REAL ID deadline approaches for New Yorkers at DMV

ALBANY – New Yorkers who haven’t upgraded their driver’s licenses to federal REAL ID security standards face a May 7 deadline if they want to use their licenses to board domestic flights. But getting the recommended appointments may be difficult.

Some downstate New Yorkers have recently said they have had difficulty in finding open  appointments at state Department of Motor Vehicles offices through June. DMV provided no estimates of how many New Yorkers have been seeking the licenses in recent weeks.

DMV said appointment spots can come open on a “rolling basis.” In addition, the DMV will soon offer special Saturday hours at some offices on Long Island and in New York City beginning April 5.

The licenses will be required for identification to board domestic air travel beginning May 7, although New Yorkers will still be able to board the fights if they bring their passports .  

A spot check by Newsday on Tuesday using the DMV website found no DMV offices on Long Island, New York City or Westchester County had days in which appointments were available through June.

However, availability can occur on a daily basis. For example, a spot check of available days on Wednesday morning found one April day opened up at the DMV offices in Bethpage, Garden City, Massapequa, Riverhead, Hauppauge and two days in April opened in Medford.

New Yorkers seeking appointments should keep checking the Department of Motor Vehicles scheduling site: https://public.nydmvreservation.com/.

DMV officials strongly recommend scheduling an appointment for the process, which requires the applicant to several document to prove their identification and citizenship status. New Yorkers may still walk in for a visit to apply, but that could result in a lengthy wait. Also, not all DMV offices will accept applicants without an appointment, so it is wise to call ahead.

DMV spokesman Walter McClure said that although the agency hasn’t seen a logjam of late applicants, provisions are being made to help late appliers to get their REAL ID-compliant licenses. The DMV will provide special Saturday hours on Long Island and in New York City where New Yorkers will be able to schedule appointments to complete their REAL ID applications.

Sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from April 5 through June 28. Appointments will be available for New Yorkers seeking licenses, permits and non-driver IDs that comply with REAL ID requirements. “Enhanced” licenses, permits and non-driver IDs also can be used for air travel on May 7 and beyond. 

The Saturday sessions will be in the Garden City and Medford DMV offices. Other offices that will offer the Saturday hours are in College Point; Coney Island; the Brooklyn Atlantic office; the Richmond office in Staten Island; the Midtown and Harlem offices in Manhattan; the Bronx and Yonkers offices.

DMV is also staggering the times and hours weekdays for when the meetings are available to give people different opportunities to apply, McClure said.

The federal REAL ID Law requires a deeper level of security for a state driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver identification card to board even domestic flights beginning May 7, 2025. A REAL ID license also will be required to enter many federal buildings and facilities such as military bases.

New Yorkers who need the REAL ID-compliant license may renew their license even if it isn’t expiring soon, without losing the length of time the license is valid.

Applicants for a REAL ID-compliant license, permit or non-driver ID must bring an original Social Security card or the federal tax documents W2, 1099, 1098, or a pay stub showing a full Social Security number.

In addition, applicants must bring two proofs of residency in New York State, which can include a State driver’s license, permit or nondriver ID card; postmarked mail, printed bank statements, or utility bills if they are dated within 365 days of the application and contain the applicant’s address. Post office box numbers are not acceptable.

Additional proof of lawful residency includes a valid, original U.S. passport (not a copy), a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or permanent resident card, a valid foreign passport with visa, i94 or i551 documentation, or recent and certified copies of birth or marriage certificates. Expired or outdated documents can’t be used.

To review documents needed to prove identity and citizenship status, go to https://process.dmv.ny.gov/documentguide/dmv_license/DisplayPages/pwizlicensePermitNDID.cfm.

This month, the DMV continued its seven-year effort to inform New Yorkers about the May 7 deadline.

“We want to make sure all New Yorkers are REAL ID compliant as soon as possible,” DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said in a statement. “I’m encouraging all New Yorkers to make your appointment today and to check out our online resources that can help you prepare your REAL ID application. We want every DMV visit to be a one and done, whether you visit us on a Saturday or during the week.”

The AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association, hasn’t heard reports from members that they haven’t been able to secure REAL ID-complaint licenses, said Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs at AAA Northeast in Garden City  in a statement.