UNDERAGE ID GUIDE
A comprehensive reference for identifying minor driver's licenses and ID cards across all 50 U.S. states. Learn the key visual indicators that distinguish under-21 IDs from standard adult licenses.
Key Identification Features
Orientation
Vertical (Portrait) = Under 21 in most states
Horizontal (Landscape) = 21 and over
Exceptions: MN, MO, TN use horizontal for minors
Color Indicators
Red = "Under 21" indicator (most common)
Yellow = "Under 18" indicator
Green = Under 18 border (some states)
Common Text
"UNDER 21 UNTIL [date]"
"NOT 21 UNTIL [date]"
"TURNS 21 ON [date]"
"AGE 21 IN [year]"
About the "Sample" column: where a thumbnail appears, we host a public-domain image you can click to enlarge. For states whose official images aren't cleared for reuse, we link to the state's own "View sample" page instead — that's intentional, not a broken image. We're actively sourcing verified, reusable images for the remaining states and add them as they're confirmed.
Showing 51 of 51 states
| State | Orientation | Age Indicator | Unique Features | Sample | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and/or "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in bold red text next to portrait | Red header beside state name on older licenses | View sample | DMV |
| Alaska(AK) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 Until MM-DD-YYYY" in white within a red bar above photo | Straightforward design with prominent age statement | View sample | DMV |
| Arizona(AZ) | Vertical | "UNDER 21" in yellow and "Until MM-DD-YYYY" in white beside photo | Older licenses show "UNDER 21 Until" in red above signature | View sample | DMV |
| Arkansas(AR) | Vertical | Under 18: black text in yellow bar; Under 21: white text in red bar below photo | Red borders around photo and DOB; yellow map for intermediate, white for learner's permit | View sample | DMV |
| California(CA) | Vertical | "AGE 21 IN [year]" in white text on red bar; provisional in blue bar for under 18 | Primary photo on right, shadowed image on left | DMV | |
| Colorado(CO) | Vertical | "UNDER 21" in red above photo | Older versions have "UNDER 21" or "UNDER 18" in yellow or red bars at far right | View sample | DMV |
| Connecticut(CT) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red bar; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in yellow bar if applicable | Dual color-coded bars; small ghosted image on bottom right | View sample | DMV |
| Delaware(DE) | Vertical | "18 ON" in black/yellow bar or "21 ON" in white/red bar next to photo | Previous versions had both age dates in a red block | View sample | DMV |
| Florida(FL) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in yellow on red background, left of photo | Yellow header in green bar for minor licenses, yellow in red bar for minor ID cards | View sample | DMV |
| Georgia(GA) | Vertical | "UNDER 21" in red to the right of photo | Birthdate in black for permanent, red for interim; older licenses have red header with vertical "UNDER 21" | View sample | DMV |
| Hawaii(HI) | Vertical | "21st: MM-DD-YYYY" and "18th: MM-DD-YYYY" in white within red bar, right of photo | Gradient pink shading on top; rainbow graphic under photo for Under 21 | View sample | DMV |
| Idaho(ID) | Vertical | Under 18: "UNDER 18" in white/red; Under 21: "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red | Green border for under 18, red border for under 21 | View sample | DMV |
| Illinois(IL) | Vertical | "Under 21 until" in white/red bar; "Under 18 until" in black/yellow bar, right of photo | Duplicate ghosted image at bottom right | View sample | DMV |
| Indiana(IN) | Vertical | "Under 21 Until" in white/red bar; "Under 18 Until" in black/yellow bar | "PROBATIONARY" printed for under 18 drivers beneath state name bar | View sample | DMV |
| Iowa(IA) | Vertical | "Under 21 UNTIL" in yellow print within red block on right | Dual photo system - primary on left, secondary on right; older versions had name/address/DOB in red | View sample | DMV |
| Kansas(KS) | Vertical | "NOT 21 UNTIL" in white/red bar or "NOT 18 UNTIL" in white/green bar, under photo | Photo at top of license | View sample | DMV |
| Kentucky(KY) | Vertical | "UNDER AGE 21 Until" or "UNDER AGE 18 UNTIL" in red, right of photo | Straightforward design with clear age markers | View sample | DMV |
| Louisiana(LA) | Vertical | "Under 21 Until" and "Under 18 Until" in red, right of photo | Earlier versions had "Y" in MINOR field or red "M" in minor box | View sample | DMV |
