Latest news with #RealID-only
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Long waits, no appointments: How DMVs across the country are prepping for Real ID deadline
After years of delays, the final, very real deadline to have a Real ID while flying in the U.S. is right around the corner, and some states are in a scramble to make sure everyone has a compliant ID. Real ID, a standard for travel identification first passed by Congress in 2005, will be a requirement to fly domestically starting May 7, after multiple delays from the original deadline in 2020. Anyone who wants to get on a plane will need either a Real ID or another compliant document like a passport starting that date, or risk facing delays or refusal to board altogether. Though Real IDs have been available in most states for several years, travelers could still use standard driver's licenses or state ID cards to fly within the country until now. The Department of Homeland Security estimated that by May 2025, somewhere between 61% and 66% of ID-holders would have Real IDs. The good news is that in some states like Florida, most people with licenses already have Real IDs because anyone who got a new license or renewed their license there since 2010 has gotten the Real ID. Of all Marylanders with state IDs, 99% have Read ID. But in many states, the Real ID rollout has been optional, with some choosing a standard license, which might require fewer documents or a lower fee. They will now need to upgrade if they plan to travel by air domestically. Now that the deadline is creeping up, there's a last-minute scramble overwhelming some Department of Motor Vehicle offices. In some states, DMVs have added special Real ID-only appointments to satisfy demand and in others, appointments are hard to come by altogether. Anticipating a surge of customers looking for Real IDs, several states have extended their DMV hours or set aside special appointment times for the final push before the deadline. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles started offering walk-in appointments for Real ID-seekers at all its locations, the agency said in an announcement. As of April 8, about 57% of IDs in the state were Real IDs, the USA TODAY Network in New England reported. Oklahoma and California have both extended DMV hours at some locations to serve Real ID customers. Eighteen California locations will open an hour early at 7 a.m. through June 27 on every day of the week except Wednesdays, reported the Victorville Daily Press. In Oklahoma, some of the state's ID centers located in busy metro areas will stay open until 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays for the rest of the year for Real IDs, according to the Oklahoman. In Pennsylvania, DMVs around the state are hosting "Real ID Days" on Mondays when the locations are otherwise closed so they can see Real ID customers exclusively. Some of the locations can even process applications and issue the IDs at the time of service; at others, Pennsylvanians will submit their documents and wait for the ID to come in the mail. The next Real ID Day is April 28. Illinois set up a Real ID-only walk-in "supercenter" in Chicago to handle the demand for appointments. Montgomery and Rensselaer counties in New York restricted their DMVs to county residents only to deal with the demand, while locations are usually open to residents across the state, News 10 in Albany reported. Residents in New Jersey have become frustrated by a lack of available appointments at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission locations, according to a part of the USA TODAY Network. As the May 7 deadline approaches, appointments are nowhere to be found. The afternoon of April 15, there weren't any Real ID appointments at any locations statewide, the outlet reported. The demand for Real IDs remains extraordinarily high, authorities in New Jersey said. About 3,500 new appointments for Real ID upgrades are added each morning on a rolling basis, said Jim Hooker, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Every Thursday, for the "Real ID Thursday" program, about 4,600 additional appointments for will be added as they roll over on the scheduler, said Hooker. Since the start of the program, "Real ID Thursday" has added over 43,000 appointments. More: DMV wait times are often long. Are appointment resellers making them worse? "Why is it so difficult to get an appointment?" reads a banner on the Illinois Secretary of State website. The answer: a rush on Real ID appointments. Because of the deadline, "our facilities and website have been overwhelmed with requests for Real IDs," the site said, urging people to check whether they need a Real ID right away or whether they can hold off until the surge passes. Long lines that wrap around blocks and hourslong waits have been reported at DMVs from Illinois to Tennessee to Pennsylvania, the Wall Street Journal reported. In Florida, the tax collector's office in Florida's Miami-Dade County announced in March, weeks before the deadline, that it 'uncovered a network of appointment' resellers booking hundreds of DMV appointments before turning them around to unsuspecting residents for a cost. Real ID cards look slightly different depending on what state you're in, but they all have some variation of the same star symbol stamped on the top portion of the card, usually in one of the corners. The symbols are either a gold or black star shape, a gold or black circle with a star inside or in the case of California, a bear with a star. Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY: USA TODAY Network-Florida; The Oklahoman; USA TODAY Network-New England; the Victorville Daily Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Real ID deadline approaches as DMVs struggle to keep up with demand
