Why a licence is harder than an ID
A state ID carries a name, a photo and a number. A licence carries all of that plus a class code, sometimes endorsement and restriction codes, sometimes an organ-donor mark, and an expiry that follows a state-specific rule tied to your age. There are more fields to get wrong and each one is visible at a glance to anyone who holds a licence from that state.
So we treat the class line as the first question, not an afterthought. Send the class and the rest follows from it.
Class codes
| Class | What it means | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| D / C (non-commercial) | Ordinary passenger car in most states | Most orders |
| M | Motorcycle | Riders, scooter delivery work |
| A | Combination vehicles, tractor-trailer | CDL drivers |
| B | Heavy straight truck | CDL drivers |
| C | Commercial, small vehicle or hazmat | Courier, bus |
Class letters are not universal — some states use C for ordinary cars, some use D. Say the state and the class you want and we reconcile it. Getting a Class A card with no endorsement lines, or a Class D with hazmat, is the sort of thing a dispatcher spots instantly.
Endorsements and restrictions
CDL cards print endorsement letters (H hazmat, N tanker, P passenger, S school bus, T doubles) and restriction codes. We print what you ask for, but the set has to be plausible: an N without an H on a hazmat-heavy card, or a school-bus S with no P, reads wrong. Tell us the work you do and we will set a coherent line.
Restrictions also cover glasses and hearing aids. If your photo shows glasses, the corrective-lens restriction should be on the card. Small detail, easy to miss, very visible.
The magnetic strip
Every card ships with a black high-coercivity strip applied, because its absence is visible on the back. Encoding it so a reader returns your data is a $20 add-on. The strip is encoded to the AAMVA track format with your licence number and DOB in the right fields.
Expiry and layout
Expiry is computed from your issue date by that state's rule. Most states issue 4, 6 or 8 years; a handful issue to a birthday. Under-21 holders get the vertical or marked layout. Over-65 holders sometimes get a shorter term. We set all three from the DOB rather than letting you pick, unless you ask.
Order flow
- DM @donjuanjodyy with state, class, DOB, name, address, photo, and whether you want the strip encoded.
- Firm quote and proof in under 30 minutes. Check the class letter and the expiry year.
- Pay 50%.
- Dispatch photos and tracking on ship day.
- Pay the balance. 2–4 business days US, 4–6 Europe.
First order? Read the ordering guide first — the photo spec there is what keeps proofs fast.
Licence vs ID vs Real ID
A state ID is $25 cheaper and does the same job at a bar. A licence adds the driving entitlement, which matters if you are asked to show it at a rental counter or a job that checks. A Real ID adds the gold star, which matters for flights. Pick on the use, not the price.
Reviews
"Class A with H and N. Showed it at a yard and the dispatcher did not look twice. Strip encoded as asked."
"They caught that my photo had glasses and put the corrective restriction on without me asking. That is the kind of thing that sells a second order."
Questions
Can I get a CDL with no endorsements?
Yes. A plain Class A with no endorsement line is normal for a new driver.
Do you do motorcycle-only?
Yes, Class M. Some states print M as an endorsement on a D rather than a standalone card — say which you want.
What if the strip will not read?
Free reprint inside 14 days, and we will test the replacement before it ships.