NHSA Blog
Blog posts of '2025' 'February'
Do You Really Need a REAL ID? Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Do You Really Need a REAL ID?You’ve been preparing for months to get your driver’s license. You’ve passed your permit test, logged your hours behind the wheel, and now it’s finally time to make it official. But is it really worth the additional time and effort to prepare the extra paperwork to get a REAL ID? Consider some reasons why it’s important to have your license verified as a REAL ID.
First, and most importantly, beginning May 7, 2025, the U.S. will require REAL IDs to board domestic flights as well as to enter certain government buildings, such as federal courthouses. Even if you don't currently believe that you will need a REAL ID to fly or enter a federal courthouse, life can change unexpectedly, and you never know when this legal requirement may impact your life. Wouldn’t it be better to be prepared beforehand?
Another reason has to do with why the REAL ID was implemented as law in the first place. The REAL ID act was originally passed in 2005 (in response to the events of 9/11) to standardize the identification process and to increase security. The goal is that all that extra paperwork required to authenticate and process your REAL ID, makes licenses harder to counterfeit. Have you ever noticed that those who are about to break the law often wear masks and gloves to hide their identity? A fake license can also be a means to hide someone’s identity. However, the REAL ID adds layers of security, making it more difficult to wear this mask. To gain entry onto a plane or certain facilities, each individual has to have a form of identification that passed layers of security to prove who they really are. Would you like to support this goal for safety by also acquiring a REAL ID?
Whether your aim is to travel or to support additional layers of security, the REAL ID is a good option when getting or renewing your license. To do so, visit your local DMV or an AAA office (in certain states). You will need a birth certificate or current passport, proof of your Social Security number either directly on your Social Security card or indirectly through a tax form, and two proofs of residency such as pieces of mail.
At NHSA, our goal is to provide online driver education courses that equip all drivers with what they need to be safe drivers. Whether you are a teen seeking a learner’s permit, or an adult driver seeking a basic driver safety course, check us out online to see what courses are available in your state!
