Community Chat

[ScarletDove]

Yes, Maryland!  Made an appt online, gathered my material, went to DMV and waited for my # to be called...easy!

[ann1989]

Passport rules regarding renewal may change after October 1 2020.

[mrssweetiebear]

Yes, got my Real ID in Oct. last year.  Hawaii. 

It's not a big deal if you have all the required documents and if those documents are "correct and legal".  Marriage certificates wound up being a problem for me as my first one back in 1970 did not have my correct legal name as shown on my birth certificate. All documents must show a direct link of name change and mine didn't. It took weeks of phone calls and letters out of state and certified copies and affidavits of correction and notarized this and that and fees and filings for me to right an Innocent mistake my mother made back in the 1950s. A huge time consuming hassle and headache for me. 

My DH will go get his in the next couple months.  Should be a snap though compared to what I went through, since he never changed his name!

[mac116]

Yes, I live in Minnesota.  My husband did not get the Real ID when he renewed his license because he heard that it was such a hassle.  I easily got my Real ID...just took in the necessary documents.  It took about 20 minutes.  We both have valid passports.

[sidsmom]

This is another angle to think about...

If you have a trip late 2020 which requires a passport,

applying for a new passport might take longer than the

already long wait-time period. 
Plan ahead!

[Goldengate8361]

No. I never think about it. Glad to see this thread as a reminder.

[Mindy D]

Florida began issuing  all new licenses as real ID  licenses in 2010. 

[cotton4me]

I got mine last month.  It went smoothly and quickly, no problems.  I had my birth certificate, marriage certificate, SS card and a current bill showing my address. 

[SahmIam]

For those wondering:

*A passport is considered another form of valid ID. In fact, it is the most important form of ID outside the US (which is why you do NOT give them up to anyone who asks for them).

*For those of us who already have a passport that is not about to expire, the issue of getting one by next year isn't an issue. Those that need one, why wait until it expires? You wouldn't do that with your license, right?

Do what's right for you. Inform yourself of the situation and then take the correct actions that fit your lifestyle/situation.

[Sheila P-Burg]

The lady in front of me at the DMV was told she needed certified copies of all her marriages (4 total). I thought I heard wrong until she asked him if they needed copies of the divorce papers. His answer to that was "no".

If her certified copies cost as much as my birth certificate and marriage certificate did I would have to get a loan (just kidding!). My birth certificate (wouldn't accept the hospitals) cost $12.00 and my marriage certificate (married out of state) cost $32.00 because it is handled by an outside firm not within state.