Have you gotten your REAL ID yet? If not — from one procrastinator to another — this is a PSA that your non-REAL ID driver’s license isn’t gonna cut it at airport security starting May 7, 2025. That’s just three months away!
What Is REAL ID, Anyway?
For most purposes, REAL IDs and other state-issued ID cards aren’t that different. The main distinction is that, starting next May, TSA will no longer accept IDs that aren’t REAL ID-compliant to board a domestic flight.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 to increase air travel security post-9/11. The law sets minimum standards for the documents you need to get an ID card that's acceptable for domestic flights (i.e., a REAL ID), and it lays out anti-counterfeiting measures states must take when issuing those cards.
Implementation has been delayed … a lot. Originally, enforcement of the law was supposed to start in 2008, but that deadline got pushed to 2020, then 2021, then 2023 — and now 2025.
Do I Need a REAL ID?
It depends. You’ll need one if you’re 18 or older and want to take a domestic flight, get into a federal government facility that requires ID, or enter a military base — unless you have a different form of federally-accepted ID, like a passport or military ID.
The Department of Homeland Security has a quiz to help you figure out if you need one.
You’ll need a REAL ID to board a plane at any U.S. airport after May 7, unless you have another federally-acceptable ID. (KENA BETANCUR/Getty Images)
How Do I Get a REAL ID in DC?
To get the REAL ID with the star, you must go to your local DMV in person and bring certain documents to prove U.S. citizenship and D.C. residency. You cannot change your old license into a REAL ID online.
At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing:
- Proof of age and identity
- Proof of Social Security
- Two proofs of residency
- Lawful presence in the United States
You can find out exactly what documents you need using the D.C. DMV’s document verification guide. They also maintain an extensive FAQ page about obtaining a REAL ID in the District.
The ID will cost you $47 and will last for eight years.
How Can I Tell If My ID is Already a Real ID?
Whether your ID was issued by D.C. or elsewhere, it should have a star in the upper corner if it’s a REAL ID. If your driver’s license or ID card isn’t compliant, it will say “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.”
