Your driver's license is the most accepted form of identification in North America. That's why new strict guidelines will go into effect in 2010 to help protect your identity. But it's going to mean more paperwork when you get a new license.

Starting at the end of the year, if you come into a driver license station in South Dakota to renew your driver license it's going to take a little more work. That's because federal regulations are changing, and it's going to take four and sometimes five different forms of identification just to renew the license.

"The reasons we're changing is to meet federal requirements first of all, and the ultimate goal is to provide a more secure document," Roch Rosheim, supervisor of the Sioux Falls driver licensing station, said.

To do that, the next time you step up to the licensing desk you'll need to prove your identity. 

"We look at either their birth certificate, their passport or their immigration document to prove who they are and it also proves their date of birth," Rosheim said.

You'll need a second document to prove your Social Security Number, like a social security card, a pay stub or tax forms.
 
You will also need to bring in two documents to prove your address. A utility bill, bank statement, credit card statement or mortgage document will work.

"To prove their address is to make sure that they are actually residing here in South Dakota and they have a bona fide address," Rosheim said.

And while it may take more work, it will make it easier in the future to protect against identity theft.

It will take five and possibly even more documents to renew your license if you name has changed during your lifetime.

These changes go into effect December 31, 2009.

For more information on the new requirments, visit the South Dakota Department of Public Safety Web site.