What is REAL ID?

What is REAL ID?
If you haven’t already heard, your driver’s license may not be used as a valid ID at airports starting October 1, 2020 unless it is a REAL ID license. The Real ID Act was passed back in May 2005, but won’t be fully effective in Utah and Idaho until October 1, 2020. The Department of Homeland Security put in place the REAL ID Act for the purpose of “improving the security of driver’s license in all 50 states” and to set a basic standard for all states.

Who will this affect?
If traveling is in your future, then this applies to you. While you can still travel with your passport or another approved form of ID, if you plan to use your driver’s license at the airport and you are flying domestically, you will need a license that is REAL ID compliant.

How do I know if my driver’s license is a REAL ID?
There will be a gold or black star located in the upper right-hand corner of your license.

How do I obtain a REAL ID license?
Not all 50 states are currently meeting federal requirements. As of the end of April 2019, there were only 42 states issuing REAL IDs. However, each state is on its way to becoming REAL ID compliant. Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and many other neighboring states are currently issuing new IDs. If your driver’s license expires before October 1, 2020, you will automatically get an updated license upon renewal. However, if your license expires after this date, you will need to check with the Department of Public Safety for your state to see whether or not you need to personally request a new license. Regarding licenses that expire after October 1, 2020, the Utah Department of Public Safety states, “You will receive a complimentary license or identification card with the Real ID indicator in the mail. This complimentary license or identification card will have the same expiration date as your current license or identification card.”

You can find further information on REAL ID for Utah and Idaho Residents here:
Utah REAL ID
Idaho REAL ID

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