Anybody here up to speed on “Real ID”?

[Monty]

Heard some people in the break room saying it would now be virtually impossible for the average US citizen to be able to board a plane without “Real ID”.  
I assume this will require more bureaucratic hassle involving a birth certificate, background investigation etc.

Anybody had to “upgrade” recently?  If so, how much of a pain is it?

 

 

 

[ranma]

Ohio real ID requirement Birth Certificate and a Utility bill in the persons name. ID is Mailed to the person which they get via USPS a week or so after going to the local BMV Offices. this will have to be repeated ever 4-8 years!

[Rodent]

Had mine in California for 6 years now. I had to go in to DMV to renew my license (reached the limit of by-mail renewals), so I upgraded it while I was there. It was relatively painless, but I already had a passport. I took in a couple of utility bills, my birth certificate, SS card, and my passport. Told them to pick whatever they wanted. When the license is renewed every 5 years, it is still a Real ID, no reapplication is necessary.

This has been coming for 20 years now, shouldn't be a surprise.....

[1930fordpickup]

Not much of a pain as anything else at the DMV. Get the info your state requires before you show up.

Normaly it is your current ID a passport and or your birth certificate.

They did give a reprieve for a few days or weeks because the 2 decades were not enough time. 

 

[Rob Hall]

I got mine the last time I got a new driver's license when I moved in 2023. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

You don’t need it if you have a passport.

I have both, but you can travel anywhere as long as you have a passport.

The real ID is virtually useless if you travel internationally.

Only good in the US, and in my view, it’s just as easy to travel with a passport.

 

 

Steve

[thatz4u]

not even concerned...

[1972coronet]

My birth certificate... last time I saw it en vivo was close to 40 years ago- and I've moved three times since. 

I don't have any utility bills to present, as I split utilities with my dad (I'm his caregiver) .

No passport, either.

Oh, well... no air travel for me !

[Little Timmy]

I refuse to pay the extra fee just to get a gold star on my license !

This is just as stupid as the banks charging you $5 to cash a check from another bank. They claim the fee is to discourage fraud. HA!

If I was a guy with a fraudulent check I would happily pay the $5 to cash a $5,000 check.

There is NO difference between a real ID and a regular license.

You need the same documentation to get either, why charge an extra fee just to prove what you already proved ?

 

" oooooh look" ." I got a gold star"

"Dont I feel special" 

Ok... rant over .

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

The thing is, without a passport, most American citizens won't be able to fly commercially within the US without the gold or black star.

I don't fly commercial much these days, but when I have to, I HAVE to.

My own GA license has been "real" for many years, but AZ doesn't accept the GA document and automatically issue a "real" one when you move...at least they didn't in 2021. For the "real" version, AZ requires your old license plus all fresh documentation: birth cert or passport and proof of local residency.

Yeah, it's a minor PITA, but it is what it is, and once you get it, it's done.

Edited Saturday at 12:34 AM by Ace-Garageguy

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Little Timmy said:

I refuse to pay the extra fee just to get a gold star on my license !

This is just as stupid as the banks charging you $5 to cash a check from another bank. They claim the fee is to discourage fraud. HA!

If I was a guy with a fraudulent check I would happily pay the $5 to cash a $5,000 check.

There is NO difference between a real ID and a regular license.

You need the same documentation to get either, why charge an extra fee just to prove what you already proved ?

 

" oooooh look" ." I got a gold star"

"Dont I feel special" 

Ok... rant over .

 

All of that is understandable, but without a real ID or a passport, you’re not getting on a plane.

That’s just the way it’s gonna be.

 

 

 

Steve

[ranma]

Real ID is also required to enter Federal Buildings and Military bases ect. Which includes national museums.  SINCE MAY 7, 2025 Real ID are required to enter All Federal Buildings, Even the Air Museum in Dayton, Ohio!

Edited Friday at 05:59 AM by ranma

[peteski]

10 hours ago, ranma said:

Real ID is also required to enter Federal Buildings and Military bases ect. Which includes national museums.  SINCE MAY 7, 2025 Real ID are required to enter All Federal Buildings, Even the Air Museum in Dayton, Ohio!

And as mentioned, a valid passport will also get you into all those places, but not many of us carry a passport with us at all times.

[Little Timmy]

I took an aviation course in highschool,  I can fly myself .... now, who can I borrow  an airplane from ???

 

[JollySipper]

1 hour ago, Little Timmy said:

I took an aviation course in highschool,  I can fly myself .... now, who can I borrow  an airplane from ???

 

Flying an aircraft is serious business! There's no room for yoking around..........  

[John M.]

I needed a birth certificate and SS card to renew my Class B CDL back in Sept. of 2020 before my birthday for the first time per Federal and State law. I'll need to do it again next year. 

Edited Saturday at 01:53 AM by John M.

[Mike C]

In GA we need a black or gold star on the upper right of the driver's license. Mine has the black star so I'm OK.