The Dakota County License Center in Lakeville and the Clay County Department of Motor Vehicles in Moorhead are part of an ongoing pilot program that offer same-day issued cards.  They are available to those who apply for a new, renewal, or replacement of a Standard class D driver's license, permit or ID card. Same-day cards are not available at other driver's license offices or at Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) exam stations.

Same-day issued cards are only available for Standard class D driver's licenses, permits and IDs. A Standard driver's license and permit is valid for regular passenger vehicles and light trucks and is available with a motorcycle endorsement. There is no additional fee for a same-day issued card.

Visit the fees page for application fees. Check the identification requirements before you visit an office for a same-day issued card.

Not available for same-day issue are:

• REAL ID compliant driver's licenses, permits or IDs. 
• Enhanced driver's licenses, permits or IDs.
• Commercial driver's licenses or permits.

You cannot apply for a new, renewal, or replacement of a REAL ID or an Enhanced driver's license or ID and have the card issued the same day. You will need to downgrade to a Standard card to receive it over the counter. If you are about to turn 21, you can only apply for a same-day issued card on or after the day you turn 21. 

You will not be able to board an airplane using a same-day card starting May 7, 2025. You will need additional documents. Visit the TSA REAL ID page for a complete list.

Same-day issued cards have a slightly different look and feel due to the card stock and laminate used in the printing process.  

Some of the similarities are:

• The back of the cards will appear the same.
• The information contained in the magnetic stripe and the barcode at the bottom of the card is identical.
• Endorsements and restrictions are the same on both cards. 

Some of the differences with same-day cards are:     

• Ghost image of photo is in color.
• There is no canoeist.
• Date of birth appears on the card only once.
• Does not include the laser-perforated walleye.
• Issue date cannot be before Oct. 1, 2022.
• Location of the shoreline on the background appears vertically on under 21 cards, not at the bottom. 

Traditional card  

• Ghost image of photo is black and white
• There is a canoeist.
• The shoreline always appears at the bottom of the card.
• Date of birth appears on the card twice.
• Includes laser-perforated walleye image. 

Same-day issued cards

Image of a same-day issued card for a driver over 21.

Image of a same-day issued card for a driver under 21.

Traditional cards

Image of a traditional card for a driver over 21.

Image of a traditional card for a driver under 21.