The federal deadline for Real ID compliance is one year away and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles wants Nevadans to get the Real ID before then.
On May 3, 2023, any state-issued driver’s license or ID card will have to be Real ID-compliant to be used for identification when boarding commercial aircraft or entering secure federal facilities, according to a news release from DMV.
Real ID is an optional program. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration will also accept valid passports, U.S. military ID and a number of other documents.
The Nevada DMV has set up a special website, GetRealNevada.com, to help residents decide whether to obtain a Real ID and show what documents they will need.
“Check your license or ID card. If it has a gold star in the upper right corner, then you already have a Real ID and you're good to go," DMV Director Julie Butler said. "If not, visit GetRealNevada.com. Because Real ID is optional in Nevada, you get to decide if it is right for you.”
Better than 71 percent of Nevada non-commercial driver’s licenses so far are Real ID-compliant, well above the national average of 49 percent as reported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As of March 31, about 1.5 million of the roughly 2.1 million active Nevada driver’s licenses and instruction permits are Real ID-compliant.
A DMV office visit is necessary to upgrade to a Real ID. Residents must show the proper proof of identity documents one time.
Nevadans can bundle their Real ID upgrade with other transactions including vehicle registration. Customers going to a DMV office for other business should plan on getting the Real ID upgrade while they’re there.
Those without any other upcoming DMV business are encouraged to get their Real ID some time in 2022 to avoid a potential last-minute rush next year. Customers seeking the Real ID upgrade should go to dmv.nv.gov/appointments.htm and make an appointment to visit a DMV office this year.
The Real ID gold star means a driver’s license or state ID card holder has met the federal standards for proof of identity outlined in the Real ID Act of 2005.
The Real ID Act is intended to combat terrorism, identity theft, and other crimes by strengthening the integrity and security of state-issued identification. The act was passed by Congress to enact the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to set standards for sources of identification, including state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. It also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to meet strict requirements on the security of the licensing process and the cards themselves.
