This sign at Miami International Airport reminds American travelers that they must upgrade their driver’s licenses to REAL IDs by May 7 to fly domestically . Photo by AP/Aaron M. Sprecher

Business & Law

Seven Things to Know About Getting Your REAL ID

By May 7, it will be the only driver’s license accepted for accessing domestic flights, some federal buildings, military bases

Sometimes government inefficiency isn’t such a bad thing. If you’re a procrastinator, then the two-decade delay in rolling out the new REAL ID driver’s licenses gives you one last shot to upgrade your current license before May 7.

On that date, REAL IDs will be the only licenses acceptable as identification to fly domestically, to access certain federal facilities, and to get onto military bases. Otherwise, you’ll have to prove who you are with a passport or passport card.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, but foot-dragging by states wary of federal oversight, and the pandemic, hindered implementation. Now, with the May 7 deadline looming, here are seven things to know about getting REAL with your license.

You must apply for it in person. Online applications for REAL IDs aren’t permitted. If you live in Massachusetts, find Registry of Motor Vehicles locations here.

“AAA members can renew licenses at the AAA office in downtown Boston,” including REAL ID upgrades, says Carl Larson, assistant director of Boston University Transportation Demand Management and Planning. “It’s by appointment, so it’s usually a lot faster than going to the Registry.”

For Massachusetts residents, the state has a checklist of documents you’ll need to obtain your REAL ID. Present the checklist and the application documents when you go to get your license. Among those necessary documents are identification, such as a passport or a birth certificate; your Social Security number (either via your card or a pay stub); two proofs of residency, such as bills; and proof of your signature.

US Passport Cards are REAL IDs, too, says Larson. “Consider getting one if you travel to/from Canada or Mexico by land frequently. A passport card can be attained right at the Boston Passport Agency, which makes it a good option for those who can’t return to their home state to renew their out-of-state license/ID in person.”

A regular license, not a REAL ID, is all you need if you just want to: drive, vote, open a bank account, get Social Security and veterans’ benefits, or go to a post office or hospital.

You DO need a REAL ID to: take domestic US flights, unless you have a valid passport; visit secure federal buildings—for instance, a courthouse; and to visit military bases.

The genesis of REAL ID lies in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. After that tragedy, one focus of the federal government was on individual states’ differing requirements for driver’s licenses. The REAL ID Act “established higher standards for the processing and issuance of state driver’s licenses and state ID cards,” says John Woodward, a professor of the practice of international relations at BU’s Pardee School of Global Studies and a Central Intelligence Agency veteran. 

“Under the REAL ID Act, applicants have to provide additional proof of their identity, and the issued credential contains heightened anti-counterfeiting features. In practical terms, the personal benefit is that you can use your REAL ID for Transportation Security Administration purposes, which is usually easier than carrying your passport.” He notes that a REAL ID–compliant credential has a star in the upper right hand corner.