Say goodbye to long lines at the DMV: These are the states where you can apply for a RealID online

Two decades after the passage of the Real ID Act, the law will take effect on Wednesday, May 7.

The law aims to increase government security, thus requiring additional documentation on citizenship, naturalization, or immigration status to be presented. On May 7, a person looking to enter a government building ot fly domestically with only their ID, rather than a passport, must have a Real ID. This deadline has led to a rush of applications and long lines at the DMV, leaving some to wonder if there is a way the process can be completed online to avoid such chaos.

Is yours a RealID?

Some states have been issuing RealIDs since 2017, and you may not even have realized that you were given one the last time you went to renew your license. Initally, the government had been required by law to implement the new restrictions in 2019, but due to a slew of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, that deadline was pushed back to May 2025.

To verify if your ID is already a Real ID, check if it has a star in the upper right corner. If so, you already have a Real ID. Otherwise, you’ll need to renew it through your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The states that allow you to apply for a RealID online

Looking to skip the line? Residents in California, New York, and Virginia can renew their driving licenses or identification cards online.

However, applicants must already possess a RealID and can only request a renewal; first-time applicants cannot complete the process online. In other states, you typically need to visit an office in person. To locate your nearest DMV office, visit the official DMV website’s locator tool.

Regardless of how you renew, you’ll need to provide the following information: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, receipts proving your “primary residence” address, and your legal status.

“States may impose additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website, before visiting them in person, for additional guidance and assistance,” advises the Department of Homeland Security.

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