Despite the fact that drivers have not been obliged to present a physical driving licence or vehicle registration documents when driving in the Czech Republic since January 2024, a driving licence must still be issued under the European Directive and Czech legislation. In general, it is advisable to regularly update documents and identification documents, because practically everything that can be produced can also be forged. Counterfeit Czech driving licence cards are of great interest,
especially abroad. Counterfeiters are becoming increasingly creative, and it is in the interest of the state to be ahead of the game and protect its citizens from possible identity fraud.
In response to the most frequent methods of forgery, specialists from the Ministry of Transport, the State Printing House and the National Centre for Document Control have jointly selected a set of the most suitable and effective security features that should be newly applied to the Czech Republic’s driving licence. The basic design, i.e., format, colour scheme and existing protective elements, are based on the technical specification of the European Directive and remain unchanged. The structure of the card has changed, with the most visible new element being a transparent window with a complicated shape that is very difficult to imitate. The chosen map of the Czech Republic shape is unique among driving licences issued in the EU. The transparent window is further enriched with a printed tricolour motif, which can only be observed from both sides in the UV spectrum. Furthermore, semi-transparent windows in the shape of the national symbol of the lime leaf are applied on both sides of the card, which create a watermark effect on the card. Only a certain number of these elements are always visible in direct view. If the card is tampered with or altered, this element will be damaged or completely removed. New raised and fine embossed lines and motifs are applied to the card. The applied printing techniques are new colours solely visible in the UV spectrum with the graphic ‘CZ’ motif and, again, with lime leaves. In addition to the variable secondary photograph and the document number, an optically movable element has been newly added, where a change in the angle of view results in a change of the motif – the letters ‘CZ’ and the lime leaf. This type of security is now increasingly common on newly issued identification documents and is another good element for a quick check of the authenticity of the document.
“We have been producing documents including driving licences for Czech citizens for several decades. With the increasing criminal activity in the area of document forgery, there is increasing pressure to protect these documents, and we must and want to innovate security features that will make them as impossible to forge as possible. The cooperation with the Ministry of Transport on this topic was conducted at a very erudite and professional level, and I am glad that after twenty years we are giving the driving licence a new coat in the form of modern protective elements in a unique design and combination.”, commented Tomáš Hebelka, General Director of Státní tiskárny cenin, s. p. (State Printing Works of Securities).
