Can I wear white clothes for my driver's license photo with a white background?
3 Answers
No, you cannot wear white clothes for your driver's license photo. Requirements for motor vehicle driver photos: 1. Background color: A front-facing, full-color, white-background, bareheaded, half-length ID photo taken within 6 months before applying for a motor vehicle driver's license. 2. Appearance requirements: Women cannot wear earrings or have shawl-length hair in the photo; men's hair should not be too long. The headshot must be clear, with rich layers and a natural expression. 3. Glasses requirements: If you normally wear glasses, you must wear them in the photo (except for contact lenses). 4. Clothing requirements: Wear non-white clothes for the photo; red clothing is not allowed (as it affects stamping). 5. Size requirements: The photo size should be 32mm×22mm, with a head width of 14mm～16mm and a head length of 19mm～22mm.
I remember checking the regulations before taking my driver's license test. The photo must have a white background, but you should definitely avoid wearing white clothes. This is because the photo needs to clearly identify your face and outline, and white clothes can blend into a white background, making the image appear blurry. The DMV may consider such photos invalid during the review process, which could lead to rejection or delays in your application. It's safest to wear dark-colored or collared clothing, like black or blue. Choose a location with good natural lighting when taking the photo, ensuring a natural expression and neat hair. The background should be clean and free of clutter, avoiding reflections or shadows. Although these details may seem minor, they can save you a lot of trouble, especially now that many places use machine scanning to recognize photos—low contrast can be a real headache. I know a friend who had to redo everything because they didn’t pay attention to this. It’s best to go to a professional photo studio for ID photos since they know these rules. After all, safety comes first when driving, and your documents should be taken seriously too.
Visual issues in photos cannot be overlooked. Driver's license photos require a white background as per national standards, but clothing color must have high contrast. White clothing against a white background reduces image resolution and recognizability, making it difficult for cameras or processing systems to accurately capture facial features. Having helped others with similar issues, I've seen how blurry photos even trouble manual reviewers. It's advisable to wear dark, solid-colored clothing like navy blue or dark green, with neat collars to highlight contours. Stand straight facing the camera without hats or accessories. Use soft, even lighting to avoid overexposure from strong light. For cost-saving DIY photos, use a smartphone's rear camera with clear focus and a white cloth as background. These techniques significantly improve photo approval rates. Don't underestimate details—they directly impact whether you'll smoothly obtain your license. Doing thorough preparation for ID photos saves time and hassle.
