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

[tony67]

Why on earth are states still giving the option to get an ID that is not real ID compliant?

What states still give an option?

That seems backwards and completely contrary to the intent of the Real ID Act.

I guess that is the point.

I'm not sure why people are so resistant to provide the necessary information to get a Real ID issued.

A few reasons I can think of...but that is a different discussion. I agree it should only be real ID at some point.

One valid reason is you can just renew online without going in until they require you to get an updated photo. If you want to update it to real ID you have to go in.

Another reason - I took one of my kids in to get one. Made the appointment and showed up - but they had a system glitch and there was no appointment and they said too bad. So I made another appointment and came back in 30 or so days later. I had a passport as well as several bills etc, but they were from the previous date and they said they were too old to get a real ID. So we just said its not worth it give us a standard ID. the DMV or RMV or whatever is just awful to deal with... So at some point we will update it, but with passports and global entry not all that important. Im not going to pay to upgrade it until its expired and we need a new photo.

 

[kdonnel]

A few reasons I can think of...but that is a different discussion. I agree it should only be real ID at some point.

One valid reason is you can just renew online without going in until they require you to get an updated photo. If you want to update it to real ID you have to go in.

Another reason - I took one of my kids in to get one. Made the appointment and showed up - but they had a system glitch and there was no appointment and they said too bad. So I made another appointment and came back in 30 or so days later. I had a passport as well as several bills etc, but they were from the previous date and they said they were too old to get a real ID. So we just said its not worth it give us a standard ID. the DMV or RMV or whatever is just awful to deal with... So at some point we will update it, but with passports and global entry not all that important. Im not going to pay to upgrade it until its expired and we need a new photo.

If you had a passport and two bills dated in the last 6 months the only other document you should have needed is something from the social security number section, for kids a social security card is probably the only option.

It doesn't even have to be the original card. Could be just a copy.

Are some states making it more difficult than the law details just to piss of their residents?

Here is the checklist for US citizens for the state of Georgia.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One valid reason is you can just renew online without going in until they require you to get an updated photo.

That only started for my state last April. Otherwise it was in person only and a photo was required for every change to your license (outside of address change done online) but also for every renewal. Like when I changed my DL to my married name=new picture and that was done outside of my renewal. I suppose now they just use the existing photo for that first time but you can only renew one cycle (which for majority is going to be 6 years) before you have to go in physically as one of the qualifications to be able to renew online is "you did not complete your last renewal online". Then there's the normal age restrictions which I believe most states have. Ours is between age 21 and 64 can renew online.

However, in order to renew online you have to be able to provide eye exam results from within the last 12 months (an eye test would be done at the DMV or you can have your eye place fill out a form you bring with you).

 

[Moliphino]

I have a passport and I will not get the real ID. I will always keep my passport and I don't really want to pay the up charge for real ID. My kids all have passports as well, and the ones that drive, have the old school IDs except my oldest son. We did get him a real ID because he travels a lot for football and flys a ton. For him it made it easier to upgrade. I don't trust him to bring his passport to each game and back etc.

Does Real ID cost more in some states? It's the same in MA and CT.

 

[tony67]

However, in order to renew online you have to be able to provide eye exam results from within the last 12 months (an eye test would be done at the DMV or you can have your eye place fill out a form you bring with you).

That is required over a certain age, but im not there yet.

If you had a passport and two bills dated in the last 6 months the only other document you should have needed is something from the social security number section, for kids a social security card is probably the only option.

Yeah...so the thing is no one gets bills anymore..so I grabbed what I had when I went the first time. I had 1 that was valid and a couple that were a few days too old. Its my own fault I know.

I also had one I tried to argue since it was notice of a student load, but they would not take it. even though it was dated the day before.
They don't have checkbox for that.

Its the RMV - they don't want to make it easy.

Also in my state - it has to be the actual SS card and it cant be laminated - got burned on that in the past - "SSN card (cannot be laminated)"

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is required over a certain age, but im not there yet.

