DMV urges New Yorkers to upgrade to REAL ID ahead of May deadline

WAER | By Robert Beck

Published January 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM EST

The New York DMV is reminding residents to get a REAL ID or Enhanced ID by May 7 to comply with federal requirements. Travelers will need one of these forms of ID or a passport to fly domestically or enter federal facilities.

Upgrading to a REAL ID requires an in-person DMV visit with proof of identity documents. The DMV provides a document guide and pre-screening tools online to help prepare.

A chart from https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id with comparisons of the IDs available.

DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder advises against waiting until the last minute, especially for those with upcoming travel plans. More details are on the DMV website.

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Robert Beck

Bob Beck, a veteran media professional, currently serves as a part-time editor/host at WAER Public Radio and an adjunct professor at Syracuse University. Beck retired as News Director at Wyoming Public Radio in 2022 after 34 years. During his time, Beck won 5 regional Edward R. Murrow awards and 5 Public Media Journalists Association awards for reporting. He also won 11 PMJA awards for the news and public affairs program Open Spaces. He was awarded the Wyoming School Bell award for education reporting and was part of two Emmy Award winning television productions. You can find him on X under the name @butterbob.

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