7 million New Yorkers have applied for REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses as deadline nears
An example of a REAL ID license. REAL ID-compliant driver licenses, permits and non-driver IDs will be required for air travel within the country starting Wednesday. Credit: NYSDMV
ALBANY — Nearly 7 million New Yorkers have applied for REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses, permits and nondriver IDs, which will be required for air travel even within the country starting Wednesday.
The rush to obtain the documents labeled REAL ID or enhanced driver's license continues, with about 200,000 New Yorkers securing the licenses since mid-April. Now 6.9 million New Yorkers have the more secure documents that will comply with the federal anti-terrorism law, said Tim O’Brien, spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles on Thursday.
"If your New York State license or ID does not have a star or a flag on it, then you do not have a REAL ID-compliant document," the DMV said.
For air travel, passengers will still be able to use their passports for identification on and beyond Wednesday.
The DMV had extended hours on Thursday nights and Saturdays to deal with the demand, which has exceeded the availability of appointments.
The demand continues. A spot check on Thursday found no slots open in Nassau County through July and 10 slots — all in June — open in Suffolk County, all of which were in Riverhead. But the DMV is opening new slots through the day and recommends New Yorkers keep trying to find a spot through the online portal.
The DMV urges people who don’t need the more secure licenses immediately to wait until after Wednesday to try to schedule appointments.
The application process requires several items to prove residency. REAL ID-complaint documents can be used for identification not just for air travel, but to enter many federal buildings and facilities such as military bases.
The state also has partnered with the AAA drivers club to provide opportunities for members to secure the documents at 10 of its offices on Long Island, in New York City and in Westchester County.
Many states have seen a similar clamor for the more secure documents this year. REAL ID documents have been available since 2017.
You can apply for an appointment that the DMV strongly recommends online at public.nydmvreservation.com
Applicants will need to show documents including proof of their Social Security number, which could be on a Social Security card or other Social Security documents; W-2 tax forms; pay stubs, and some other records. Details are available at process.dmv.ny.gov/documentguide/dmv_license/DisplayPages/pwizlicensePermitNDID.cfm
The DMV’s review can take several days before a REAL ID-complaint document is issued.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
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