If your driver’s license or state identification card does not expire until after May 2025, you may want to schedule an appointment with your local Department of Motor Vehicles office.
REAL ID is a more secure version of your driver’s license and it is often denoted by a star in the upper right-hand corner. The state has been issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses and ID cards since January 2013, leaving only a few stragglers when it comes to people carrying a non-compliant card. Without a REAL ID, you will not be able to fly within the United States or visit military bases and other federal buildings. The pandemic is to blame for the deadline being pushed out twice, most recently in 2022 to May 7th, 2025.