Real ID - do you have one?

[Boyd]

Finally got around to looking at the requirements since my Driver License is up for renewal this summer. Looks like a real pain in the butt, might be hard to come up with everything they want.

REAL ID NJ is Coming May 7, 2025 | NJMVC REAL ID

The official NJMVC site for NJ REAL ID. Learn more about if you need REAL ID, how to get it and what to bring. Are you ready for May 7, 2025?

www.nj.gov

My passport expired last year, apparently I could renew and use it instead for air travel. With all the government chaos, this might be a bad time for that now. Fortunately, I have no plans to fly anywhere (and not having ID could be a good excuse not to go if somebody wants me to, LOL).

They have postponed implementing this at least once already. I really wonder if they will again? Seems to me there will be a real mess at the airports on May 7 otherwise. Just for fun, I have included a poll!

 

[Teegate]

The problem may be that you can't get in some government offices without one after May. I believe that even includes Arlington Cemetery. Could be wrong on that. And if you get federal jury duty are they just going to let you use your jury summons in place of Real ID?

I am in no rush but I will be getting one after most people have acquired it.

 

[RednekF350]

I'll definitely get one. Eventually. My CDL isn't up for renewal until August 2026 and has to be done in person. I will probably wait until then. Visiting MVC is always a living nightmare and I might as well get the most for my 3 hours of torture.

 

[bobpbx]

I am fairly certain I tried to get it in 2020, but could not due to a glitch in doing the face photo. It was a difficult processs and they could not complete it. Since then, I do have IDme, which gets me into most government offices (IRS, Social Security, Medicare, ect.). So why is that not good enough (it's not good enough because ID me is only for digital use).

Edit; my passport is good till end of 2026, so I can use that in lieu of RealID.

 

[bobpbx]

Just to see what the backup is for appointments at the DMV, I checked it.

 

[Boyd]

Was just reading an article somewhere that said NJ has no appointments available for the next month, so if you need a real ID when it goes into effect on May 7... you're out of luck.

 

[noboat]

I know who i am

 

[Leewardian]

I was able to schedule for one in January before the appointments were all wiped out. It was a quick and easy thing at the 'Hawkin MVC; got a paper to go along with my old license til it came in the mail, one week later. It would appear they just need to open up more appointments or push back the date, but where would be the fun in that?

 

[stiltzkin]

When appointments become available again, I suggest making one for as early in the morning as possible, right when they open. It was a nightmare initially trying to get Real ID at the Delanco location. I ended up making an 8AM appointment in Vineland and I was in and out of there in about 20 minutes.

 

[enormiss]

They had a mobile unit come to our town but your license had to be expiring soon to get an appointment.
Look into that if you need a license anyway...
I'll wait it out. License is good till 2027, maybe by then appointments will be available. Passport until then!

 

[RJG]

I figured I would get one after the deadline when they have appointments available. Just my luck though, I had an unexpected cancellation with a client in June which opened up a few weeks for me to visit with family in Florida…but now I can’t fly there without a real ID. I should have enough time to get a passport though.

 

[Boyd]

I'd be really surprised if they are actually able to enforce this on May 7...

But the TSA has said it plans to begin "phased enforcement" on May 7, though it hasn't shared details about what that means. In a federal rule published this year, the agency said it could take a "phased approach" to enforcement over two years, with the ability to issue warnings to people without Real IDs to avoid "a serious risk of operational disruption, negative public impact, and potential security vulnerabilities." Another TSA spokesperson told member station KUT that security officers may subject travelers with non-Real ID licenses to extra screening measures.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/10/nx-s1-5355902/real-id-enforcement-may-7

 

[RJG]

I'd be really surprised if they are actually able to enforce this on May 7...

But the TSA has said it plans to begin "phased enforcement" on May 7, though it hasn't shared details about what that means. In a federal rule published this year, the agency said it could take a "phased approach" to enforcement over two years, with the ability to issue warnings to people without Real IDs to avoid "a serious risk of operational disruption, negative public impact, and potential security vulnerabilities." Another TSA spokesperson told member station KUT that security officers may subject travelers with non-Real ID licenses to extra screening measures.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/10/nx-s1-5355902/real-id-enforcement-may-7

 

[RJG]

The ID and background checks needed to get a handgun permit in NJ is much more stringent than what they’re asking for to get a real ID. It would be nice if they accepted my handgun permits as verification for a real ID. I have already had my background investigated by law enforcement more times than Al Capone.

 

[bobpbx]

The ID and background checks needed to get a handgun permit in NJ is much more stringent than what they’re asking for to get a real ID. It would be nice if they accepted my handgun permits as verification for a real ID. I have already had my background investigated by law enforcement more times than Al Capone.

I don't see why a regular driver's license is not good enough. Don't we have to show a lot of ID in several varieties for that?

 

[Boyd]

In some states, all the drivers licenses are real ID compliant but NJ is not one of them. The whole thing is ridiculous, having to make an appointment to get this thing which everybody should have. I can renew my drivers license by mail or online, that's what I'm going to do; anything to save a trip to the DMV (or MVC or whatever). Then I'll worry about the real ID later, if they even enforce it.

 

[RJG]

I don't see why a regular driver's license is not good enough. Don't we have to show a lot of ID in several varieties for that?

Agreed. I had to show my birth certificate, social security card, firearms ID card, bank statements, credit card statements and utility bills…and they have my fingerprints on file. That should be sufficient.

 

[Boyd]

Getting my REAL ID was a real ordeal

While waiting in line for hours at the King of Prussia driver license center, I met people who were making their second and third attempts to get the federally mandated identification cards.

www.phillyvoice.com

 

[Sue Gremlin]

I travel a lot for work so I got it years ago.