Media Release
Monday 23 November
New, more secure Victorian driver licence in the post
VicRoads is reminding drivers that it is introducing a new, more secure driver licence and will
no longer issue licence cards over the counter from today.
Dale Andrea, VicRoads Manager for Licensing and Identity Strategy, said the changes were in
a bid to tackle fraud and boost identity security.
“It is estimated that fraud costs Australia around $4 billion a year, and driver licences are
often involved in fraud,” Mr Andrea said.
“While our use of the driver licence is about whether people can drive, we know it is an
important identity document, used to apply for a loan, picking up registered mail and even to
get a video card.
“The new, more secure licence is the way VicRoads is doing its bit to protect people’s
identity.”
Mr Andrea said the new driver licence card will be issued to drivers receiving a new licence or
renewing their licence.
“The new licence looks and feels similar to the existing licence card, but it is the new security
features that make it different,” Mr Andrea said.
“It has a clear strip through the middle of the card and a more intricate hologram which will
make it harder to tamper with or replicate the licence.”
Mr Andrea said the other major change is that the new card will be produced at a centralised,
secure facility so people won’t walk out of a VicRoads office with their licence card.
“VicRoads has a network of 76 conveniently located photo points and 40 Customer Service
Centres where drivers can apply for their new, or replacement licence,” he said.
“They will pay their renewal fee, have their photo taken if they need to, and receive a receipt
which will allow them to drive. Their new licence will then be posted out to them in around a
week.
“Our advice to people who want to make sure they’ve always got a valid licence card is to
renew it well before the expiry date. There is no extra cost for this new and more secure
licence.
“The system won’t be that much different for those who are renewing their licence, because
around two in three licence renewals are already mailed out at the moment.”
Mr Andrea said that while the new licence cards will make it much harder to tamper with or
create fake licences, Victoria could not be complacent about identity security.
“That’s why VicRoads has also introduced facial recognition technology, looking at the images
of around a quarter of Victorian drivers this year,” Mr Andrea said.
“The technology searches for likely matches in VicRoads’ database by analysing almost 170
points on the human face, making it harder for someone to collect multiple licences for false
identities.
“These initiatives are about making sure Victoria’s driver licensing system can meet the
challenges now and in the future,” he said.
(end)
Media Enquiries:
Ayllie White, VicRoads Media, 0488 325 429
NEWS 
