ohio travel compliant license

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DHS Announces Extension of REAL ID Full Enforcement Deadline

“Protecting the health, safety, and security of our communities is our top priority,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “As our country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver’s licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card.” 

Beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel.  

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four of five U.S. territories covered by the REAL ID Act and related regulations are now compliant with REAL ID security standards and are issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. However, many state licensing agencies have extended the deadline for renewing expiring licenses due to a widespread shift to appointment-only scheduling protocols during the pandemic that has significantly limited states’ capacity to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. As a result, only 43 percent of all state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards are currently REAL ID-compliant.  DHS and various states also need time to implement requirements mandated by the REAL ID Modernization Act, including changes that will streamline processing by allowing the electronic submission of certain documents.

DHS continues to work closely with all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to implement REAL ID Act requirements. For more information on REAL ID, visit www.dhs.gov/real-id .

• Secretary of Homeland Security
• Transportation Security
• REAL ID Act of 2005
• Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Deadline: May 7, 2025

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Real ID for Travel in the U.S.

UPDATE: On Monday, December 8th, the Department of Homeland Security announced they will delay the REAL ID deadline to May 7, 2025  ( https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/12/05/dhs-announces-extension-real-id-full-enforcement-deadline ).

Effective May 3, 2023 , you must have a REAL ID compliant driver license/ID to fly within the U.S., unless you use a U.S. passport or another federally approved form of identification. For more information on REAL ID requirements, please visit the following resources:

• State of Ohio Real ID
• Kentucky Real ID
• Pennsylvania Real ID
• West Virginia Real ID
• Or visit the appropriate states office/bureau motor vehicles website for more information

State Urging Ohioans To Get Driver's License That Allows Them To Fly

In just under a year, airline travelers will have to show a federal compliant driver’s license to get on a plane, or will have to bring a passport – even to fly within the United States.

Since the new license was rolled out in July 2018 , only 27% of Ohioans have gotten it.

Among them is Gov. Mike DeWine, who’s urging others to do the same – even if they don’t plan to take a trip.

"If you go in and get your driver’s license renewed anytime in the next year, don’t make the mistake of not getting the better ID. Get the ID that will let you on an airplane," DeWine said.

The federally compliant license was required after the 2005 REAL ID act. Starting on Octoer 1, 2020, passengers will have to show the federally compliant license or a passport or military ID to get on an aircraft. The TSA has a list of acceptable documents here .

The new license requires more documentation to prove identity , including a birth certificate or passport, a Social Security card or most recent W-2 form, and two other documents showing their address. Those who have changed their names must also bring marriage or divorce certificates or court orders showing their legal names.

The new license still costs $25.75 – the same as a non-compliant license.

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Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

How to get a REAL ID and use it for travel

The REAL ID Act is a law that sets higher security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards (IDs).

Why upgrade your license to a REAL ID?

Beginning May 7, 2025, if you have not upgraded your driver’s license or state-issued ID to be REAL ID-compliant, you will not be able to use it to:

• Board federally regulated commercial aircraft
• Access federal government facilities or military installations
• Enter nuclear power plants

Visit the REAL ID website for more details and frequently asked questions .

Check to see if your license or state ID is already REAL ID-compliant

If your driver's license or state ID has a star in the upper right-hand corner, it is already REAL-ID-compliant. There is nothing more you need to do.

How to get a REAL ID

When you apply for or renew your driver’s license or state identification card, you can choose to make it REAL ID-compliant. Find and visit your state's driver's licensing agency website to see what documentation you will need. Your new card will have the REAL ID star marking at the top right.

Using REAL ID and other ID options to board a plane

If you do not upgrade your license or state ID, you can use a passport or one of these other acceptable forms of identification to fly . 

Can you still get a non-REAL ID-compliant license or state ID?

You will still be able to get a driver's license or state ID card that is not REAL ID-compliant. But you will not be able to use it for air travel or to get into federal facilities or military installations. Find and visit your state's driver's licensing agency website to see how to get a non-REAL ID-compliant license or state ID.

LAST UPDATED: December 18, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Ohio’s ‘compliant’ driver’s licenses won’t allow you into Canada: Money Matters

• Updated: Apr. 10, 2019, 6:12 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 10, 2019, 5:00 a.m.

This is what the new compliant driver's licenses and state IDs look like in Ohio. Courtesy of Ohio BMV

• Teresa Dixon Murray, The Plain Dealer

Q: Can please tell me if the new compliant driver’s license will allow me to drive across into Niagara Falls? I don’t have a passport or a passport card. I’ve been told conflicting things. Of the several BMV offices that I’ve called, some said yes, it would allow me access and others said no, that I still needed the passport card or traditional passport. Can you please shed some light on this?

J.R., Willard

A: I researched and found the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said “enhanced” driver’s licenses are accepted for travel to and from Canada by land and sea -- not by airplane.

But Ohio has something different -- "compliant" IDs. I asked the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles whether Ohio's compliant IDs would be accepted. Here's what spokeswoman Lindsey Bohrer said:

“The enhanced card is different than a compliant card. The compliant card that Ohio offers has no impact on international travel. We do not offer an enhanced DL, therefore the person will need their passport when going to Canada.”

I also learned that for Ohio to offer “enhanced” IDs, like many other states do, it would require legislation from the Ohio General Assembly. The enhanced ID’s confirm identity and citizenship.

Remember, to board a commercial airplane even for domestic flights or enter a federal building starting in October 2020, you must have a compliant ID or a passport.

To get the compliant ID, you must have documents to prove:

1. Full legal name, date of birth and proof of legal U.S. presence. For most of us, this will be proven by either a birth certificate or passport.

2. Social Security number. This can be proven by a Social Security card, a W-2 or 1099. (Why not a tax return, when it's OK to prove street address? It's not clear.)

3. Street address. This can be proven by any of a long list of documents, including a utility bill, a credit card or bank statement, a federal or state tax return, a certified school record or transcript, your BMV mail-in registration notice, a property tax record, a selective service registration acknowledgement card, etc. The full list is here .

Q: In a recent column about prepaid debit cards, you said: "The merchant can ping the card for $1, or whatever the amount, and the card will come back as valid.”

What do you mean? The merchant would charge the card, or withdraw the charged amount?

The word "ping" in that or similar sense is neither in Webster's, nor in Amer. Heritage, nor in the Slang dictionary. Please explain.

T.O., Cleveland

A: I wasn’t being cute, or making up my own word, although I’ve been known to do that from time to time.

When merchants ping a card, it means they put through a charge for a small amount, usually $1, just to make sure the card is valid. After the charge is authorized, they don’t actually process the transaction, so it falls off of your account and you don’t owe anything.

To reach Teresa Murray, email [email protected] or call or text 216-316-7064. She cannot respond to all queries or comments.

Previous columns: cleveland.com/moneymatters

On Twitter: @TeresaMurray

On Facebook: www/facebook.com/MurrayMoneyMatters

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