ALBANY — Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, New Yorkers will need a new form of identification to cross the U.S. border or to fly within the country.
The change is required by the federal Real ID Act adopted in 2005, and the state Department of Motor Vehicles is warning New Yorkers to avoid common pitfalls when applying for the new IDs.
“Our goal is to make the transition to a REAL ID as simple as possible for our customers,” said Terri Egan, the DMV's executive deputy commissioner.
"When customers come prepared for their visit, it alleviates frustrations for them, reduces wait times for other customers and helps our staff provide the highest level of customer service.”
Here's what to know:
A standard driver's license will no longer be enough to board a domestic flight starting in 2020.
What do I need?
New York currently offers three types of driver's licenses, permits or non-driver IDs.
A non-driver ID is merely for identification purposes and currently can be used to travel on domestic flights.
But come October 2020, a New Yorker will need either an enhanced or Real ID to travel — unless you already have a passport.
Enhanced and Real IDs can be used for domestic flights, to enter a federal building or get onto a military base.
A REAL ID is available at DMV offices, and it costs the same as a standard New York license, permit or non-driver ID.
But an enhanced driver's license costs $30 more. It has another function: You can use it to cross a U.S. border by land or sea coming from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries.
Also worth noting: The Transportation Security Administration does not require children under 18 years old to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the U.S.
A Real ID is one of two types of driver's licenses that will allow New Yorkers to board domestic flights starting in 2020.
Top mistakes to avoid
The middle name problem: Yes, it may not seem like a big deal.
But if you show up at the DMV office and your middle name appears on some but not all of your documents, you will need certain identification with you, the agency said.
So you must bring a government-issued document such as a Social Security card, birth certificate or U.S. passport to provide proof of your full legal name.
And if you had a name change, you will need proof of that, too.
No go on photocopies:
The federal requirement to get a REAL ID means you must visit a DMV office to have a new picture taken and provide original documents that prove your full legal name, New York residency and Social Security number.
So you have to bring in original documents, such as a birth certificate, Social Security card or government-issued marriage certificate.
Do your research:
Go online first before you show up at the DMV office.
If you visit dmv.ny.gov/documentguide, it will show you what documents you need for your preferred ID — such as a utility bill.
Keep it current:
Don't bring outdated or expired documents. No good. You'll be sent home.
Use your real name:
That nickname everyone calls you? No good also.
When you show up at the DMV office, you can't use any of them.
Federal requirements will not allow the state to issue Real IDs to customers under any name other than their full legal name.
So bring documents that show your full legal name.
Show where you come from:
You have to bring two forms of proof of New York state residency.
That can be a driver's license, permit or non-driver ID card, a recent bank statement or a recent paystub showing the customer’s current address are among the acceptable proofs of residency.
Don't bring something that shows a P.O. Box. That's no good.
And if you want to use a utility bill, credit card statement or paystub, they have to be printed out.
But be careful: Those documents again have to be recent — as in from the last 120 days.
For more information, visit dmv.ny.gov.