REAL ID On Track For Implementation This Month

The Missouri Department of Revenue recently announced that it remains on track to begin offering REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards on March 25, 2019.

There are a few key points that I would like to share with you about the department’s compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005.

First, applying for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card is a choice under Missouri law, and not every person will necessarily need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card. Current Missouri driver’s licenses and ID cards will provide the same access as a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card until October 1, 2020.

You do not need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID to drive, vote or register to vote, to verify your age, state purposes or if you hold another form of identification that meets federal requirements, such as a valid U.S. passport or passport card.

However, if you will need to access federal facilities like military bases and federal courthouses or need to enter nuclear power plants, you will need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID.

You will also need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID to fly domestically if you do not have a valid U.S. passport or passport card.

The transaction and processing fees for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID will remain the same as they are currently, and you may find detailed fee information here. If you are unsure of the nearest licensing office location, you can find it using this location map. The department has also posted a frequently asked questions page regarding the REAL ID Act and Missouri’s compliance with the law on the department’s website.

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