First week with your new card — what to check
Honestly the first thing I'd do is just read the sticky before posting a noob question — saves everyone time. Once you've got it in hand, check the lamination for bubbles and make sure the corners aren't peeling.
For photos, a decent lighting setup matters more than people think. Bad shadows are the giveaway most folks miss when they're taking an ID photo at home. Take your time with it.
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When a card arrives, there is a window before you use it where careful examination pays off. If there is a problem, identifying it in the first few days while the memory of opening the package is fresh makes the vendor conversation easier and the replacement process faster.
Day one: physical inspection
Check the card face in good natural light. Compare field positions against a reference photo of the genuine state template. Photo placement, text zone positions, and color scheme should match. Look at the edges under a bright lamp — smooth, uniform, no visible layer boundary.
Feel the card surface. If the vendor produces polycarbonate cards, the surface should feel firm and slightly cool. Any flexibility when you gently flex the card diagonally suggests composite or PVC construction rather than true poly. Feel for any raised printing where there should be raised printing for your state.
Day two: security feature tests
Test under UV if you have a 365nm light. Check that UV features are present and in the correct positions. Compare to a reference photo if you have one. Test the hologram — tilt through 30 degrees and watch the color shift. If the shift is present but feels wrong, compare to a reference video of the genuine state hologram online.
Day three: barcode test
Scan the barcode with two or three different apps. Decode the output and compare each field to the printed card face. Check: name spelling, date of birth, expiration date, address, and license number format. Any discrepancy is worth noting and possibly reporting.
Documentation
Photograph the card in standard light, under UV, and at hologram angle before you use it. This documentation matters if you need to make a warranty claim after use has added wear to the card. A vendor can more easily replace a card with a production defect if you can show the defect existed on arrival rather than appearing after months of use.
Most issues that warrant replacement are apparent within the first week if you look for them.