Real ID North Carolina: What You Need To Get Your New ID

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina authorities are urging residents to get to a driver license office soon to get a Real ID compliant driver's license or other approved ID ahead of next year's deadline. While the Real ID is optional, you'll need the new ID, with a star in a circle in the upper right corner, if you plan to fly or enter any military base or federal building as of Oct. 1, 2020.

Residents can upgrade to a Real ID-compliant license or stick with a standard driver's license when they get a new license at a North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles branch office. While the October 2020 deadline is when the Real ID Act will officially be enforced, it is not the last day you may get the new ID, says the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

As of the end of summer 2019, 1.3 million North Carolina residents are Real ID compliant. NCDOT officials expect 1.8 million more residents will receive the new identification card by the 2020 deadline.

“That expected number means more people heading to their local DMV and potential longer wait times as that October 2020 date draws closer,” NCDOT said.

Required documents for a Real ID compliant license include:

• One document with your full name that proves identity and date of birth, such as a certified birth certificate or a U.S. passport.
• One document with your full name and social security number confirming your social security number, such as an original (not a copy) of your social security card or a W-2 form with your full name and social security number.
• Two documents with your current physical address proving NC residency, such as utility bills, voter precinct card or a financial statement.
• For non-U.S. citizens, one document with full name proving legal presence/lawful status
• If applicable, one or more documents verifying any name change.

For details about what documents you'll need to apply for pre-verification, go to the North Carolina Real ID website. A list of acceptable documents may be found here.

Find a list of full-service North Carolina DMV offices, and their hours, here.