New Mandatory IDs: 4 Documents You Need To Get a Real ID and What It Costs
The REAL ID Act has been 20 years in the making.
Introduced for the first time in 2005, the law was designed to 'establish minimum security standards for license issuance and production,' according to TSA.gov. On May 7, 2025, the TSA and federal government began enforcing a need for state-issued REAL IDs to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal facilities. Travelers still need a passport for international flights, to cross borders by land or to embark on certain cruise ships that visit international destinations.
Read Next:
Check Out:
If you haven't already gotten your REAL ID, it's not too late. You can make an appointment at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get one now. However, you may be able to save the hassle of long DMV lines, and some administrative costs, by waiting until your license is up for renewal.
Here's what to know about REAL IDs, including if you need one immediately, how to get one and how much this new travel essential costs.
'If your ID is up for renewal within the next six months and you have no plans to travel by plane or already have an alternate form of ID, it may be worth waiting until your renewal,' advised Katy Nastro, spokesperson and travel expert at Going.com.
Other acceptable forms of ID, according to AAA, include:
Valid passport or passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. military ID
Permanent resident card
See More:
The cost of a REAL ID varies by state. Some states, like Alabama, Oregon and Pennsylvania, charge a fee of $30 or more on top of what you'd normally pay for a license renewal. In some states, you'll only pay the standard license renewal fee.
'I know in New York, for example, they are automatically providing REAL IDs for renewal, but this isn't the case for all states,' Nastro said. 'At a certain point, states may require any driver's license renewal to automatically be a compliant REAL ID.'
If you live in a state with an added charge for a REAL ID and plan to fly before your license is up for renewal, another alternative is to get a passport.
'You would be out-of-pocket at least $130 for a passport,' said Nastro. 'So that's the more expensive route to go.'
Like the cost of a REAL ID, the documents you'll need to present at the DMV to apply for a REAL ID vary by state. In general, according to TSA.gov, you'll need:
A document showing your full legal name and date of birth (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate)
Two proofs of address (such as a utility bill, mortgage statement, lease paperwork, bank or credit card statement or pay stub)
Proof of your Social Security number
If you don't have your Social Security card, you can use a W-2 form, 1099 or a pay stub with your name and Social Security number on it as proof.
Editor's note: The Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, may be called something different where you live depending on your state. Make sure to check your state rules regarding REAL IDs before heading to a DMV location, as every state has different requirements and some prefer you to fill out an application online or make an appointment to go in person.
More From GOBankingRates
5 Luxury Cars That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Spring 2025
8 Items To Stock Up on Now in Case of Tariff-Induced Product Shortages
These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs
6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025
Sources
TSA, 'Real ID'
Katy Nastro, Going.com
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: New Mandatory IDs: 4 Documents You Need To Get a Real ID and What It Costs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
These Are the Best Cities To Fly From To Save Money Going Almost Anywhere
Are you trying to find cheap flights to save money? Whether you are heading to the Caribbean or a domestic location, you'll find many different fares and flight options. Read Next: Explore More: Here are some of the best cities to fly from to save money going almost anywhere, according to a travel expert. So what are the best cities to fly from to save money? GOBankingRates spoke with Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for the Going app. 'The most airports that we often find deals to [are] LGA, FLL, EWR, MIA, JFK, LAX, SNA, ORD and BOS,' Nastro said. In other words, the airports are LaGuardia Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Newark Liberty International Airport, Miami International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. 'There is no surprise here that these are all based in major metro areas that either have competition from other airports in the area and have a wide variety of both domestic and international carriers for travelers to choose from,' Nastro said. For example, at the John F. Kennedy airport, there are more than 70 different airlines. This means the likelihood of multiple carriers flying the same route is high. To gain your business, airlines may lower their fare price. Check Out: By default, most people search for flights from their closest airport. However, repositioning a flight can result in significant cost savings, especially during peak travel seasons, like spring break or over the holidays. Flight repositioning involves using multiple stops to get to the same destination. Nastro described the best way to reposition your flights, saying, 'Typically, we would suggest finding a quick budget flight to reposition yourself 1-2 hours away to another airport to then fly from there. Alternatively, I've even used miles to reposition myself to LA, for example, from NYC. Fares to Asia at the time I was traveling were 40% less expensive from LA. So, to take advantage of that savings, I booked a separate round-trip flight from New York City to LA to reposition myself at no additional cost (minus the taxes).' When looking for cheap flights, you could consider choosing a city that has high competition. This means there are dozens of airlines and route options for you to choose from. Similarly, consider repositioning your flights. You might be surprised to find that booking two flights can save you hundreds of dollars compared with one direct flight. More From GOBankingRates 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses This article originally appeared on These Are the Best Cities To Fly From To Save Money Going Almost Anywhere
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-GETBAGS0525-f470daf746a04cf592ae798059353fd3.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
5 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
How to Get Your Luggage to Arrive First at Baggage Claim, According to Aviation Experts
