Do you really need a REAL ID in NC? Here’s what you can (& can’t) do with it
Stricter identification laws are soon going to be enforced, after implementation was delayed multiple times.
These rules, which go into effect Wednesday, May 7, will require people traveling on commercial flights or entering some federal buildings to show a different kind of identification, compliant with the REAL ID Act.
People who choose to get a REAL ID-compliant identification card may obtain it at a North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles driver’s license office.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, following the 9/11 attacks, fulfilling the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.”
While the term “deadline” may be used to identify May 7 as the day when the REAL ID Act goes into effect, there isn’t necessarily a pressing need to get a REAL ID-compliant card before then.
Here’s what to know.
When and how to get a REAL ID
Travelers can get their REAL IDs before or after May 7.
The first time you get a REAL ID, it must be obtained in person at one of the DMV’s 115 driver’s license offices. Find an office near you at ncdot.gov. You do not need to have an appointment to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, but you can make an appointment up to 90 days in advance at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.
To get a REAL ID driver’s license in North Carolina, which has a star at the top, you need to provide:
- A document that proves date of birth and identity, such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport or another document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the Citizenship and Immigration Service.
- A document with your full name and full Social Security Number
- Two documents with your current physical address to prove North Carolina residency
- One document proving liability insurance coverage from a provider licensed to do business in North Carolina
- One of more documents verifying name change (if applicable)
- For non-U.S. citizens, one document with full name proving legal presence or lawful status
People who are getting a N.C. REAL ID identification card (not a driver’s license) do not need to provide a document proving liability insurance coverage.
Do you need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license?
No.
The REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is not the only form of identification that satisfies the new standards.
To board a commercial flight or enter a secure federal building, you can also use identification such as a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card or U.S. Department of Defense ID. See a full list of acceptable identification at tsa.gov.
What can you do without a REAL ID?
If you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant card, you can still:
- Drive
- Vote
- Apply for or receive federal benefits from agencies such as Veterans Affairs or the Social Security Administration
- Enter a federal facility that does not require an ID (for example, a post office)
- Access a hospital or receive life-saving services
- Participate in law enforcement proceedings or investigations, such as serving on a federal jury or testifying in federal court
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Do you really need a REAL ID in NC? Here’s what you can (& can’t) do with it."
