Alert
The federal Real ID deadline is May 7. Learn more about Real ID and the documents required to get one.
Real IDAlmost time to take off: one month until the May 7 federal deadline for Real ID
April 08, 2025
The Real ID deadline of May 7 is now one month away so South Carolinians, especially those with summer travel plans that include domestic flights, need to act soon to prevent delays or other travel issues if they are not already prepared.
May 7 is the U.S. government’s Real ID implementation date, meaning travelers will be required to present a driver’s license or ID card that includes the Real ID gold star any time they want to board an airplane or enter a federal building or military installation.
“We expect to be very busy in the coming month as those with summer travel plans try to get ready,” said Kevin Shwedo, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. “People will need to come with some patience as we take care of everyone we can around the deadline,” Shwedo said.
While about 62 percent of driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by the SCDMV are Real ID compliant, that still leaves over one million Palmetto State residents who do not possess a compliant state card.
South Carolina has been offering Real ID licenses and ID cards since 2018.
Anyone planning to fly domestically or to visit a military base or federal building on May 7 or later needs to ensure that they have a plan for displaying a federally recognized ID card.
Instead of a Real ID, you may use other identification, as the Transportation Security Administration explains on its website, such as a valid U.S. passport or an active-duty Department of Defense ID.
Customers who want to obtain a Real ID 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.
A Real ID-compliant credential is not legally required to drive or vote; it is only required if you want to use your state-issued license or ID to board a domestic flight, enter a military base, or access a federal building.
A Real ID driver’s license is $25, valid for a maximum of eight years, and is a new license – it’s not an additional card. Original ID cards and renewals are free for those who are 17 years old or older. ID cards are $15 for those who are ages five to 16.
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.