20 Resources To Help You Become Better At Buy A Real Driving License
Buy a Real Driving License in New York
If your driver's license or non-driver ID card states "Not for Real ID purposes," it will no longer be valid for air travel or federal buildings after 2025. Make an appointment to upgrade to a real ID or an ENHANCED ID today!
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005. It sets security standards for all identification cards, permits and driver's licenses.
How to Get a Real ID
You will need all the documents required to upgrade your driver's licence, obtain an enhanced license or REAL ID card. To do this, you will have to schedule an appointment at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
Bring all of your documents to the DMV when you schedule an appointment to be scanned. This will ensure that there are no issues when you try to use your current driving license. Also, remember to carry a valid proof of identification with you, such as your birth certificate, passport, or another state-issued ID.
You will need to submit two proofs of your residence in New York if you are applying for either a REAL ID (Enhanced ID) or REAL ID (Real ID). It could be as easy as the credit card statement or utility bill, or a pay stub showing your name and New York residence. Any document with the word P.O. box or a nickname in it is not accepted.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 by Congress and established minimum security standards for all state-issued drivers licenses and identification cards. It was designed to stop identity fraud by making it harder for criminals obtain fake documents. As as of related website , 2025, you'll require a REAL ID or a UPDATED ID to travel within the United States or to access certain federal facilities.
For more information on the documentation you need and the documentation required, you can go to the DMV's Document Guide for a REAL ID or ENHANCED Driver's License(opens in an entirely new tab). You can also download a useful list of documents to bring to the DMV.
You can also download the checklist from PennDOT's REAL ID document check page (opens in a separate tab). However you must visit an official Pennsylvania DMV REAL ID center(opens in an entirely new tab) to have your documents imaged and verified, as this procedure is not available online.
What documents do I need?
If you're looking to obtain an ENHANCED or REAL ID card, then you'll need to make a trip in person to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Unlike renewing standard licenses and ID cards, getting or upgrading to a REAL or ENHANCED ID requires you to be in person and present certain documents. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 and established minimum security standards on state-issued identification cards as well as driver's licenses. This came after the 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government be more selective in the credentials it accepts to gain access to military bases, federal buildings and air travel.
You'll need to provide various forms of identification to your local DMV to upgrade to REAL ID. You'll need one photo identification form as proof of your birth date (birth certificate), as well as two forms of New York State residence that include your full name and address. Documents that can be used include the following: a New York State license, permit or non-driver ID card mortgage statement, bank statement; pay stubs credit card statement; utility bill or a certified copy of a marriage certificate; divorce decree or court order that includes the address and name of the person who issued it.
You'll need evidence of U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Resident Status, or Temporary Legal Status in the United States. If you have a Social Security Number, please bring it along to. The DMV website has an online document list that will help you decide which documents you need to bring to your DMV appointment.
When you've arranged an appointment at your DMV office, get all of your documentation together and prepare to take a vision screening during your visit. Bring your eyeglasses and contact lenses as needed. After your documents are in order you will be eligible to receive your enhanced or REAL ID, and begin traveling with confidence. The DMV will put a gold star on the upper right corner of your new ID card, which means it is in compliance with federal requirements.
How Much will it cost?
A real driving license is a state-government-issued document that confirms a person's identity and allows them to operate certain types of motorized vehicles. The requirements for obtaining a license vary from state to state, and those who are looking to obtain a new driver's license should contact their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to learn details about their requirements and charges.
The process for getting a valid driving license is similar to that of obtaining a standard state driver's license. It is essential to check the DMV website of your state to make sure you have all the required documents in order to avoid delays and issues.
For instance In Hawaii in Hawaii, the cost of a Real ID driver's license costs $40 for eight years while a Real ID state identification card costs the same amount. The DMV accepts cash personal checks, personal money orders, checks and banker's checks for payments.
Different states may have different requirements to verify identity and citizenship. For example they might require two forms of proofs of address or certified copies of birth certificates. Certain states also require applicants to provide their Social Security number, U.S. passport or legal name, whereas others require only a birth date and legal name.
In Massachusetts, Registry of Motor Vehicles oversees the Real ID Program. Anyone who wants to get a Real ID must bring the required original or certified documents to prove their identity. Additionally, the Real ID non-commercial driver's license costs $50, while a Real ID photo identification card costs $25.
You'll be required to pay the usual transaction costs associated with your application, whether you're replacing your license or applying for a Real ID. These fees could include state filing and administrative fees.
Insurify's calculators let you calculate the cost of an Real ID in any state. This includes any transaction-related fees that could be applicable. The calculator estimates the prices depending on the input you provide however they may fluctuate between the time that you submit your application and the actual transaction. The calculators can be a good starting point for estimating your costs and preparing for any fees that you might be charged.
Where can I get a Real ID?
If you live in New York, the Department of Motor Vehicles offers three options for a REAL ID, an enhanced ID or a standard license. If you choose an enhanced ID or REAL ID, you'll need to upgrade your existing documents to be able to use them on domestic flights as well as some federal buildings starting May 7, 2025. The online document guide for your state will assist you to create a checklist of the documents that you should bring to the DMV.
The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for driver's licenses permits, ID cards and driver's licences issued by states. Federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration are prohibited from accepting cards that do not meet these requirements. However older cards will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy alcohol and other products that are age-regulated, gamble in casinos and access government facilities.
New Yorkers may obtain an enhanced or REALID by visiting their local DMV office and providing one ID proof as well as a proof of legal status and two proofs of New York residency. For proof of residency, you may use the bank statement or credit card bill that has an address in New York.
If you are renewing your license, permit, or ID prior to the date this requirement comes into effect, you can convert it to a real ID by providing the appropriate documents. In addition, if you were born in the United States or have been legally admitted by a treaty (such as a visa issued by the Department of Homeland Security) or have a lawfully permanent status, you will be able to apply for a REAL ID at your local DMV.
The Real ID Act was modified to include residents of the Freely Associated States (FAS) like the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. This modification, which was made as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 allows them to obtain an all-year Real ID.