Today, May 7, 2025, begins the enforcement of Real ID, which replaces a state issued driver’s license when traveling.
You may remember this law was passed back in 2005, and mandates that certain security standards be used for issuance of state licenses, now known as Real ID. Due to COVID and other delays, the law did not take effect until today. So, what does all this Real ID stuff mean?
Starting today, if you travel you will need either a Real ID, U.S. passport, a Global Entry card, a Department of Defense ID, or a permanent resident card. Your regular state driver’s license is no longer valid. Over the past several years, the Department of Motor Vehicles has been issuing Real ID’s when regular driver licenses have been up for renewal, however there are still many people out there without a Real ID. A Real ID looks a lot like a regular driver’s license, however it now has a gold star, usually in the upper right hand corner on it.
The TSA announced today that they will honor state issued driver’s licenses for a limited time with additional security screening steps. No one is quite sure yet what this means, however, I would expect longer delays for those without the new identification.
If you do not have a Real ID, but you have a valid U.S. passport, be sure to bring your passport with you when traveling and use that as your primary identification until you can get a Real ID.
You can get a Real ID, by scheduling an appointment with your local Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are traveling this year and do not have a Real ID, I would recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible. In many states, appointments are fully booked for several months already, so be sure to schedule your appointment as soon as possible. If you have no other form of acceptable ID, you may also want to apply for a U.S. passport. I expect to see long processing times and the sooner you can get ahead of the curve the better!
If you are traveling and not sure what identification you need, contact me at natalie@believeinmagictravel.com and I will be happy to help!