Yeah for ours it's required no matter your age but I can see where that can be something someone doesn't want to deal with (both getting the document and then uploading it) or can't if they haven't been in the last 12 months.

 

[easyas123]

I think you can travel by car to Mexico and Canada with a passport card, but I think you need the book to fly.

Yes that’s correct.

 

[kdonnel]

Yeah...so the thing is no one gets bills anymore..so I grabbed what I had when I went the first time.

Even if you don't get a physical bill, a PDF copy can almost always be downloaded and printed.

Like you I don't get much in my mailbox but I could download recent copies of many utility or credit card bills.

Sounds like your state is just making it harder than it needs to be. The law requires the state to verify the SS number in a database and does not require the physical card even be present.

 

[wallawallakids]

Does Real ID cost more in some states? It's the same in MA and CT.

It costs more in WA state. That’s the biggest reason why I haven’t done it. It’s $97 for a regular Id and $127 for a real ID. We already pay for a passport for us and 4 kids. I don’t want to pay more for real ID as well

 

[sam_gordon]

It costs more in WA state. That’s the biggest reason why I haven’t done it. It’s $97 for a regular Id and $127 for a real ID. We already pay for a passport for us and 4 kids. I don’t want to pay more for real ID as well

That's NUTS! Kentucky...

 

[wallawallakids]

That's NUTS! Kentucky... View attachment 889463

I think I need to move. WA is so expensive for everything.

ETA we don’t even have an option for 8 years! Ours is just 4 years

 

[sam_gordon]

I think I need to move. WA is so expensive for everything.

ETA we don’t even have an option for 8 years! Ours is just 4 years

<marking WA off of 'States to Retire to' list>

 

[kdonnel]

It costs more in WA state. That’s the biggest reason why I haven’t done it. It’s $97 for a regular Id and $127 for a real ID. We already pay for a passport for us and 4 kids. I don’t want to pay more for real ID as well

Holy crap!

Why so expensive?

In Georgia it is $32 for 8 years.

I know there are always some things more expensive and some things cheaper in each state but that seems excessive.

 

[wallawallakids]

Holy crap!

Why so expensive?

In Georgia it is $32 for 8 years.

I know there are always some things more expensive and some things cheaper in each state but that seems excessive.

I just looked it up because I was curious now. And apparently WA is the most expensive state for licenses. We just had another price increase a few months ago. I know the new prices because my youngest son got his license two weeks ago. I knew we were high for grocery costs and utilities but I actually didn’t know that we were that much higher for licensing. It’s a huge difference compared to some other states. Crazy.

 

[summerlyangel]

We all have them. DH and I got it done at our last renewals, and the kids took all necessary paperwork and got them when they first got their license. I'm the only one that had to work hard because I had to find my marriage license lol.

 

[Moliphino]

It costs more in WA state. That’s the biggest reason why I haven’t done it. It’s $97 for a regular Id and $127 for a real ID. We already pay for a passport for us and 4 kids. I don’t want to pay more for real ID as well

It's $50 either way in MA, good for 5 years.

 

[mmouse37]

We both got our RealID during our last DL renewal. We both have passports and Global so I think we are set.

 

[_19disnA]

I believe when Real ID was first introduced, you didn't have any other options when flying once the deadline (which has now changed several times) passed. Now you can use either Real ID or passport to fly which probably solves much of the issue they were originally concerned about.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I believe when Real ID was first introduced, you didn't have any other options when flying once the deadline (which has now changed several times) passed. Now you can use either Real ID or passport to fly which probably solves much of the issue they were originally concerned about.

The passport has always been an option, even national. But RealID, for us anyway, is way more convenient - I always carry my drivers license, and I only carry my passport when traveling internationally. I also expect way more folks have a drivers license in this country than have a passport.

 

[WinterSolider]

Are there really still states that are not issuing compliant id or is it just a matter of people not having renewed since the state went compliant?

Yeah I don't get it. I had a Real ID when I moved to Florida in 2011, and again when I came to Connecticut in 2014. I didn't have to do anything special, that's just the way they came?