100 days to the deadline for Real ID, so S.C. residents should make plans now to be ready

January 27, 2025

South Carolinians who have put off getting a Real ID compliant Driver’s License or Identification Card should be taking action to get a Real ID document, as the federal deadline is now 100 days away.

May 7, 2025, is the U.S. government’s Real ID implementation date, meaning South Carolinians and other travelers will be required to present a driver’s license or ID card with the Real ID gold star any time they want to board an airplane or enter a federal building or military installation.

While about 60 percent of driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles are Real ID compliant, that still leaves over one million Palmetto State residents   who do not possess a compliant card.

“The time for waiting on Real ID is over,” said Kevin Shwedo, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. “As the deadline comes, we expect there to be more demand to get in compliance. We encourage citizens to act now on getting their Real ID.”

Customers who want to obtain a Real ID compliant credential should visit the agency’s website at SCDMVonline.com to check wait times at local offices and for a checklist of documents needed to get a Real ID driver’s license or ID card. For most customers, that is only one additional document to prove residence, such as a utility bill.

“If you wait until the last minute, expect to have some time to get to know your neighbors while you are waiting in line,” Shwedo said.

A Real ID is not legally required to drive or vote; it’s an extra level of verification required by the federal government to board a domestic flight, enter a military base or access a federal building. Other acceptable forms of photo ID for air travel include a U.S. Passport, Global Entry Card, or current military ID as well as others accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. 

“No one who needs a Real ID compliant credential should put this off any longer,” Shwedo said.

There is no additional charge for a Real ID-compliant card. The public can learn more by consulting the Real ID information page at the SCDMV’s website and using the “Sweet Caroline” guide to the needed documents.