Hi Dinah,

I would contact your local DMW to see if they can determine what the issue with your ID is.

So if I can’t prove a name change and they will not issue me a real Id even though i am an American citizen with a birth certificate and drivers license and social security card can I still use my regular standard driver’s license to drive my car?

Your supposed to get an updated SS card when you change your name. You SS card is supposed to match your legal name. This is why you have to mark a box on your tax return if it doesn’t match. SS office & DMV were some of my first stops after getting married.

Hi Heather,

Since you already have a new drivers license, my guess would be that you should not have to keep that appointment, but I would contact your local DMV just to make certain.

Hi Tessa,

Yes, you should be fine to use that to travel to Hawaii.

I had thought before it was a good idea, now, no! Some people will be walking around with the Real ID’s, many of them will not be theirs though! This will not put an end to anything! I was notified via text my flight was on time and I wasn’t traveling! I found out someone else was under all my info!! I contacted the airline right away and informed them what was going on. I told them, “do not let that man on the plane he is fraudulently flying using my personal information!” Their response…”I’m sorry, there is nothing I can do about it, we need to protect people’s privacy.” I was suggested to contact my local authorities!
So my belief is that the printed card is actually nothing but another waste of our money! Only my opinion! Good luck all.

Does anyone else think this is just a waste of time? If you look at all the individuals eligible to get a real id then I don’t see any purpose, or added security over a regular drivers license. This reminds me of the housing crash, only now the government is giving them 25000 to get a home, but you still don’t need a job or any type of income or collateral to secure the loan. I feel so much safer after reading all eligible individuals that can get a real id, not.

I just received my real ID does it expire in one year.

All I want from the press are facts when giving the NEWS, not opinions.

Thank you

Hi Scott,

That is correct. You should not need to upgrade your ID until it expires, unless you plan to use your ID for domestic airline travel after October 1st, 2021.

Hi Tanya, the Social Security Administration specifically notes that you shouldn’t laminate your social security card, so this may be why you had difficulty using this form. We would recommend using another valid ID (listed in the article above) if possible.

I also took my required documents in including a laminated Social Security card. Why is that not acceptable as a federal document?

Thanks so much for the suggestion! Unfortunately, the website is not updated. it says they’re open but you can’t make an appointment and when you call they say they are closed. We can’t get any other ID.

Hi Sarah,

What resource are you using to check to see if DMV’s are open? According to their government page, it seems that there quite a few locations that are open M-F. If you’re not able to get her a state ID in time you can use any of these other forms of identification instead.

Hi Doris, you are correct. You can still renew your regular driver’s license and this will be sufficient for driving/voting/identification. Thanks for reading.