Video: REAL ID explainer video
Skip this video REAL ID explainer video.What is a REAL ID?
A REAL ID is an enhanced version of a driver's license or Mass ID that meets the Federal Security Standard for IDs.
Individuals 18 and older now need a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card (or another ID accepted by the TSA) to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities.
A Massachusetts REAL ID has a star in the top right corner. A standard driver's license or Mass ID does not.
The temporary paper REAL ID you are issued by the RMV while waiting for your card to be mailed to you will not be accepted by the TSA.
You can renew your driver's license up to a year before it expires.
- It costs $50 to upgrade an existing standard (Class D) or motorcycle (Class M) driver's license to a REAL ID driver's license when you renew.
- It costs $75 to upgrade an existing Class A, B, or C driver's license to a REAL ID driver's license when you renew.
- It costs $25 to upgrade an existing driver's license or Mass ID to a REAL ID outside of your renewal cycle. You will still need to renew when it expires.
How do I get one?
1. Gather your 4 required identity documents
- 1 to prove you are in the U.S. legally -- like a passport or birth certificate
- 1 to verify your full social security number -- like a social security card or W-2
- 2 to prove you live in Massachusetts -- like a lease, mortgage, or utility bills
Important: Documents must be originals and they can not be laminated. Your current name must match the one on your documents. If it does not, you must present documents proving you changed your name, like a marriage certificate or other court document.
2. Apply online
- Visit the RMV's Online Service Center to apply and ensure you have the right documents.
3. Schedule an appointment to complete the process
- Schedule an in-person appointment to verify your documents at an RMV Service Center or AAA branch (if you're a member). You can also find or cancel an existing appointment.
- For those who don’t have valid federally acceptable ID and need to meet the REAL ID compliance date, the RMV is currently accepting walk-ins for REAL ID transactions at all RMV sites.
- If a customer walks in to a Service Center without an appointment and can't be helped immediately, a staffer will see if another time slot is available later in the day or over the next several days. If you made an appointment you no longer need, please cancel so the appointment can be filled by another customer.
Helpful links for gathering your documents
Renew or replace your REAL ID
You can use the RMV's Online Service Center to renew or replace your REAL ID online. You do not have to go to a Service Center or AAA location.
- It costs $50 to renew a REAL ID passenger or motorcycle driver's license.
- It costs $75 to renew a REAL ID commercial driver's license (CDL).
- It costs $25 to renew a REAL ID Mass ID.
It costs $25 to replace a REAL ID driver's license or Mass ID.
Information for out-of-state residents
If you have a REAL ID from another state and want to get a Massachusetts REAL ID, you must make an appointment at an RMV Service Center or AAA location, if you are a member, to present identification documents proving you are in the US legally and now live in Massachusetts.
Visit Transfer your out-of-state driver's license to Massachusetts for more information.
Information for non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents
Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply for a limited-term REAL ID driver’s license or REAL ID Mass ID that will be effective for the length of their stay. These can not be renewed online.
To be eligible, you must present immigration documents and proof that you have been granted a legal stay in the United States for at least 12 months.
Check your U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) case status.
Information for undocumented individuals
To get a REAL ID, you must be living in the United States legally. Undocumented residents of Massachusetts can not get one.