No clipping corners: Minnesota's new method to void driver's licenses

The DMV is no longer clipping corners.

Starting Monday, when Minnesotans go to renew their driver's licenses or identification cards, the bottom right corner of the old card won't be clipped.

Instead, the card will be perforated with the word "void" on the left side by the photo, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says. (The DPS runs what many Minnesotans call the DMV, but it's actually called the division of Driver and Vehicle Services – DVS for short.)

The change is to bring Minnesota in compliance with federal law, which says all other methods of voiding licenses and ID cards are insufficient.

All DVS exam stations, driver's license agent offices and correctional facilities are equipped to switch to this method starting Monday after the DVS obtained a federal grant to purchase void perforators for each office.

Driver's licenses and ID cards are invalidated when a person applies for a new or duplicate card, in order to prevent fraudulent use with the old one.

In 2014, the state issued 1,334,000 driver's licenses and ID cards.