Real ID May 7, 2025 deadline, do you have one already, will you have one by next year or just use a passport?

[bluezy]

Because I can renew my non-compliant license online and skip a visit to the DMV. If I want a compliant license, then I have to go to the DMV. Since I already have a passport that I don't mind carrying around, why bother with Real ID?

For me, I don't carry my passport or passport card with me all the time because it's more complicated to replace those things if they are lost or stolen than it is to order a duplicate driver's license.

 

[mjkacmom]

We can't even make an appointment -- just show up and get in line. When I took my daughter last week, we were in and out of the building in 30 minutes....7 minutes of that was waiting for the license to print (this was a pretty big DMV. The waiting area felt like we were in a small airport and there were 16 windows all staffed). When I went to a different (much smaller) DMV to get my real ID two years ago, it took me about the same amount of time. I didn't even realize that some places/states offer an appointment.

Before they started appointments, folks were lining up at midnight with their chairs. Then some started to capitalize on the situation, and would line up for others for $. It still takes hours with an appointment.

 

[bluezy]

Before they started appointments, folks were lining up at midnight with their chairs. Then some started to capitalize on the situation, and would line up for others for $. It still takes hours with an appointment.

That's crazy!! Were they lining up for just the Real IDs or for anything DMV related.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm planning to just get a passport. I'm having a hard time getting an appointment to get the Real ID at the DMV, so my sister suggested the passport, which is much less of a hassle even though it's way more expensive.

 

[JBRB828]

We always use our passports.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I wonder if I can start looking to get cheap last minute flights. Or sign up to fly standby.
Just gonna use my passport.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

For me, I don't carry my passport or passport card with me all the time because it's more complicated to replace those things if they are lost or stolen than it is to order a duplicate driver's license.

Yeah my husband had to replace his passport that had gotten stolen and only a year-ish from when he renewed. To replace that was $135. To replace a lost DL (REAL ID or not) is $16 in my state. It's a no brainer if we're talking about the hassle of both carrying the passport and the cost if something happens to it.

Personally I was going to use my passport when the deadline was in between my renewal date of my DL but it was never going to be a long-term thing, it was a short-term solution. Luckily the deadline was delayed and I was able to get my REAL ID at my normal renewal in 2022.

 

[mjkacmom]

That's crazy!! Were they lining up for just the Real IDs or for anything DMV related.

Just regular. A month before COVID, my twins took their drivers test, finished before 1 pm but had to come back the next day because lines were 4 hours long. Then COVID hit and it got much worse. https://abc7ny.com/nj-mvc-njmvc-new-jersey-motor-vehicle-commission-reopen/6916030/

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm planning to just get a passport. I'm having a hard time getting an appointment to get the Real ID at the DMV, so my sister suggested the passport, which is much less of a hassle even though it's way more expensive.

Getting the passport will take 6-8 weeks (unless you pay more for expedited) AND the book isn't easy to carry. Now, if you get the card, I could understand.

 

[Moliphino]

Just regular. A month before COVID, my twins took their drivers test, finished before 1 pm but had to come back the next day because lines were 4 hours long. Then COVID hit and it got much worse. https://abc7ny.com/nj-mvc-njmvc-new-jersey-motor-vehicle-commission-reopen/6916030/

That's insane. I was going to suggest AAA, but looks like the ones in NJ don't offer DMV services.

 

[bluezy]

Yeah my husband had to replace his passport that had gotten stolen and only a year-ish from when he renewed. To replace that was $135. To replace a lost DL (REAL ID or not) is $16 in my state. It's a no brainer if we're talking about the hassle of both carrying the passport and the cost if something happens to it.

Personally I was going to use my passport when the deadline was in between my renewal date of my DL but it was never going to be a long-term thing, it was a short-term solution. Luckily the deadline was delayed and I was able to get my REAL ID at my normal renewal in 2022.

