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The REAL ID NJ driver's license has a white star in gold in the upper right corner. (N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission)
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New Jersey began issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses five years ago, and the original deadline to get one was October of 2020. But the deadline has since been extended three times.
The most recent deadline, established by the Department of Homeland Security, is May 7, 2025.
“REAL ID is not required in New Jersey, you are not mandated to get one, but if you typically use your driver’s license to fly you’ll probably want a Real ID,” said William Connolly, the press secretary for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
Tracy Noble, the public affairs manager for AAA Club Alliance, agreed. She said getting a REAL ID license makes sense if people travel by air and don’t want to carry their passport as identification.
“If they are someone who is simply a driver and they don’t travel frequently and they have a passport, then that’s a personal choice, whether they want to go through the steps to get a REAL ID or not,” she said.
After May 7, 2025, if you don’t have a REAL ID you will need a passport to board a commercial flight or enter a federal building in the United States.
Connolly said to get a REAL ID you must make an appointment on the MVC website.
“REAL ID is currently available at all MVC licensing centers, we are also issuing REAL ID at a variety of mobile unit events,” he said. “And most of the appointments at the mobile events are also available by scheduling through our website.”
Over the past few years getting a REAL ID appointment, especially in North and parts of Central Jersey, was challenging, but Connolly said that is no longer the case.
“We currently have a very broad capacity to issue REAL ID across the state, and there are same day and next day appointments available,” he said.
He noted the MVC is currently offering three thousand REAL ID appointments at twenty eight different licensing centers across the state, every day.
“As COVID has receded our capacity to issue documents and process customers has gone up dramatically,” he said.
Connelly said those customers who need to renew their driver’s licenses in the next three months should consider whether they would like to get a REAL ID or not, and then follow up with an appointment.
In order to qualify for a REAL ID, drivers must follow a complicated set of instructions.
Connolly said the best way to keep track of all of this is to visit the website and identify the required documents.
Noble said the decision about getting a REAL ID really comes down to frequent travelers.
“If their license is up for renewal and they’re going to be traveling, then by all means get the REAL ID,” she said.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission requires two proofs of residential address, proof of social security number, and an additional six points of Identification.
In order to show two proofs of residential address, you need two of the following:
To show proof of your Social Security number you need one of the following:
You must also produce a total of six additional points of primary and secondary ID. For primary ID you will need one of the following: