Did you get your Real ID (License) ?

[jeff_h]

I got mine last week in VA - cost was $30 and I showed them my passport, voter registration card, social security card, and current drivers license. Took about 3-5 minutes at the window and I got the new one in the mail 4 days later.

 

[ashley0139]

I have a passport so I'm not too worried about it. I'll get it when my license expires. I have no idea when that even is.

 

[tinkerhon]

I was able to do mine online. So was my husband. Took about 60 seconds.

We live in South Carolina - moved here six years ago. I’m assuming DMV had enough recent documentation on file that we qualified for online.

That's awesome! In NY, couldn't do online

 

[tinkerhon]

This shouldn't be a stressful thing. I just did it -- I printed the list from the internet and gathered all the necessary documents on a clipboard. I was in and out in about 15 minutes. The thing is, you need to get a copy of the requirements and BRING THE RIGHT STUFF. If you follow the list, you cannot go wrong.

I don't know if it's the same in every state, but here's what I had to have:

- One document proving my full name /birth date. I brought my driver's license and my birth certificate (one would've done, but I brought both). A passport or Green Card would also have been acceptable.
- One document proving my social security number. I couldn't lay my hands on my SS card, so I took my W2 from last year's taxes -- every category allows several different choices for documentation, but whatever you bring MUST be from the list.
- Two documents proving my address. I think I brought a bank statement and my car registration /insurance. Other options included a voter registration card, school records, a mortgage or renter's agreement. They allow about a dozen different things in this category, and a utility bill is only one of the choices.
- Since I'm married, I also brought a copy of my marriage certificate to prove my name change.

It's not a lot of stuff, but -- again -- you must PLAN and bring the right things. Do not think that they're going to allow you to sub in different things -- you must have the items from the list.

Gathering these things is never going to be convenient, so go ahead and do it. You'll never have to do it again. Eventually it'll be required, and it doesn't cost any more than a standard driver's license.

I totally agree about the stress , but sometimes my OCD overrules , and I had read nightmarish stories here in NY about people getting turned away

 

[tinkerhon]

I did it 3 weeks ago. Had to make a second visit without an appointment because I made an appointment at my closest DMV for Nov 30 on a Saturday. I made the appointment 10 weeks in advance because it was the first one available. About 6 people waiting at opening time (8 AM) and maybe a dozen without appointments. They didn't open, didn't have any signs saying they were closed, and it took me looking up on my device that they were closed over the entire Thanksgiving weekend.

I brought a bunch of items. My passport, my original SSN card, my credit card mailing, an old credit card statement I found in the house (I pay online so I don't always open them), and my property tax bill. It was suggested that the credit card statement (even if a year old) was better than the card mailer. All my accepted documents were scanned - or at least the stuff with my name/info and my address. They specifically tried to limit what parts of the documents were scanned, like avoiding the credit card transactions.

In California all driver licenses are made at a central location in Sacramento, and mine arrived in a week. I did get a temporary paper license that doesn't expire until Jan 30. It's strictly text on their official paper used for registrations and other documents.

I guess the key is that there's some sort of star. In California that's a white star inside a gold bear.

Most states seem to have a pretty ordinary looking star within a circle. Not all states have that. As far as I can tell, Washington isn't going to have that, but will issue enhanced driver licenses and IDs, which state that and are Real ID compliant.

yea , ours is plain ! I like the bear !

 

[tinkerhon]

I think that's when mine is up for renewal too. Based upon the appointments I made for my family this year, it seems like the earliest appointment is 2 months later So I know to try to make an appointment in May or June and hope for something by September, LOL.

Had same issue - had to wait 2 months for appt

 

[mrsksmithvt]

Vermont requires 2 pieces of mail with current name and street address. I used my renewal notice from the DMV as proof of address. Did I get grief, but the DMV mailed it to me to renew my license.

 

[bcla]

Merry Christmas everyone.

I would add that I had a renewal mailing sent about three months before expiration. If I didn’t need a Real ID compliant DL I could have filled out the application and mailed it, or applied over the Internet. I had to present the documents in person, but I was able to apply in advance of my appointment. I got a code to present at the DMV office to pull up my application. Even though my appointment was messed up, my application was still valid for my drop in visit. I didn’t strictly need to present my expiring driver license since they had my application and my passport was my ID.

 

[Miffy]

I totally agree about the stress , but sometimes my OCD overrules , and I had read nightmarish stories here in NY about people getting turned away

I live in NYC. The necessary documents and every permutation that's acceptable are clearly delineated on the DMV website.

Someone I know was concerned that she had no mail with her current address on it since she gets all her bills online and she was completely frazzed about what to do . . . because she hadn't read far enough. I also get all my bills online, but a printout of one's bank statement with one's address on it, for example, is just fine.

I had to wait only a few days for an apointment. Maybe I got lucky!

ETA: I did this several months ago. Perhaps wait times were shorter then.

 

[starry_solo]

Had same issue - had to wait 2 months for appt

I think I ended up making multiple appointments for the same person weeks apart, just in case something happened at the first appointment (couldn't pass the test or something wrong with the information provided), so we wouldn't have to wait months for the next one!

If the CA DMV could say I could renew my license earlier - like now, instead of in 2 years - I'd go and do it now with the real ID. But I don't want to pay for a real ID now when I don't need it.

 

[bcla]

yea , ours is plain ! I like the bear !

Color seems to vary, but white on gold is pretty common. And quite a few states are using the same sample photo. She’s apparently gained an inch in height and 15 lbs after moving to Kansas.

Maine uses an outline of the state.

Also, all states with Real ID compliance (with a star) accept a green card or other noncitizen status as proof of eligibility. However, Washington has opted only for Enhanced DL/ID where only US nationals are eligible. They’re telling their customers that they should use a green card or foreign passport.

