Are novelty ID cards legal in the UK?

Owning a novelty card as a joke or collectible is not the same as having a false identity document. What's illegal is using any card to deceive, such as to prove your age or pretend to be someone else. Our cards are novelty items only.

Can a novelty driving licence be used as ID?

No. A novelty licence is not an official document and won't be accepted as identification anywhere.

What size is a novelty licence card?

Ours are CR80 size, 85.6 × 54 mm, the same as a bank card or photocard licence.

5 min read · 1 October 2026

Novelty ID cards: what they are, and what they definitely aren't

Novelty ID cards are joke cards made to be kept, framed and passed round the table. They borrow the look of a photocard licence so the punchline lands. Here's how they differ from a fake ID and how to pick a good one.

Front of a personalised Professional Stunt Driver Licence novelty card with portrait, name and categories

What is a novelty ID card?

A novelty ID card is a personalised card made for fun. It usually copies the general shape of a photocard driving licence (portrait on the left, numbered fields on the right, categories on the back) and fills it with jokes: a licence to drive a UFO, an allowance of 17 pints, a birthday in the year 0001.

People buy them as birthday presents, Secret Santa gifts, stag do souvenirs and props for fancy dress. The best ones get kept in a wallet for years because they're funny every time someone sees them.

Novelty ID vs fake ID

A fake ID is made to deceive: to pass as a real document so someone can buy alcohol, get into a club or pretend to be someone else. That's illegal. In the UK, laws including the Identity Documents Act 2010 make it an offence to possess or use false identity documents.

A novelty card is made to be obviously a joke. The categories, names and authorities are invented, and the card makes no attempt to pass as an official document. Our cards are sold strictly as novelty collectibles, and we won't make a card intended to be used as identification.

What separates a good novelty card from a cheap one

Most of the difference is in the printing. A paper printout in a plastic sleeve looks like exactly that. A proper card should feel like one.

Printed on a rigid PVC card, the same CR80 size as a bank card
Printed on both sides, not a blank back
High-resolution printing (ours is 300 dpi) so small text stays sharp
A preview that shows both sides before you pay
Your own photo, cropped and positioned properly
A real person checking the design before it's printed

Choosing the right design

Match the joke to the person. Petrolheads and terrible drivers get the Professional Stunt Driver Licence. The friend who is always at the bar gets the Drink Driving Licence (a licence to drink, never to drive). Film fans get the McLovin ID. And anyone who has ever said 'Jesus, take the wheel' gets the Heavenly Driving Licence.

Every design can be fully personalised, so a single card can be a joke about one person's name, birthday and particular brand of chaos.

Ordering a personalised novelty licence

Choose a design, add a photo and details, and check both sides in the live preview. Checkout takes a minute with card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Two cards get free UK delivery and the third card is half price.