N.C. REAL ID becomes official in May, but open DMV appointments are rare

Starting on May 7, North Carolina will enforce the 2005 REAL ID Act, requiring all residents to have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license to board flights and visit federal facilities like courthouses and prisons. 

According to Daniel Valez, Transportation Security Administration New England/North Carolina spokesperson, Congress passed the REAL ID Act after a recommendation from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, or 9/11 Commission, that the federal government set minimum security standards for state-issued identification. 

“It's just an enhancement to that card that is noted by having a star in the right upper right hand corner of the credential, and that just signifies that you provided that extra documentation that makes it meet the federal requirements to be considered a REAL ID,” Marty Homan, N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles communications manager said. 

Homan said North Carolina has issued 4.7 million REAL IDs since 2017, with 64,000 being issued in the last month.

North Carolinians will still be able to pass through TSA checkpoints without a REAL ID if they have another form of acceptable ID, such as a passport or a military ID, Valez said. 

However, Valez said that those without a REAL ID should arrive at the airport much earlier — even prior to the recommended two hours before departure time. 

“After May 7, 2025, we're not going to be turning people away in droves from the security screening, and they're not going to be flying,” he said. “What will happen is the process may take you a little bit longer.” 

To get a REAL ID, individuals need to go in person to a NCDMV and bring two documents proving N.C. residency, one document proving identity and one document confirming their social security number. Examples of these documents include water bills, mortgage payments, birth certificates and social security cards. 

Homan said individuals who have had name changes will need to bring verification, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree. Non-U.S. citizens require one additional document proving legal status, such as a permanent resident card or certificate of naturalization.

The DMV is typically busy, especially as staffing has not increased with demand, and there have been a lot of people coming in trying to get a REAL ID as the May 7 date gets closer, Homan said. 

Chapel Hill resident Melissa Valego, who moved back to North Carolina in November, said she was unable to find an appointment at the Carrboro DMV for the next 90 days. 

“Just getting into the DMV is just miserable,” Valego said. “It is especially horrible that it's so hard, given that the deadline is approaching.

Valego said she considered walking in, but heard conflicting information about the best time and place to go. She said people recommended that she drive to DMVs as far as 90 minutes away. 

Homan said DMV appointments are typically booked 90 days out, with new appointments being added every day after midnight. Appointments can be scheduled at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.

He said DMV locations only take only walk-ins during the afternoon at every location in the state to ensure time for customers without an appointment. 

“We do have the May 7, 2025 implementation date, but it's not a deadline,” Homan said. “We'll be giving people REAL IDs forever. I don't see us ever stopping. It's not like if you don't get it by May 7, you can't travel. That's just the date that they'll start requiring that at the airport and these other places.”

@sarahhclements

@DTHCityState | city@dailytarheel.com