 

[bcla]

I think I ended up making multiple appointments for the same person weeks apart, just in case something happened at the first appointment (couldn't pass the test or something wrong with the information provided), so we wouldn't have to wait months for the next one!

If the CA DMV could say I could renew my license earlier - like now, instead of in 2 years - I'd go and do it now with the real ID. But I don't want to pay for a real ID now when I don't need it.

That would be as “duplicate” though, which is cheaper, but as you note it’s only valid for the remainder of your current license. However, the duplicate can be the Real ID version.

 

[tinkerhon]

I live in NYC. The necessary documents and every permutation that's acceptable are clearly delineated on the DMV website.

Someone I know was concerned that she had no mail with her current address on it since she gets all her bills online and she was completely frazzed about what to do . . . because she hadn't read far enough. I also get all my bills online, but a printout of one's bank statement with one's address on it, for example, is just fine.

I had to wait only a few days for an apointment. Maybe I got lucky!

ETA: I did this several months ago. Perhaps wait times were shorter then.

My friend was turned away because she didn't have any.documents that showed her full middle name - only an initial - ( had something to do with an error on her birth certificate) - she had to get supervisor approval to leave just her middle initial on her license

 

[disneyseniors]

I gathered all the paperwork and was turned away because my birth certificate that I was given by my Mother and used for years, wasn't a "real" one? So, I had to contact another state. I have been waiting for 2 months and no bc yet. Frustrating! If you have a passport you can use it.

 

[KPeterso]

Just went this past Monday. My license expires the end of February, so I had gotten the renewal notice around thanksgiving. I went online to make an appointment. My preferred place had no appointments available and the other that was close was for 1/29. My license expires late Feb, but I am flying 3/6, so I wanted to make sure I got this taken care of ASAP. So I went Monday AM since I had the day off. Online, it was posted as a 7 AM opening and when I got there at 6:45, they were already letting people in (guessing to get them out of the rain) and getting people checked in. No one was actually called until 7 AM though. I had all my documents ready as I had done my reading online and knew what to bring. They took my birth certificate, social security card, and only one of my proofs of address (bank statement). Maybe the renewal notice was my second item? I ended up getting out of there about 8:30 AM and was home about 9 after stopping at Costco to get gas for my car. I should get my new license in the mail in about 2 weeks.

I still need to help my Dad get his taken care of. He still has the appointment for 1/29, but we need to find his birth certificate (was not with the others) or order a new one for him. My Mom's will need to be taken care of this summer as her license expires 9/11 and we plan to go on vacation on 9/12!

 

[bcla]

I gathered all the paperwork and was turned away because my birth certificate that I was given by my Mother and used for years, wasn't a "real" one? So, I had to contact another state. I have been waiting for 2 months and no bc yet. Frustrating! If you have a passport you can use it.

There used to be a laxness about accepting documents that weren't government issued or that don't necessarily meet modern standards for security. The unofficial "hospital birth certificates" with the footprints are really just glorified souvenirs, but they've been somewhat accepted for decades. Some states However, there are older birth certificates that do meet modern standards (a seal and all the required certifications) although I've even heard of them being denied on the basis of being "too old". I doubt there's any official policy on what's "too old" but it seems that some people looking at these things just make it up the rules as they go along.

9/11 basically changed everything. Not necessarily because the 9/11 hijackers used fake documents, but it showed how poor overall security was.

 

[dina444444]

My license expires next fall, but my passport expires before that so I’m planning to get the card and book when I renew my passport and I’ll just get a regular license so I don’t have to go into the dmv.

 

[tinkerhon]

Just went this past Monday. My license expires the end of February, so I had gotten the renewal notice around thanksgiving. I went online to make an appointment. My preferred place had no appointments available and the other that was close was for 1/29. My license expires late Feb, but I am flying 3/6, so I wanted to make sure I got this taken care of ASAP. So I went Monday AM since I had the day off. Online, it was posted as a 7 AM opening and when I got there at 6:45, they were already letting people in (guessing to get them out of the rain) and getting people checked in. No one was actually called until 7 AM though. I had all my documents ready as I had done my reading online and knew what to bring. They took my birth certificate, social security card, and only one of my proofs of address (bank statement). Maybe the renewal notice was my second item? I ended up getting out of there about 8:30 AM and was home about 9 after stopping at Costco to get gas for my car. I should get my new license in the mail in about 2 weeks.

I still need to help my Dad get his taken care of. He still has the appointment for 1/29, but we need to find his birth certificate (was not with the others) or order a new one for him. My Mom's will need to be taken care of this summer as her license expires 9/11 and we plan to go on vacation on 9/12!

Yea, I showed a statement from Social Security and my bank statement as proof of address, but was told the bank statement (only) would suffice - I did, however, have to fill out a secondary proof of address form at the processing window

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My Mom's will need to be taken care of this summer as her license expires 9/11 and we plan to go on vacation on 9/12!

I'm also due for a new license in Sept. I'm probably going to get the Real ID, even though I've already got a passport, but I'm leaving on a 4 month RV trip in Mid-May. I'll be on the road when appointments open for Sept.

And I only have a 2 week window to get it taken care of then before we head out again.

 

[ThisIsJason]

Nope. Went to get it done back in November about a month before my birthday. Took my current ID (which was valid still), SS card, a bank statement with my address on it, and THREE official birth certificates (the original and then two certified copies because stuff got lost).

I was denied because the lady didn't like the seals/imprints on the birth certificates. None of them were 100% completely imprinted. Told me I needed to get a new one. Nope, not happening. Sorry. I will just use my passport, one of the birth certificates was good enough for that!