BY SAMANTHA CHANEY
BROCKTON – It will be a federal requirement to have a Real ID card to be able to travel by domestic flight in early 2025. So far, only about half of Massachusetts residents with driver’s licenses are currently in compliance.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles’ Brockton branch gave WBZ-TV a firsthand look at what it’s like to go through the process of obtaining a Real ID.
What is a Real ID?
As of May 7, 2025, you will be required to have a Real ID to comply with federal law while traveling.
A Real ID is a driver’s license or identification card with a star in the top right corner.
CBS Boston
According to RMV officials in Brockton, only about 55% of people with driver’s licenses or IDs are currently in compliance ahead of the upcoming deadline.
“I think it’s a matter of not knowing what it takes,” said Colleen Ogilvie of the Brockton RMV.
How to get a real ID
What is the process like to obtain a Real ID?
First you must complete a license or ID application. It’s not much different from what you would do to obtain a standard ID.
You will need to provide a passport or birth certificate, your Social Security number, and two forms of Massachusetts residency.
After undergoing an eye test, you can obtain your real identity.
Initially, the deadline for obtaining a Real ID was May 3, 2023. But the Department of Homeland Security announced that air travelers would have another two years due to delays caused by the COVID pandemic.
