Deadline Approaching For Iowans to Get REAL ID

As the new year approaches, so does the deadline to get your new ID.

As of October 1, 2020, you'll need either a REAL ID license or ID or another acceptable form of identification, otherwise you'll be subject to additional screening and delays.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, REAL ID is a "federal act focusing on anti-terrorism, fraud protection, and security specific to the production of driver's licenses and ID cards that control access to federal facilities requiring identification to enter, federally regulated commercial aircraft, and nuclear power facilities."

You'll notice that a license that complies with the federal REAL ID program will have a small white star in a gold circle background on the upper right-hand corner (pictured above). That star shows that the license has already undergone all of the additional ID verification procedures.

If you plan to fly and don't have a passport, you're going to need one of these. For more information and to find out if you need a REAL ID license or ID visit the IDOT website here.