As a driver, you need a driver’s license to be able to legally drive on the road. However, for you to get the license, you will need to process it and one of the requirements for processing a driver’s license is taking a photo that will be attached to the license.
Taking the driver’s license photo is not the problem, but the problem is knowing how to posture your face to be able to get a good identifiable photo. Therefore, can you smile in a driver’s license photo?
Whether you can smile in your driver’s license photo depends on the regulations set by your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent licensing authority. You can only smile in the photo if they allow you to, but if they don’t want you to smile, they will ask you not to.
Can You Smile In Driver’s License Photo?
Yes, you can smile in your driver’s license photo if the regulations set by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent licensing authority permit smiling for a driver’s license photo. But if they don’t permit smiling, you will not be allowed to smile.
Even if the regulation permits smiling, you may be asked not to smile by the licensing body taking the driver’s license photo if they feel it might not be too good for the license.
Don’t forget the primary purpose of having your photograph in your driver’s license – for identification purposes.
Therefore, if the person taking the picture believes smiling is taking away too much of your facial features, he/she may ask you not to smile.
Moreover, I’ve not seen anyone smiling in their driver’s license photo. Even though some do, not everyone would be allowed to because you won’t be smiling every time you’re pulled over by the police.
Reasons Why You Can’t Smile In Driver’s License Photo?
Here are the reasons why you may not be allowed to smile in your driver’s license photo:
1. To Avoid Having Identification Issues
The primary purpose of a driver’s license photo is for identification. Many areas require a neutral facial expression or a closed-mouth smile to ensure consistency and ease of identification.
A neutral expression helps facial recognition software and law enforcement personnel accurately match the photo with the person presenting the license.
So, if you smile too much and it takes away some of your neutral facial features that should be detected by the facial recognition software, the authorities may find it difficult to identify you.
It is also detrimental to you because you would be delayed. If you’re not identified, you will have to wait until you’re identified and that’s a delay there.
Something that could have taken a few minutes to be done might end up taking longer time because the software is finding it difficult to identify your face.
A neutral expression can fasten this process by providing clear facial features for comparison. Smiling excessively or making exaggerated facial expressions might interfere with accurate biometric verification.
2. To Maintain Consistency
DMVs aim to maintain consistency across all driver’s license photos to ensure fairness and accuracy. Allowing some individuals to smile while others cannot may lead to discrepancies in identification and create confusion for law enforcement officials.
For example, if a region does not allow smiling in a driver’s license photo if the police see a driver’s license that was issued in that region with a smiling face, they may question the authenticity of the license because it’s a known thing to them that “no smiling for driver’s license” in the region.
3. Because of Passport Regulations
In many countries, passport photo regulations also influence driver’s license photo guidelines.
Passport photos require a neutral expression to comply with international standards for machine-readable travel documents. So, the licensing body may ask you not to smile in a bid to follow this regulation.
Be that as it may, some jurisdictions may allow small, natural smiles or closed-mouth smiles. However, these smiles should not distort facial features or obstruct identification.
For example, in the United States, many states require a neutral expression without smiling for driver’s license photos.
However, states like California and New York allow slight smiles as long as they don’t affect facial recognition. Also, countries like the United Kingdom require a neutral expression for both passports and driver’s licenses.
Do People Smile on Their Drivers License?
Yes, some people may be allowed to smile in their driver’s license photos if they are in States like California and New York that allow slight smiles that do not affect facial recognition.
Provided the smile is too much and does not affect your facial recognition, you may be allowed to smile. However, I’ve seen countless people who said that they were asked not to smile.
Andy Kerr said that when he went for his driver’s license photo, he tried to look pleasant but was asked if he wanted to smile or not. Had it been he chose yes, he would have been allowed to smile.
However, on the other hand, Nevyl Doust, a former Milkman (2006–2011), said that he was not allowed to smile the last time he wanted to renew his driver’s license in NSW Australia rather, he was allowed to wear his glasses.
Therefore, while there is no legal reason to not allow you to smile in your driver’s license photo, you may not be allowed to smile for the driver’s license photo for reasons best known to the licensing body. Sometimes they may tell you why, and sometimes they may not.
According to Nevyl Doust, he was not given information as to why he was asked not to smile but in all, he was able to take a good photo which was attached to his renewed license.
Can I Smile in My Texas Drivers License?
Yes, you may be allowed to smile on your Texas driver’s license but the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which oversees driver’s licenses in Texas, usually requires a neutral facial expression for driver’s license photos, meaning that smiling in your Texas driver’s license photo may not be permitted.
According to Sgt. Oscar Villarreal with the Texas Department of Public Safety, smiling in a driver’s license photo is still optional in Texas.
He went further to say that “Most adults even smile in the driver’s license photo, it’s rare to see a driver’s license photo where the person isn’t smiling in Texas.”
Can You Smile in Your License Picture Indiana?
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires a neutral facial expression for driver’s license photos, which means that smiling in your Indiana driver’s license photo may not be permitted. Even if you are allowed to smile, you will not be allowed to smile too much.
Conclusion
Smiling in your driver’s license photo depends on the regulation of the licensing body taking the picture. They may ask you not to smile for easy identification or may allow you to smile. It all depends on what works with them.
If they don’t allow you to smile, it’s for a good reason, after all, you will not be smiling every time you are pulled over and handed over your license to the police officer. Smiling at that moment because you smiled in the license might be a bit awkward.
