Wisconsin's driver's license earns 'Best ID Card' honor

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles has been awarded the "Best ID Card" by the International Card Manufacturers Association, as announced in a Friday, May 31 press release.

Wisconsin’s REAL ID over 21 driver's license received the Élan Award of Excellence for its incorporation of "familiar imagery" and a "secure design."

"We’re grateful to receive this international award recognizing the outstanding work our Wisconsin DMV team and partner CBN Secure Technologies Inc. did to integrate advanced security features with beautiful imagery from our state," DMV Administrator Tommy Winkler said.

The state DMV debuted the new design on driver's licenses and ID cards in June 2023, with the cards featuring hand-crafted artwork of key Wisconsin symbols and unique security elements.

Transparent windows on the card's edge and bottom are integrated alongside cardholder data with the purpose being to enhance security and authentication.