PennDOT reminder: Deadline to have REAL ID one year away

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding customers that in one year federal enforcement of the REAL ID Act will begin at airports and secure federal facilities nationwide.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, federally-accepted form of identification (whether it’s a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. Passport/Passport Card, a military ID, etc.) must be used as identification to board a commercial flight or visit a secure federal building that requires ID at the door. REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and photo ID cards have been available at the customer’s option since March 2019.

To date, more than 400,000 Pennsylvanians have chosen to get a REAL ID-compliant product. Based on data from other states with optional REAL ID programs, PennDOT anticipates that approximately 1.3 million of its customers will get a REAL ID before the federal enforcement deadline.

“We are pleased that so many Pennsylvanians have been proactive, and have chosen to get their REAL ID,” said Secretary of Transportation Leslie S. Richards. “We encourage our customers who are interested but haven’t yet obtained one to start the process now,”

Federal regulations require that to be issued a REAL ID-compliant product, PennDOT must verify the below documents:

Proof of Identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. Passport;
Proof of Social Security Number: Social security card, in current legal name;
Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address: Current, unexpired PA driver’s license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address; and
Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if applicable): Certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics

If residents need to obtain replacement documents, they should contact the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics, Social Security Administration and/or obtain Certified Marriage Certificate(s) from the County office in which the marriage license was issued.

Customers can bring the required documents to any PennDOT Driver License Center. More info about document requirements, including a printable document checklist, can be found on the Document Check page of the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Customers who choose to get a REAL ID will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus a renewal fee (current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year non-commercial driver’s license, $31.50 for a photo ID). The expiration date of their initial REAL ID product will include any time remaining on their existing non-REAL ID product, plus an additional four years, unless the customer is over 65 and has a two-year license This expiration date structure means that the customer won’t “lose” time that they’ve already paid for. After the initial REAL ID product expires, the customer will pay no additional fee, beyond regular renewal fees, to renew a REAL ID product.

Customers have three options for obtaining a REAL ID product:

If a customer has been pre-verified, customers may order their REAL ID online and receive their REAL ID in the mail within 15 business days.
Customers can visit one of PennDOT’s 63 Driver’s License Centers, have their documents verified, pay the one-time fee, and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days;
Visit one of the 12 REAL ID Centers have their documents verified, pay the one-time fee, and receive their REAL ID product over the counter at the time of service.

Of the 12 PennDOT centers, seven are existing driver’s license centers upgraded to allow for over-the-counter issuance of REAL ID (Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre, Rockview in Centre County, Erie, Altoona, Norristown and South 70th Street in Philadelphia). In addition to these upgraded sites PennDOT added 5 new locations, which are open for business: