Consider when renewing your California Driver License to renew it as a Real ID.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 On or after October 1, 2020, if you want to travel in domestic US, you will need to have a Real ID or a passport.<\/p>\n
Real ID is a designation on your Drivers License which will allow you to continue to use your Driver License for identification on Domestic flights. After October 1, 2020, your regular Driver License will not be accepted for U.S. flights and it will say \u201cFederal Limits Apply\u201d. In that case you will need to bring your passport as I.D.<\/p>\n
Between now and 2020, the renewal of your Driver License costs $35 whether or not you renew as Real ID, but if you have already renewed your Driver License before 2020, to get the Real ID would be an additional $35, whenever you choose to do it.<\/p>\n
To renew for Real ID, you need to appear in person at the DMV with the following items: passport, social security card, utility bill showing your name and address, and if you wear contacts, bring your glasses too.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what happened when I went to renew my Driver License.\u00a0 First, I went online to get a DMV appointment. The DMV office near my home was going to make me wait 2 months, so I elected to get my appointment near where I worked.\u00a0 Then I printed out my appointment confirmation and kept it, because I needed it to show the DMV people that I was in the correct line.<\/p>\n
At the time of making your appointment, please review the List of things you need to bring, because maybe there are things you still have to do to comply with the list.\u00a0 For example, I had not seen my social security card for years, so about 6 months ago I went online to Social Security to get a replacement card.\u00a0 See what you have and you need to collect so it\u2019s ready by the DMV appointment date.\u00a0 You do not want to have to go back again!<\/p>\n
Most likely you will need to have a vision test for each eye separately, so if you wear contacts, you should bring your glasses.\u00a0 My left eye failed the vision test, so I quickly removed my contacts and passed the vision test with my glasses.<\/p>\n
When I got to the DMV office, I saw 3 lines — for those with appointments, those without appointments and those who were getting driving tests.<\/p>\n
I waited in the appointment line, behind 6 people and when I got to the front of the line, I met with a DMV guy who reviewed the documents that I had brought and determined the reason I was there. Then he told me to go to another room to fill out my \u201capplication\u201d on their computer, which include voting questions \u2013 this is a chance to change your voting choices.<\/p>\n
After I was done, I was to enter the confirmation code on my paper he had given me, and return back to him, at which time he gave me a queue number.\u00a0 I was given F105 and they were serving F99 so my wait was not long, and they had 28 windows fully staffed and a room full of people with enough chairs for most everyone who was waiting.\u00a0 It seemed very full, but organized.\u00a0 Numbers were being called almost constantly.<\/p>\n
When I was called up to desk 13, the DMV guy checked my online application, reviewed the documents I had brought and made copies, gave me my vision test, took my thumbprint, and then he sent me to get a new photo for my license.\u00a0 I returned to him to pay my $35 and then he printed a temporary Driver License and I was on my way. The whole process took 50 minutes.<\/p>\n
They told me I\u2019d get my new Driver License within 2 weeks, but I got it in 8 days!<\/p>\n
It has been in the news that California does not meet the Federal standards for real ID. \u00a0The main issue is that the DMV needs to get 2 documents with the individual\u2019s name and principal residence, not one.\u00a0\u00a0 And while the California DMV is finalizing its correction plan, they will start to require 2 forms of proof of residency beginning in April 2019.\u00a0\u00a0 So before you go to the DMV make sure you have two different utility bills, etc. \u00a0to prove your residency. \u00a0For those people like me who already got their Real ID this year, we will just have to provide 2 proofs of residency when we renew in 5 years.<\/p>\n
The key is to plan ahead and bring everything needed.<\/p>\n
<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the link where you can get more detailed info: https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/dmv\/detail\/realid<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the link where you can look at frequently asked questions:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/dmv\/detail\/realid\/realidfaq<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the link to show you alternative items to bring to prove your identity: https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/wcm\/connect\/2db22455-e270-47a3-819c-d7c7716d5194\/List_of_Docs_REALID.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be sure to follow World Travel on Instagram @wtfamilyofagencies and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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