Are You REAL ID Ready? What You Need to Know Before May 7 Deadline
Hey everyone, here’s something important you really need to know—especially if you’re planning on flying anywhere this summer. A big change is coming, and it’s all about the REAL ID. Starting May 7, 2025, you must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification if you want to board a domestic flight in the U.S. That means if your current driver’s license or ID isn’t REAL ID-ready, you could face some serious delays at airport security.
So how do you know if you’re good to go? The easiest way is to check your license for that little star in the upper right-hand corner. If you’ve had your Colorado license issued or renewed any time in the last several years, chances are you already have it. Colorado's DMV has actually been issuing REAL IDs since 2009, so we’re ahead of the curve here. But if you're new to Colorado or just never updated your license, it’s time to act fast.
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If you recently moved here from out of state, heads up: even if your old state made REAL IDs optional, Colorado requires that everyone go through the REAL ID process when getting a new license. You’re legally required to transfer your license within 30 days of becoming a resident anyway, so might as well knock it out before that May 7 cutoff.
Good news though—DMV locations around the state haven’t been slammed with crazy lines or delays. Some spots even have same-day appointments, and once you’re done, you’ll walk out with a temporary license. Your permanent one should show up in the mail within a week or so.
Now, if you don’t get your REAL ID by the deadline, TSA will still let you through—but expect delays and a more intense screening process. They’re not going to hold up passengers who followed the rules, so if you show up unprepared, you’ll be pulled aside and processed separately. Not ideal when you’re trying to catch a flight, right?
Another tip: not all digital IDs are created equal. If you’ve been using the “myColorado” app, it’s great for some things, but TSA won’t accept it. What they will accept is a mobile driver’s license stored in your Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung equivalent. So make sure the digital version you’re using is the right one.
And for those traveling with kids—no worries. Children under 18 don’t need an ID to get through TSA with an adult.
Just remember, this isn’t some new thing out of the blue. REAL ID comes from legislation passed back in 2005, after 9/11. It’s about upping the security standards for state-issued IDs and making sure we’re all safer when we fly.
Bottom line: check your ID, make that DMV appointment if needed, and save yourself the airport stress. You’ve got a month. Let’s not be the person holding up the line, yeah?
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