After a long flight, the last thing anyone wants is to be stuck at baggage claim, watching dozens of suitcases circle by while yours is nowhere in sight. We've all been there—and it's never fun. Fortunately, there are ways to speed up the process and increase your bag's chances of coming out first. Airlines handle staggering volumes of luggage each day. For context, Delta handled 145 million checked bags last year; that breaks down to nearly 400,000 per day on average—an enormous number highlighting how complex and automated modern baggage systems are. While there's no surefire way to guarantee your suitcase is the first one on the carousel, there are a few smart strategies that can seriously improve your odds, says Dollar Flight Club founder Jesse Neugarten. But before diving into those, it's worth debunking one common myth: 'A lot of travelers believe that paying for checked luggage through a basic economy ticket somehow deprioritizes their bag,' Neugarten explains. However, in reality, that's not the case. 'Once the bag is in the system, how it's handled depends much more on when and how it's checked—not the fare class you booked.' Below, we're breaking down expert-approved strategies to boost your bag's chances of being among the first on the carousel. Jesse Neugarten is the founder of Dollar Flight Club, a subscription service that sends members alerts about major airfare drops and occasional mistake fares. Katy Nastro is a travel expert at Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), a membership-based service that helps travelers find deeply discounted flight deals. "Many people don't realize how complex the belly of the checked luggage beast is," explains Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights). "Intricate conveyor belts at some of the world's largest airports are controlled by systems to ensure passengers not only receive their luggage but, in some cases, get their bags first." While there's no guaranteed way to be first at baggage claim, Nastro notes that being a frequent flier or holding elite status is your best bet. Per the pro, airlines often tag these bags differently, making it easier for the system and baggage handlers to separate them. "And for loyalty members, this can be a nice perk—you don't always have to book a premium seat to benefit." Full flight? Take advantage of the opportunity to gate-check your carry-on bag for free, which Nastro describes as a potential "golden opportunity to not have to wait for your bag at the carousel." Keep in mind that gate checks with jet bridge pickup typically only happen on smaller domestic flights with limited overhead bin space. If your bag gets rerouted to baggage claim, gate-checking just before takeoff doesn't necessarily mean it will arrive any faster. Aerial view of luggage on an airport carousel. As he previously mentioned, there's no difference between how bags are treated for basic economy and economy ticket holders. But according to Neugarten, passengers flying in a premium cabin typically have their checked bags tagged as 'priority,' which means they're loaded last and among the first to be unloaded when you land. 'Baggage for first-class passengers often travels on a separate cart and is sorted for fast delivery,' he explains. 'It's one of the few consistent perks airlines still prioritize—and yes, it often works.' 'Even if you're flying economy, asking for a 'priority' tag—sometimes available at check-in for a fee or through certain credit cards—or a 'fragile' label can help,' says Neugarten. He tells Travel + Leisure that bags marked fragile are often placed on top of other luggage and loaded last, which means they're typically among the first to be unloaded upon landing. While it's not a guarantee, Neugarten calls it a low-effort way to potentially jump the line at baggage claim. 'A common misconception is that checking in early gets you better bag service,' says Neugarten. However, the opposite is often true: 'The earlier you check your luggage, the sooner it gets loaded—meaning it's more likely to come out last at baggage claim.' Bags checked closer to departure are typically loaded last and come off first. Just don't cut it too close—or you might miss your flight; many airlines require bags to be checked at least 45 minutes before departure now. When it comes to getting your bag quickly, airport size and efficiency definitely matter, says Neugarten—and the reasoning makes sense. 'Larger hub airports often have longer baggage processing times due to volume,' he explains. 'Smaller or newer airports with upgraded systems tend to deliver bags faster across the board.' So if you have a choice, opting for a smaller or more modern airport could help speed up your time at baggage claim.
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
As demand for US passports grows, here are the states with the most aspiring world travelers
More Americans than ever before are gaining access to international travel with a U.S. passport. According to the Department of State, in 1990, only 5% of U.S. citizens had a passport. As of mid-2024, 48% of Americans have a passport. Pew Research from 2023 says half of Americans have visited between one and four countries in their lifetime, and about a quarter of Americans have visited five or more countries. Although airlines have adjusted their 2025 forecasts to account for lower demand for flying due to uncertainty in the economy, with the May 2025 deadline for a Real ID needed in order to travel domestically, the need for a passport, an alternative form of accepted identification, may continue to increase demand. In the next two years, the Department of State plans to open six new passport offices across the country to meet the need for urgent passport requests. For those with nonurgent requests, a new online renewal application process allows current passport holders to renew their passports in less than two weeks in some instances. In the future, you may not need a physical passport at all to travel-the department is considering digital passports in the next decade, much like the digital driver's licenses Arizona, California, and Georgia have already issued. Such international travel documents would be a world of difference compared to the beginnings of passports. In ancient Persia, before the common era, travel documents were simply papers signed by a king or dignitary to ensure someone's safe journey into foreign lands. The modern-day passport used in the U.S. didn't exist until after World War I, when the country began to try to curb the number of immigrants coming to its borders. Today, whether traveling for business or pleasure, very few places are accessible without this important traveling document. Spokeo used data from the Department of State to see where the rate of passports grew the most. The number of U.S. passports in circulation has skyrocketed over the last 30 years, from around 15,000 U.S.-issued passports per 100,000 people in the early 1990s to more than 45,000 today. By 2007, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection began to implement new programs, including the Trusted Traveler Program, to help make it easier for U.S. citizens to reenter the country after international travel. Programs such as Global Entry allow U.S. travelers enrolled in the program to "fast-track" through Immigration and Customs lines upon arrival in the United States. The Mobile Passport program allows travelers to get through Customs faster via a digital document while they're on their return flight or cruise before reentering the U.S. These programs facilitate faster, easier international travel for U.S. passport holders. District of Columbia residents are more ready for international travel than U.S. residents in any other part of the country. Washington D.C. far outpaces the rest of the country, with more than 35,000 residents out of every 100,000 in D.C. having valid passports. A few factors may be behind its ranking, including the area's higher-than-average median income and its place as an international hub of major government, nonprofit, and research organizations with global reach. D.C. passport holders also have greater access to foreign embassies, making it easier for them to apply for visas in person. Following behind D.C. are coastal states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, and Hawai'i. Many of these states are among those with the most foreign-born citizens, who may be more likely to continue traveling internationally. Residents may also be more likely to travel abroad given their access to international airports, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts, and Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports in California. These airports are more likely to offer cheaper or direct flights to international travel hubs such as London's Heathrow Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story was produced by Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