| Maine(ME) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and "UNDER 21 UNTIL" stacked to right of photo | Small duplicate ghosted image in middle right | View sample | DMV |
| Maryland(MD) | Vertical | "Under 18 Until" or "Under 21 Until" in red above photo | "UNDER 21 ALCOHOL RESTRICTED" in white below photo; red-bordered photo | View sample | DMV |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 DRIVER LICENSE" under header; "UNDER 18/21 UNTIL" above photo | Valid driving times noted in red for under 18 | View sample | DMV |
| Michigan(MI) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red above name/address | Date of birth overlaps the shadowed image | View sample | DMV |
| Minnesota(MN) | Horizontal | "UNDER 21" in yellow at top of photo; "PROVISIONAL" in red for under 18 | Red border for photo; one of few states with horizontal minor license | View sample | DMV |
| Mississippi(MS) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white/red bar; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in black/yellow bar below photo | Year of birth above shadowed photo; "INTERMEDIATE LICENSE" in yellow | View sample | DMV |
| Missouri(MO) | Horizontal | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red at top | "Missouri" in purple; "INTERMEDIATE LICENSE" for under 18; small ghosted photo at bottom middle | View sample | DMV |
| Montana(MT) | Vertical | "Under 18/21 UNTIL" in red bar, vertically to right of photo | Simple, straightforward design | View sample | DMV |
| Nebraska(NE) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and/or "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red under state name | Clean design with prominent age indicators | View sample | DMV |
| Nevada(NV) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" and "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in red, right of photo | Straightforward vertical layout | View sample | DMV |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in white/pink bar; "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white/red bar, lower left | Dual color bars for age indication | View sample | DMV |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in yellow print within red frame around photo | Modern design with red frame for minors | View sample | DMV |
| New Mexico(NM) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white/red bar; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in white/pink bar, lower left | Dual color bars for age distinction | View sample | DMV |
| New York(NY) | Vertical | "Under 21 Until" and/or "Under 18 Until", ID number, and DOB in red on right of photo | "LIMITED" in red for under 18 licenses | View sample | DMV |
| North Carolina(NC) | Vertical | "Turns 21 on" in red; "Turns 18 on" in yellow if applicable, right of photo | Small matching ghosted image at bottom right | View sample | DMV |
| North Dakota(ND) | Vertical | "Turns 21 on" in white/red bar; "Turns 18 on" in yellow, right of photo | Clear color-coded bars for age milestones | DMV | |
| Ohio(OH) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red at bottom right, overlapping ghosted photo | Red header; red-bordered photo at top left | View sample | DMV |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white/red border; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in yellow box right of photo | "LEARNER PERMIT" or "INTERMEDIATE" in header | View sample | DMV |
| Oregon(OR) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in yellow at top of photo; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" to right | Photo on right with red border; "PROVISIONAL LICENSE" for under 18 | View sample | DMV |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" in black/yellow bar or "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white/red bar above photo | Green header with "JUNIOR DRIVER'S LICENSE" and "JR" in map for under 18 | View sample | DMV |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in white at top of license | Blue state name, top bar, and map; yellow headers for provisional; red photo border | View sample | DMV |
| South Carolina(SC) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" with green photo frame; "UNDER 21 UNTIL" with red photo frame | Different colored frames distinguish age groups clearly | View sample | DMV |
| South Dakota(SD) | Vertical | "MM-DD-YYYY – 21st BIRTHDAY" below header; "UNDER 21" below photo | Two-digit phantom number of 21st birthday year; red heading for under 21, green if restricted | View sample | DMV |
| Tennessee(TN) | Horizontal | Red bar with yellow "UNDER 21 UNTIL" to right of photo | Small duplicate ghosted image on bottom left; horizontal layout | View sample | DMV |
