New Air Travel Requirement: Is Your Driver's License a 'Real ID'?

COSTA MESA, Calif. - March 3, 2020 - PRLog -- Starting October 1, 2020, most Americans will need a new ID to fly domestically. Two-thirds of all valid US state driver's licenses are not compliant with a post-9/11 security law. The REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for the issuing of state licenses. However, not all states heeded the call.

U.S citizens and legal residents who do not carry what is referred to as a "REAL-ID" will simply not be able to board their flight. Federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are prohibited from accepting licenses from states that do not meet the minimum standards.

The reason you may not have a REAL-ID compliant driver's license is because not every state has been issuing licenses that are in keeping with REAL-ID requirements. Your state may or may not be compliant so it's important to check to see if you have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license if you plan to fly in or after October 1.

If your state became compliant in the past couple of years but your driver's license was issued before the state became compliant, you do not have a REAL-ID compliant driver's license and must get a new one if you do not have a passport/other documentation instead (see below for permitted IDs).

DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said in a press release that "ensuring every state is REAL-ID compliant by October is one of the Department's top priorities. While progress has been made, the real work is still ahead because approximately two-thirds of all licenses are presently not compliant with Real-ID.

To get a REAL-ID, Wolf says that an in-person visit is required, "as is showing up with physical copies of your documents."

In order to board a flight, you may also present the following:

• U.S, passport
• U.S. military ID.
• U.S passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri, Fast)
• U.S Department of Defense ID (and IDs issued to dependents)
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• State-issued enhanced driver's license
• Tribal issued photo ID
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker ID credentials
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

After you get up-to-date with the necessary documents for air travel, you should also get car insurance quotes (https://smartfinancial.com/auto-insurance) to see which insurer will offer you the best rates for the most comprehensive insurance.