Real ID deadline is Wednesday. What to know, where to go in Buckeye

It might be lodged in the back of your brain, somewhere so deep on your to-do list that the light doesn’t reach it anymore. You might want to bump it up, though. The deadline for the federal Real ID enforcement date is set for Wednesday after 17 years of delays.

It might not seem like a big deal, but this new federally compliant credential is required for federal security checkpoints, which means it’s required for domestic air travel.

Arizona minted its first Real ID back in 2015, a decade ahead of the federal mandate going into effect in hours. Starting Wednesday, the TSA will require travelers to present a federally compliant form of identification at airport security checkpoints.

State officials advise that if residents do not have a compliant ID and plan to fly on or after that date, they should take action at least two weeks ahead of their travel date to avoid last-minute delays.

“If your travel isn’t imminent, we suggest waiting until two weeks before your flight to avoid the current rush,” Arizona Motor Vehicle Division spokesman Bill Lamoreaux told InBuckeye today. 

Residents may be able to upgrade to the Arizona Travel ID online through AZMVDNow.gov. The MVD also accepts walk-in visits, though appointments are best if you want to get in and out quickly and there's no office in Buckeye. That's why Authorized Third Party offices across the state offer extended hours, including evenings and Saturdays.

The Travel ID costs $25 and is valid for eight years. That’s only if you want to wait in line at the DMV. You could go over to 1 Stop Title & Registration Services, 11249 W. Buckeye Road. It’ll cost you $70 but the wait is much shorter. There are other third-party offices at 1300 S. Watson Road, A107, and 6213 N. Miller Road, 105.

“There are not too many people yet,” said employee Jomary Gaud. “People can just walk in and get it.”  

While most of the time the crowd is relatively light, Gaud said they’re seeing a significant increase in driver’s coming in to get the new ID.  

“We’re getting really busy between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, when people are off work,” said Gaud. “Definitely more people coming.”  

You’re going to need this new ID to get through most secure federal facilities, such as military bases and federal courthouses and most importantly, airport security. Standard driver licenses and ID cards remain valid for driving, but not for boarding domestic flights. 

The Arizona Travel ID has rolled out slowly over the last few years. As of May 1, Arizona has issued 2.75 million Travel ID credentials, up from 2.19 million in March 2024 and 1.93 million in March 2023. Of those applying for identification credentials, 85% are choosing the Arizona Travel ID over the standard version, said Lamoreaux. Still, 4.86 million Arizonans (two-thirds of us) hold the old-style identification that will not meet federal air travel requirements beginning this week. 

The Arizona Travel ID, denoted by a star in the upper right corner, confirms that the holder has met federal documentation requirements.  

Federally compliant IDs, such as U.S. passports, military IDs, passport cards or trusted traveler cards like the SENTRI card, are also acceptable at TSA checkpoints.