| Texas(TX) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 DRIVER LICENSE" and "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red above person's name | Clear red text for easy identification | View sample | DMV |
| Utah(UT) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red; "UNDER 19 UNTIL" in blue if applicable, above ghosted image | Dual color-coded age indications; matching ghosted image | View sample | DMV |
| Vermont(VT) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red; "UNDER 18 UNTIL" below for operator licenses | Plum header for operator; yellow/orange for junior operator; pink for learner's permit | View sample | DMV |
| Virginia(VA) | Vertical | "UNDER 18 UNTIL" and "UNDER 21 UNTIL" at bottom left front; "UNDER 21" in header and back | Clear placement of age markers on multiple locations | View sample | DMV |
| Washington(WA) | Vertical | "AGE 21 ON" and/or "AGE 18 ON" in black next to photo | "INTERMEDIATE LICENSE" printed under state name for under 18 | View sample | DMV |
| West Virginia(WV) | Vertical | Under 21: "TURNS 21 ON" in white/red bar; Under 18: "TURNS 18 ON" and "INTERMEDIATE" in red | Bright blue background for under 21; dark red background for under 18 | View sample | DMV |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Vertical | "Turns 21 on" in white/red band; "Turns 18 on" in black/yellow band below photo | Dual color bands for different age milestones | DMV | |
| Wyoming(WY) | Vertical | "Age 21 on" and "Age 18 on" in red below heading on right | Simple, effective design | DMV | |
| Washington D.C.(DC) | Vertical | "UNDER 21 UNTIL" in red below photo | Provisional licenses feature a pale green header bar | DMV |
Sample column: a thumbnail is a public-domain image we host (click to enlarge); "View sample" links to the state's own official sample page. Where neither is available yet, the cell is left blank — we're still sourcing verified, reusable images for the remaining states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if an ID is for someone under 21?
Most U.S. states issue vertical (portrait) orientation licenses to people under 21, while those 21 and over receive horizontal (landscape) licenses. Additionally, minor IDs typically display text like 'UNDER 21 UNTIL [date]' prominently in red or other contrasting colors.
Do all states use vertical IDs for minors?
Most states use vertical orientation for under-21 licenses, but there are exceptions. Minnesota, Missouri, and Tennessee issue horizontal licenses to minors, though they include other visual indicators like colored bars or 'UNDER 21' text.
Are all 21-and-over IDs horizontal?
No. Orientation alone is not proof of age for two reasons. First, turning 21 does not automatically reissue the card — someone who received a vertical under-21 license at 18 or 20 keeps that vertical ID until their next renewal, so many adults over 21 still carry vertical licenses. Second, a few states (Minnesota, Missouri, and Tennessee) issue horizontal licenses to minors. Always read the 'UNDER 21 UNTIL [date]' text and the card's expiration and issue dates rather than relying on horizontal vs. vertical orientation.
What colors indicate an underage ID?
Red is the most common color used to indicate 'UNDER 21' status across most states. Yellow is often used for 'UNDER 18' indicators. Some states use colored borders around photos (red for under 21, green for under 18) or colored header bars.
Where can I find official examples of my state's ID?
Each state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency publishes official ID samples and security features on their website. We include links to official DMV resources for each state in our guide.
Important Notes
- • State ID designs change periodically. Always verify with official DMV sources for the most current information.
- • Some individuals may still have older license versions that look different from current designs.
- • When someone turns 21, they don't automatically receive a new horizontal license—they keep their vertical ID until renewal.
- • This guide covers standard driver's licenses. State ID cards may have slightly different designs.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is summarized from publicly available DMV resources. It does not constitute legal advice. State regulations change frequently—always consult official state DMV websites and local authorities for the most current and accurate information. Kred is not responsible for any decisions made based on this guide.
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