Infrared features on modern ID cards

UV features get most of the discussion, but some modern state driver's licenses also include infrared security elements that require specialized equipment to detect. Most forum members will never test for these, but understanding they exist is useful for completeness.

What infrared features are

Infrared (IR) security printing uses inks that are invisible or minimally visible under normal and UV light but fluoresce or absorb strongly under near-infrared illumination (typically 700nm to 900nm wavelength). These features exist on the card surface but are only detectable with an IR camera or NIR-equipped scanner.

Some professional ID verification systems include IR sensors for exactly this purpose. These are typically found in high-security commercial verification setups — casinos, financial services — rather than at standard bar or club scanning stations.

Which states use IR features

The specific states that include IR elements in their current card generation are not publicly documented in detail, because publishing that information would undermine the security value. What is known from security printing industry discussions and from researchers who have examined cards with appropriate equipment is that a significant minority of US state licenses include some form of IR element in cards issued after approximately 2015.

Can vendors replicate IR features?

IR inks are available commercially but require specific formulations that produce the correct IR response. Most vendor production setups do not use IR inks, meaning vendor cards typically lack IR features even for states that include them on genuine cards. This is rarely detectable without IR-capable equipment, which makes it a low-risk gap for most use cases.

For situations involving professional verification equipment — any scenario involving a dedicated ID verification terminal in a high-security context — the absence of IR features is a potential detection point. For standard venue and retail verification, it is not relevant because standard scanning equipment does not check for it.