What is REAL ID and Why Do You Need It? Join Our Free Upcoming Tele-town Hall Forum on April 3rd

JOIN OUR UPCOMING TELE-TOWN HALL ABOUT REAL ID!
** Join Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and AARP Maine State Director Noël Bonam in a live, tele-town hall forum about REAL ID! The forum is on Thursday, April 3^rd from 10-11AM. Simply call 833-998-0907 to join the conversation. **


WHAT IS REAL ID AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT? 
From guest contributor, Chris Ireland
Director, Driver License Services,Maine BMV


If you’re someone who’s inclined to buy an airline ticket now and then, it’s likely you’ve seen flyers in airports calling attention to the REAL ID requirement that goes into effect on May 7^th, 2025.

On that date, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require domestic airline travelers to produce a federally-recognized identity document to get through security and board a plane. A Maine REAL ID driver license or ID Card will meet that requirement.

In 2017, Maine’s legislature passed a law empowering the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue REAL IDs—either an identification card or a driver license—to Mainers who want one. REAL ID is optional, not required. There are other options available to you besides a state-issued REAL ID for domestic airline travel, including a passport, passport card, or military ID. Other options are listed on TSA’s website: www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

At Maine BMV, we approach every REAL ID customer with an “education-first” mindset. Living next to Canada, we know many Mainers have passports or passport cards that will also meet TSA’s requirements after May 7^th, 2025. But we also know not everyone routinely carries their passport on domestic flights.

We’re seeing a number of Mainers elect to get both a REAL ID and a passport. That combination provides flexibility if you lose one of those credentials, or if you need to turn one in for renewal. The last thing anyone wants is to be stuck out-of-state when you really need to get home. A REAL ID in your pocket can help keep options open for you.

How do you know if your license or ID is a REAL ID? If you see a gold state of Maine with a white star on your Maine license or ID, you have a REAL ID. If it says “NOT INTENDED FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES,” you do not.

To get a REAL ID, you’ll need to come into BMV so we can scan your documents, re-capture your photo and your signature. Rest assured; the copies of your documents we capture are stored securely on BMV servers here in Maine. They are not transmitted to the federal government.

To make it easier for you, BMV established an appointment system last year that can help you book a dedicated timeslot at one of BMV’s 13 locations. Why wait in line when you can get in and out in less than 20 minutes at a date and time of your choosing?

We have a unique opportunity for you to learn everything you need about REAL ID on April 3^rd when AARP Maine State Director Noël Bonam and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows host a live tele-town hall forum. They will take calls from Mainers around the state during the call and we hope you can join in! The forum is on Thursday, April 3^rd from 10-11AM. Simply call 833-998-0907 to join the conversation at no cost.

If you think you’re ready, we’d love to help you prepare for your appointment. The last thing we want is to have you come all the way into a BMV branch, only to walk away frustrated because you didn’t have everything you needed. Give us a call at 207-624-9000, x52114 before your appointment, and our experts will gladly talk you through what to bring with you. And please don’t wait until the last minute; it takes about 4 weeks to process and mail your card to you. Safe travels!