Come October, a majority of Americans who want to fly will need to have a “REAL ID” to board their plane.

Due to security changes that resulted from recommendations after the September 11th tragedy, airline travelers are now required to meet stricter regulations of identification. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will implement REAL ID enforcement on October 1, 2020.

About half of Americans don’t know they will need the REAL ID to be able to fly according according to the U.S. Travel Association research from last fall. About two-thirds of state driver’s licenses do not comply with the new security laws. These IDs are also needed to enter federal facilities and military installations.

You can also get an enhanced license that will allow you to travel to Canada, Mexico and U.S. territories for an extra cost.

If you don’t have a star in the upper right hand corner of your driver’s license, you need to contact your DMV to find out what to do to get your new license. 48 states issue the REAL ID. Oregon will start issuing them in July of 2020 and Oklahoma predicts they will issue theirs in April of 2020.

If the government and the media doesn’t get the word out, people are going to be driving to their airports and won’t be able to go anywhere. State DMVs will be overwhelmed if everyone waits until the last few months to get the IDs.

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To get a REAL ID, people will need to have proof of identity, proof of residency and proof of legal residency in the United States and a social security card. Click here for your REAL ID Checklist: 

You can go to the DMV anytime to get a REAL ID or enhanced license. Your license doesn’t have to be up for renewal.