I got my Real ID at a regular license renewal time. My daughter's original license wasn't set to expire until 2026 when we got her Real ID last week. I don't know if it's like this in every state, but in PA you do a renewal at the same time as getting the Real ID, but it expires 4 years from the expiration date on your current license. So in her case, we paid the $39.50 renewal fee, but her new license doesn't expire until 2030 (4 years after the original 2026 date) so there's no money lost in the process (and possibly a little money saved if the renewal fee goes up in the next 6 years).

 

[mjkacmom]

That's insane. I was going to suggest AAA, but looks like the ones in NJ don't offer DMV services.

And I’ve had AAA for 40 years. For whatever reason NJ has always been a mess with the DMV.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I got my Real ID at a regular license renewal time. My daughter's original license wasn't set to expire until 2026 when we got her Real ID last week. I don't know if it's like this in every state, but in PA you do a renewal at the same time as getting the Real ID, but it expires 4 years from the expiration date on your current license. So in her case, we paid the $39.50 renewal fee, but her new license doesn't expire until 2030 (4 years after the original 2026 date) so there's no money lost in the process (and possibly a little money saved if the renewal fee goes up in the next 6 years).

To the bolded that's interesting.

In ours if you want the REAL ID indicator (which is when it's out of your renewal cycle) you maintain your original renewal date and just have to pay the photo fee (as you'll get a new photo as you do with normal changes you make to your DL) which is $8. If you get a REAL ID on your renewal date you pay the normal DL renewal fees (no difference in price to REAL ID or regular ID) and your license expires in 6 years (for the majority of people DL are valid for 6 years).

For me my DL expired in May 2022 (last renewed in 2016). They started doing REAL IDs in August 2017 in my state. The REAL ID deadline was October 2020 but was delayed to October 2021 so I would have only needed to use a passport until May 2022 when my license expired and was willing to do that instead of having the hassle of going into the DMV to do the off-renewal ID since it was only from October 2021-May 2022. Obviously the deadline was delayed again but yeah.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I had an appointment with DMV, and was going to get my Real ID. Then COVID hit and all DMV offices were closed. My driver's license expiration date was extended.

When the offices started reopening, they automatically scheduled an appointment for me.

Even with an appointment it took about an hour to get it. BUT, the big thing, I was overly worried about the written test, and I was also going to need a behind the wheel test (yes, I'm old).

When I got to the counter, he looked through all my paperwork, had me do the eye test, and said "step over in front of the camera, and you're done". I was soooooooooo happy, no tests!!!!!!!

 

[fla4fun]

Once my state went Real ID, you could only renew your non compliant license a set number of times before you had to go and get the Real ID version. I renewed online as long as I could, since I have a passport book and card. However, I had to go in person to the DMV for my last renewal and take the documents to get a Real ID because it wouldn’t allow me to renew online anymore. Now that I have the Real ID I am able to renew online again.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Getting the passport will take 6-8 weeks (unless you pay more for expedited) AND the book isn't easy to carry. Now, if you get the card, I could understand.

I should have mentioned that in the next couple of years I'm planning a trip to Ireland, where my nephew wants to celebrate his 40th birthday. It just made sense to me to get the passport now and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[traveler9]

If you need a real ID to fly surely you’ll need one to vote in the election… oh wait.

 

[kdonnel]

The deadline has been pushed to May 5th 2027.

Based on how many times it has been pushed, I wouldn't worry about getting a compliant ID until 2072 at the earliest.

 

[sam_gordon]

The deadline has been pushed to May 5th 2027.

Based on how many times it has been pushed, I wouldn't worry about getting a compliant ID until 2072 at the earliest.

Is that official? I saw it was possible, but not confirmed.

 

[Genie+]

https://fox4kc.com/news/proposal-seeks-enforcement-flexibility-with-real-id-deadline-looming/

Proposal seeks enforcement flexibility with REAL ID deadline looming​

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published a proposed regulation that provides flexibility for REAL ID requirements.

TSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would provide federal agencies with the flexibility to begin enforcement of the REAL ID regulations.

The goal of the proposed rule is to make sure that TSA and other federal agencies are prepared to start enforcing REAL ID laws on May 7, 2025.

There is no extension of the REAL ID deadline by the proposed rule. Instead, it will allow TSA to examine implementing REAL ID through a phased enforcement strategy.