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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – CHECK OUT THESE CRITICAL RULES FOR THE NEW “REAL ID” YOU NEED TO FLY TO U.S. DESTINATIONS

 

Are you planning to travel by plane to any U.S. destination, or enter a Federal building, after May 7th? 

 

Then take a quick look at your driver’s license. If there’s a star at the top it means you have the “Real ID” you’ll need to get on a plane. If not, you’ll need to take a trip to the DMV for an updated license or rely on your passport to prove you’re who you say you are before your trip. While the Real ID designation dates back to a law passed by Congress in 2005, this new rule – for U.S. travelers aged 18 and older – kicks in on May 7th.

 

If you have a Delaware driver’s license without the star, you need to bring it to a Delaware DMV office for an upgrade, but you’ll also need additional documentation, one of the following:

 

 

You also need proof of your Social Security number. Accepted forms of proof are:

 

  • Your Social Security card
  • A W-2 tax form
  • An SSA 1099 form
  • A pay stub showing your full Social Security number
  • Any other valid document from the Social Security Administration that shows your full Social Security number – NOTE Medicare and Medicaid cards are not acceptable

 

And you need proof of your Delaware address. Acceptable forms of proof are:

 

  • Utility bills
  • Credit card statements
  • Auto or life insurance documents
  • Voter registration cards
  • Bank account statements
  • Employment records
  • Rental agreements
  • U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation

 

The cost for upgrading to a Real ID driver’s license is $20 – the same price as the regular duplicate fee.

 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – This Website has a fuller summary of everything you need to get your Real ID https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/drivers_license/secureID/index.shtml#horizontalTab2 

 

Other rules are important to understand as well!

 

There are more than 250,000 drivers who are aged 60 and over in Delaware, and although most of us are probably a lot safer on the road than the youngsters (thanks to our “maturity” and impulse control) our DMV still requires you to pass a vision test when renewing your license. Fortunately, there aren’t any special age-related restrictions to driving or mandatory time for giving up your license. 

 

Getting a new Delaware driver’s license:

 

If you’ve recently moved to Delaware and have a driver’s license from another state, you’ll need to get a Delaware driver’s license withing 60 days. In addition to turning in your current license you’ll need to provide:

 

 

Renewing your Delaware driver’s license

 

You also have to renew your license every 8 years. You can do it online through the “myDMV” account (which you’ll need to set up), or in person at a DMV office. 

 

Online Renewal:

 

    • Create a myDMV account on the official Delaware DMV website. 
    • Log in to your account and renew your license online. 

 

In-Person Renewal: