500K Marylanders Not REAL ID Compliant As Deadline Nears

MARYLAND — More than a half a million Maryland residents face a looming deadline to get their REAL ID cards and state officials have ramped up efforts to help them meet necessary requirements on time.

State agencies have expanded services to speed up the process and get residents the documents they need to obtain their card, with only six months left to meet the federal requirement.

After the deadline was extended several times because of the coronavirus pandemic, Marylanders must either have a valid passport or a REAL ID to fly domestically starting May 3, 2023.

The latest data shared with Patch shows Maryland residents have been heading to the DMV in droves.

In Maryland, 88 percent of licensed drivers and identification card holders — about 4.3 million residents — are REAL ID compliant, well above the national average of 51 percent recently released by the Department of Homeland Security. There are about 560,000 Marylanders who are not yet REAL ID compliant, Ashley Millner, acting director of media relations with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, told Patch.

"We encourage all Marylanders to sign up for a myMVA account to check their REAL ID status," Millner said. "With a myMVA account, customers can also access their driver’s license information, check their vehicle registration status, view (Maryland Department of Transportation) MVA correspondence, check their vehicle emissions inspection program deadlines and complete online services."

MDOT MVA has implemented several services to make obtaining a REAL ID quick and easy, she said. Most branches statewide can schedule an appointment within one to three days, and in some cases the same day. On average, nearly 80 percent of customers who visit a branch office complete their transaction within 15 minutes.

MVA offices require an in-person visit to bring in the required documents for a REAL ID. You can schedule an appointment in advance.

To obtain a real ID, Maryland residents must provide documents to prove their identity, their Social Security number, a written signature and two documents that show proof of residence.

Maryland residents who already have their Social Security number on file and verified with the MDOT MVA are no longer required to provide a Social Security card when presenting documents to obtain a REAL ID, Millner said. Additionally, MDOT MVA just expanded its birth certificate printing service to six branches.

View the MVA's fact sheet about the REAL ID here.

The reminders come as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security prepares to enforce the identification form for air travelers.

Getting a REAL ID isn't necessarily required, but the state recommends it. U.S. passports will still be an acceptable form of federal identification to board any flight or visit a federal property. Those who are under 18 years old are not required to have this ID to fly.

The MVA has a tool that allows people to look up whether they are REAL ID-compliant. Those who need to present their documents must do so in person at MVA full-service branches, which are open by appointment only.

If you have the older style Maryland driver's license or identification card (with no star on it), a $20 fee is required to renew your driver's license to obtain a REAL ID, according to the MVA. Those who have the new REAL ID driver's license or identification card — which has a star on it — only need to submit documents and will not have to pay a fee; check your REAL ID status here.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

How to apply for the REAL ID in Maryland

To apply for the new card, you'll need to gather a few documents for your trip to the MVA.:

• Proof of age and identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport that has not expired. If you don't have a birth certificate, request an original or certified copy (here for those born in Maryland and here for those born in other U.S. states)
• Proof of Social Security: Social Security card in current legal name. Other items are accepted such as W-2, SSA-1099 or pay stub from past three months displaying name and SSN.
• Proof of Maryland residency (two are required): Current, unexpired Maryland driver's license or identification card; Maryland vehicle registration card or title; utility, TV/cable or telephone bill with the same name and address; property tax bill or receipt; residential rental contract; mail or benefits statement from a federal, state or local government agency; copy of federal or Maryland income tax return filing; checking, savings, financial account or collection agency communications; voter registration card; credit card statement; valid Maryland state-issued professional license; medical or hospital bill; or residential service contract or delivery for services performed at the address of residence (e.g., TV repair, lawn service, furniture delivery)

Find more information on REAL IDs in Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Transportation created a video that provides the basics on getting REAL ID.