engraved information and black and white photo.
• Images of a saguaro cactus or ponderosa pine tree based on the angle of the card, representing the diversity of Arizona terrain and communities.
• A slightly raised surface that helps reduce alterations or fraudulent cards.

What isn’t a secret is that starting Wednesday, May 7, TSA will begin requiring a REAL ID compliant form of identification to fly domestically in the US, such as a passport or Arizona Travel ID.

If you still need to get a Travel ID, you can walk into an MVD office, but we suggest scheduling an appointment online at azmvdnow.gov to save time (you can still schedule an appointment even if you haven’t activated your AZ MVD NOW account). 

If you don’t have any travel plans coming up, you don’t need to get your Travel ID by May 7, but it does take approximately two weeks to arrive, so plan accordingly if you do have plans to fly later in 2025 to avoid delays at the airport.

Because the Arizona Travel ID is compliant with the federal standards, you will need to provide extra documentation like a birth certificate, Social Security number and proof of Arizona residency. More information and a full list of qualifying documents are available at azdot.gov/TravelID.