If you do not have a star in the upper right-hand corner of your driver’s license, you have only a few months to get one.

The REAL ID Act will be fully enforced beginning on May 7th, which means you cannot fly on domestic flights or visit federal facilities like military bases after that date without one.  In addition to the star in the upper right-hand corner, compliant REAL IDs have multiple security features, such as holograms, UV images, barcodes, and special printing to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. Americans have had plenty of time to update their identification cards since Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 after the 9/11 attacks. Wisconsin has been offering REAL ID-compliant cards since 2013, and the full implementation has been delayed at least twice due to the pandemic. Because of this, Austin Straubel Airport Director Marty Piette says he does not expect many issues. However, they are still taking their opportunities to educate people who may still not have one.

If you do not have a REAL ID, Piette says you can still fly with a standard license if you carry your passport or passport card. A standard license can also be used to drive, vote, and buy products like alcohol and tobacco. A REAL ID in Wisconsin costs $34 compared to $28 for a regular photo ID. If you have an ID that does not expire before the deadline, you can get a REAL ID for $14. You can find more information on how to get your REAL ID by clicking the link.