You can fly domestically with a regular driver's license, but only until May 7, 2025
A regular driver's license — one without the REAL ID gold star or marking — works for domestic flights right now. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts it at airport security checkpoints. But this window is closing. Starting May 7, 2025, TSA will no longer accept a regular license for domestic air travel. After that date, you will need either a REAL ID-compliant license, a passport, a passport card, a military ID, a tribal ID, or a permanent resident card.
If you have not yet renewed your license to REAL ID status, you have roughly a year to do so. The important date has been pushed back multiple times, but this is the current final date. Many states are still processing REAL ID renewals, so waiting until April 2025 could leave you stranded at the airport.
Key Takeaways
- Regular driver's licenses work for domestic flights until May 7, 2025, after which TSA will reject them at security.
- A REAL ID-compliant license has a gold star or marking and requires you to prove citizenship and identity in person at your state's DMV.
- You can fly domestically without REAL ID if you carry a passport, passport card, military ID, tribal ID, or permanent resident card instead.
- Renewal wait times vary by state; some DMVs have backlogs of several weeks, so plan ahead rather than waiting until spring 2025.
- International flights have always required a passport, not a driver's license, regardless of REAL ID status.
What counts as a regular license versus REAL ID
A regular driver's license is what most people have if they renewed before their state switched to REAL ID requirements. It looks like a standard license with your photo, name, and address. It has no special marking — no gold star, no gold circle, no banner across the top. The back may say "REAL ID compliant" in small print, but that is rare; most regular licenses do not.
A REAL ID-compliant license has a visible marking — usually a gold star in the upper right corner, though some states use a gold circle or a banner. This marking tells TSA that you proved your citizenship and identity in person when you got it. The process requires documents like a birth certificate or passport, proof of Social Security number, and proof of your current address. You cannot get REAL ID by mail or online; you must go to your state's DMV in person.
If you are unsure whether your license is REAL ID-compliant, look for the gold star or check your state's DMV website. Most state DMV sites have a page showing what their REAL ID marking looks like.
What happens if you show up to the airport with a regular license after May 7, 2025
TSA will not let you through security. You will be turned away at the checkpoint, even if you have a boarding pass. You cannot board a domestic flight without one of the accepted forms of ID. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a hard stop.
If this happens, your options are to go home and get an accepted ID, or to cancel your flight. Some airlines may rebook you on a later flight at no charge if you explain the situation, but that depends on the airline's policy and whether seats are available. It is not may provide.
The TSA website lists all accepted forms of ID for domestic flights. Carrying a passport or passport card is the simplest backup if you do not yet have REAL ID.
How to get a REAL ID license before the important date
Visit your state's DMV website and look for the REAL ID section. Most states let you schedule an appointment online, which is faster than walking in. You will need to bring specific documents — typically a birth certificate or passport, your Social Security card or a tax return, and a utility bill or lease showing your current address. Some states have slightly different requirements, so check your state's list before you go.
Bring originals, not copies. The DMV staff will verify them and may keep them on file. The whole process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes at the counter, though wait times vary widely by location and time of year. Some states are experiencing backlogs and taking several weeks to process renewals, so do not assume you can renew the week before your flight.
The cost varies by state, usually between $20 and $50 for a REAL ID license. Some states charge extra for expedited processing if you need it faster. Ask about this option when you schedule your appointment.
Alternatives to REAL ID for flying domestically
You do not have to get REAL ID to fly. You can use any of these documents at TSA security instead:
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A military ID (active duty, retired, or reserve)
- A tribal ID issued by a federally recognized tribe
- A permanent resident card (green card)
- A U.S. passport card (smaller and cheaper than a full passport, valid for domestic flights and land/sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean)
A passport card costs less than a full passport and is valid for domestic flights. If you travel internationally by air, you will need the full passport book, not the card. If you only fly domestically and do not need international travel documents, a passport card is a simpler alternative to REAL ID.
International flights and REAL ID
REAL ID does not matter for international flights. You have always needed a passport to fly internationally, and that has not changed. A REAL ID license will not get you through security for an international flight, and a passport will not get you through domestic security after May 7, 2025 unless you also have REAL ID or one of the other accepted IDs.
If you fly internationally, bring your passport. If you fly domestically after May 7, 2025, bring REAL ID or one of the alternatives listed above. If you do both, carry your passport and your REAL ID license, or your passport and your regular license plus one of the other accepted forms.
State-by-state differences in REAL ID processing
Every state has its own DMV system, and processing times vary widely. Some states have been issuing REAL ID licenses for years with short wait times. Others are experiencing backlogs because many people are renewing at the same time as the important date approaches. A few states have different names for their compliant license — for example, some call it an "Enhanced Driver's License" — but the gold star or marking is the same.
Before you schedule an appointment, check your state's DMV website for current processing times. If your state is showing a wait of more than two weeks, consider scheduling sooner rather than later. If you have a flight booked before you can get REAL ID, bring a passport or passport card instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my license online or by mail to get REAL ID?
No. REAL ID requires you to appear in person at your state's DMV so staff can verify your original documents. You cannot get REAL ID by mail or through an online portal. Some states let you renew a regular license by mail, but that will not give you REAL ID status.
Do I need REAL ID if I have a passport?
No. A passport works for domestic flights after May 7, 2025. You do not need REAL ID if you carry a passport instead. However, a passport card is smaller and cheaper than a full passport book if you only fly domestically.
What if my state is slow and I cannot get REAL ID before my flight?
Bring a passport, passport card, military ID, tribal ID, or permanent resident card instead. These are all accepted at TSA security for domestic flights, regardless of your license status. You do not have to have REAL ID specifically.
Will REAL ID work for other things besides flying?
Yes. Starting May 7, 2025, REAL ID will also be required to enter federal buildings and military bases. A regular license will not work for those either. REAL ID is becoming the standard for federal ID verification, not just air travel.
Can I fly with an expired REAL ID license?
No. Your ID must be valid — not expired — to pass through TSA security, whether it is REAL ID or a regular license. If your license is expiring soon, renew it before your flight, and ask for REAL ID status at the same time.