Florida's new driver's licenses and ID cards hit service center counters Sept. 30, and Land O' Lakes and Lutz residents can walk in for one now.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) began issuing the redesigned credentials statewide that day, the agency said in a Sept. 29 press release. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the rollout during a Florida Cabinet meeting at the State Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 29, ClickOrlando reported.

The front of the card features Castillo de San Marcos, the St. Augustine fortress, as its background image. A Florida manatee sits in the bottom-left corner, an orange is worked into the "O" in "Florida," and an alligator appears inside the REAL ID star. The back shows Space Shuttle Discovery and carries the motto "Let Us Alone" from Florida's first unofficial state flag.

Beyond the look, the cards carry new anti-fraud protections. FLHSMV said the redesign includes ultraviolet ink, raised elements, and details that shift appearance when viewed from different angles, MySunCoast reported. An image of the state seal is built into the card as an additional security feature. Cards for holders younger than 21 now include a red box showing the date the cardholder turns 21.

FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner said the previous major redesign nearly doubled the agency's fraud protection measures. He said the latest version strengthens those protections further and improves REAL ID compliance.

Nobody has to rush. Existing licenses and IDs remain valid until they expire and will be phased out over time, according to FLHSMV. Residents who replace a license for another reason, such as a name or address change, will get the new design. Online ordering through MyDMVPortal.flhsmv.gov is expected by early November.

Pasco County residents can get the new cards at two nearby offices: the Land O' Lakes office at 4135 Land O' Lakes Blvd. and the Wesley Chapel office at 4610 Pet Lane, C 101, in Lutz. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Pasco residents. The Wesley Chapel location also offers Saturday hours, 8:30 a.m. to noon, with no driver's license services after 11:30 a.m. Lutz and Odessa residents in Hillsborough County can visit Tax Collector offices there, including the North Tampa location at 3011 University Center Drive, Suite 150, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for driver's license services.