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Limited appointments, hour-long lines: Real ID deadline looms in WA
This story was originally published on With approximately 20-40% of U.S. travelers still lacking proper identification, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Washington residents are heading to local Department of Licensing (DOL) offices in droves. May 7 is the deadline for citizens to get their Real ID—a federally compliant form of identification, such as a driver's license or state ID, that meets specific federal security standards. 'Without it, you won't be able to get on a plane or visit many federal buildings, like courthouses or military bases,' Chris Sullivan, traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio, said. 'A Washington driver's license is not acceptable because our state doesn't require proof of citizenship or other information.' Washington's enhanced driver's license qualifies as a Real ID. The original deadline for Real ID compliance was set for October 2020, but it was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As flocks of people attempt to get their Real ID by the deadline, a shortage of appointments is occurring nationwide. Illinois set up a Real ID-only walk-in 'supercenter' in Chicago in order to handle the large demand for appointments. New York restricted its DMVs to county-only residents to deal with its demand. According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, approximately 3,500 appointments are added daily for Real ID upgrades. Hours-long waits that wrap around blocks have been reported at DMVs in multiple states, including Illinois, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, the Wall Street Journal reported. Washingtonians can still walk into any location and wait, but walk-ins will likely take a while. 'If you're not seeing an appointment and you waited to the last minute, you can also still walk into one of our offices,' DOL's Thomas Charlson told MyNorthwest. 'I'd suggest there, to also plan ahead. We do have estimated wait times on our website that give you an idea of how long it's going to be to get into the office.' The best option could be standing outside the office as soon as it opens. Getting your name on that walk-in list early will likely save you several hours. Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
CBS News
18-04-2025
- CBS News
Real ID scams surge as deadline nears, Better Business Bureau warns
With the deadline to obtain a Real ID just weeks away , the Better Business Bureau is warning about a surge in scams designed to steal your identity. The BBB said scammers are using a variety of tactics to deceive individuals into giving up sensitive information that can then be used to steal their identity, including calls, texts, emails offering to "help" you get a Real ID, or fake websites. "No government agency will contact you out of the blue regarding a Read ID," warned BB President and CEO Steve Bernas. Bernas said he expects thieves will rely on the increase chaos and urgency in the finally days before the Real ID becomes required to fly domestically to exploit people who may overlook suspicious URLs or misspelled texts and comply with demands for immediate actions. Beyond stealing sensitive information, these scams can also expose your devices to malware. Illinois officials have been working hard to make the Real ID accessible and easy to obtain before the May 7 deadline. A new Real ID-only supercenter opened in downtown Chicago at 191 N. Clark Street, which takes walk-ins from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Illinois Secretary of State has also been opening new DMV facilities that integrate multiple DMV and administrative services into one location with larger staff in hopes of expediting a number of services, including getting a Real ID. Real IDs will be required to fly domestically starting on May 7, but that does not mean your driver's license or other official government-issued identification is rendered invalid. Regular IDs are still valid for driving, voting, general identification purposes, entering some state or federal properties and receiving state or federal services. You will need a Real ID or a valid U.S. Passport or passport card to fly domestically or visit a military base or secure federal facility. If your current ID is not expiring and you have a valid alternative form of identification like a passport or passport card, the state of Illinois recommends you wait to get your Real ID until your current ID expires or the initial crush of Real ID appointments eases. A U.S. Passport is still required for international travel. To see what you need to bring to get a Real ID, click here to visit the Illinois Secretary of State website .
