REAL-ID cards available in Missouri Monday

Get ready to “get real.”

The Missouri Department of Revenue will begin offering REAL ID-compliant drivers licenses and non-driver ID cards Monday, March 25.

As of Oct. 1, 2020, residents of every state and territory will have to present a REAL-ID-compliant card to board federally regulated domestic flights or access federal facilities.

Until then, your current license will work for those purposes. Applying for the REAL ID is optional under Missouri law.

REAL ID” comes from the REAL ID Act of 2005, a federal law that focused on fraud protection, anti-terrorism, and driver license and non-driver license identification card (ID card) security.

The REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and ID cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official purposes driver licenses and ID cards from states that do not meet these standards.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has been working to meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act and remains on track to achieve full implementation in 2019.

As mentioned above, beginning Oct. 1, 2020, residents of every U.S. state and territory will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board federally regulated domestic flights.

Also beginning Oct. 1, 2020, individuals must present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of acceptable ID, to access federal facilities, including military bases and federal courthouses, and to enter nuclear power plants.

You are not required and likely do not need to obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card if:

• You will not need one for any of the above purposes on or after Oct. 1, 2020; or
• You hold another form of identification that meets federal requirements, such as a valid U.S. passport or passport card.
• You can apply for a REAL ID-compliant driver license or non-driver ID card beginning March 25, 2019. REAL ID-compliant licenses and ID cards will not be available prior to that date.

Please note: the current Missouri-issued license and ID card will afford you the same access as a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card until Oct. 1, 2020. Therefore, you do not need to rush to apply for your REAL ID-compliant license or ID card.

IMPORTANT: When applying for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card, please allow time for its processing and mailing (typically 10-15 days). If you need to fly on Oct. 1, 2020, and you wait to renew until Sept.30, 2020, you will not receive your REAL ID-compliant license or ID card in time to fly.

Consider renewing no later than Sept. 1, 2020, if you will need to fly on or soon after Oct. 1, 2020, to allow sufficient time for delivery of your license or ID card.