Big Change Coming For Washington Driver Licenses, IDs

OLYMPIA, WA - Starting today, anyone who renews or gets a new Washington drivers licence or ID will see a big change. Those documents will now come stamped with the phrase "federal limits apply."

The change will bring Washington into compliance with the 2005 federal REAL ID Act. But it also means your state-issued identification will eventually be invalid to get through airport security and other federal facilities. That change will take effect on Oct. 1, 2020.

You have several options to get around the federal limits.

You can apply to get a state-issued enhanced ID. The enhanced IDs are a little more expensive and take longer to get, but you can use them to cross the Canada and Mexico borders, and they will be valid to get through airport security.

If you don't want an enhanced ID, you will still be able to use other forms of identification after Oct. 1, 2020. You can get through airport security using your passport, a military ID, and several other forms of identification.

Learn more about the change from the state Department of Licensing.

Image courtesy state Department of Licensing