{"id":107551,"date":"2024-06-26T17:30:56","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T17:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/read-id-vs-drivers-license-everything-you-need-to-know-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-26T17:30:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T17:30:56","slug":"read-id-vs-drivers-license-everything-you-need-to-know-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/read-id-vs-drivers-license-everything-you-need-to-know-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Read ID vs. driver’s license: Everything you need to know – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As previously reported<\/a>, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will finally require American travelers to carry a Real ID for domestic airport travel starting May 7, 2025.<\/p>\n

If you’ve traveled through a U.S. airport in the last few years, you may have noticed signs near security checkpoints reminding passengers about the Real ID Act. The law was originally supposed to take effect in 2008, but the deadline has been extended several times.<\/p>\n

If you don’t have a Real ID yet, you may be wondering if you can still travel with a regular driver’s license.<\/p>\n

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Real ID requirement to ensure your travels go smoothly.<\/p>\n

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What is the Real ID Act?<\/h2>\n

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 in response to the 9\/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set clearer “standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.”<\/p>\n

The law established a uniform set of specifications for driver’s licenses and other government-issued ID cards. It also prohibited government agencies from accepting identification that does not meet the standards of the Real ID Act.<\/p>\n

One of the act’s goals was to add an extra layer of security to commercial aviation by making it more difficult for people to obtain false documents to access airplanes.<\/p>\n

Government agencies will require more documentation when issuing Real IDs, and the cards are more advanced and, therefore, harder to forge.<\/p>\n

The law has taken two decades to implement because each state has different standards and processes for issuing photo IDs. Several states and the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the law, saying that the federal government was overreaching.<\/p>\n

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The Real ID Act will now officially go into effect May 7, 2025, giving you less than a year to make sure you have a compliant Real ID \u2014 or have plans to obtain one.<\/p>\n

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How to tell if you have a Real ID<\/h2>\n

Because this law has been on the books for a while, many states have started issuing Real IDs before they’re federally required, meaning you might already have a Real ID.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are a few easy ways you can check. Generally, IDs with a star or star cutout are Real ID-compliant.<\/p>\n

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