A state pilot program that allowed customers to receive same-day driver’s licenses and ID cards is ending in Lakeville on Oct. 31. 

Dakota County’s Lakeville License Center is one of two locations that participated the program, which the Legislature directed Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) to pilot in 2022. The program allows customers to apply for a standard licenses or ID card, have it printed on the spot and walk out with it the same day. However the difference in quality of printing and appearance created issues for some customers. 

For instance, the same-day cards aren’t able to replicate the picture of the canoeist featured on traditional cards, and the customer’s date of birth only appears once versus twice on the traditional card. The differences are illustrated at Same-day driver's license and ID card.

Same-day cards are also not available for REAL ID or enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards.

“DVS contracts with a third-party vendor to produce its licenses and ID cards,” said DVS Director Pong Xiong. “The printers used during the pilot program aren’t able to duplicate the same appearance or quality of a traditional standard card, so they look and feel slightly different. That has resulted in some customers encountering issues when presenting them as ID.”

DVS recommended to the Legislature that the pilot program not continue, and the Lakeville License Center chose to end their participation Oct. 31. The Clay County Department of Motor Vehicles in Moorhead continues to offer same-day cards. 

Same-day cards will be issued at the Lakeville location until Oct. 31, and all same-day cards will remain valid until they expire.