Starting March 1, 2023 a new driver’s license is issued without a barcode on the back. The barcode introduced in 2011 was meant to help police verify licenses and detect fakes. Today, the barcode serves little practical purpose and is no longer used to read license information.
Drivers who already held a license before the change are not required to rush for a replacement. The validity of existing licenses has been extended by three years. In practice this means transitions can wait, while all license data stays current in the central database and remains accessible for verification when needed.
Previously, obtaining or renewing a license through the State Services portal offered a 30 percent discount. This discount was not renewed for 2023 and does not apply to any state services today, including license issuance, plate registration, passports, and civil registry payments.
The official rationale is that the discount was planned to last until 2019 and was repeatedly extended. Since no government departments requested it this year, the benefit was canceled. This decision affects all related services that previously carried the reduced price.
References: official coverage in media outlets and civil service announcements. Visual: stock imagery is used with proper attribution.
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Readers can participate in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix poll to help identify the top new car introductions of the year. The organizers thank participants with a small reward as a token of appreciation for completing the survey.
Participants who finish the questionnaire before the stated deadline will be entered in a draw. Three winners will receive a prize designed to celebrate the voting effort.