You do not actually need one, your passport is fine.

Personally, I went with both the add-on passport card, and also a Global Entry card. Each of those qualifies as Real-ID.

Passport is fine for air travel. The benefit of the Real ID (for me) is that I always have my driver’s license with me meaning I won’t have to remember to grab my passport every time I fly.

I really have no intention of flying anywhere, let alone out of the country. I just wanted to know if the real id is just a waste of money. I know that if I were to travel anywhere I would just get a passport because it seems like the easiest/ most accepted form of identification.

Real id is no additional cost, so not really a waste of money. It's just added documentation.

Also it's required if you ever have to enter any secure federal property. It's not just travel. Courthouses, military installations and most federal agencies that require ID will require the real ID compliant document starting in May.

Edit: correction: real ID is no additional cost for CDL but $10 for regular licenses. That's dumb.

Depends on how much domestic travel you do. If I’m flying in-country, I don’t want to carry my passport with me.

You can get the card without the book. It's not really an add on and cheaper if you don't intend to fly anywhere.

>it's required if you ever have to enter any secure federal property. It's not just travel. Courthouses, military installations and most federal agencies

TIL the feds can't touch me as long as I don't get a real ID!

You have no intention of flying anywhere but you never know. Get the Real ID. You’ll have no regrets if you get it, but you might if you don’t.

This is not 100% accurate.

There are many forms of ID that are accepted to enter federal properties, including a Passport.

See: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

I am a frequent domestic traveler and do not have Real ID and do not intend to get Real ID. I always travel with my passport regardless of whether I'm traveling domestically or internationally.

The DOL and Social Security office will try to convince you that you'll be required to have a Real ID as of May 2023, but it's absolutely untrue.

And yes, a Passport is recognized globally and Real ID is only recognized domestically - so the Passport is better.

You can fly without ID so I think if you don't have RealID the procedure will eventually be the same (pat down, etc).

> I am a frequent domestic traveler and do not have Real ID and do not intend to get Real ID. I always travel with my passport regardless of whether I'm traveling domestically or internationally.

That's why I added a "passport card" when I renewed my passport -- works as Real ID, easier to carry for domestic travel.

Sorry, what I meant is that when you're already paying for a passport, it makes sense to pay the $30 fee to add the card to your order.

If you have no passport, getting the card costs $65, but yeah, that's cheaper by half compared to the price of a passport.

not guaranteed, you still have to convince them of your identity, and if they don't believe you you don't fly

"Beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States."

Alternatives to real ID:

• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

"In the event you arrive at the airport without valid identification, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. You will be subject to additional screening, to include a patdown and screening of carry-on property.

You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if your identity cannot be confirmed, you choose to not provide proper identification or you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process.

TSA recommends that you arrive at least two hours in advance of your flight time."

I purposely got a standard driver’s license to make it more difficult for my company to send me on the road. Not to mention I don’t have a passport. Works in my favor.

Yes but they are all Real ID compliant. The Real ID Act isn't specifically about drivers licenses.

I didn't really mean you had to have the real ID driver's license, just that you have to have some form of compliant identification.

The thing is though, unless you're in the military or have some other form of federal government issued identification, your cheapest option is probably going to be to get the DL or state ID that's compliant.

I use a passport all the time for domestic travel. It is way more secure in government eyes than a state driver’s license.

I love my passport card! A lot of people have never seen one before and it’s super easy for second identification when needed

This is the way

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Not a bad play honestly. I'm the polar opposite, as I got the real ID AND passport because I love to travel! I'll share your tip with some of my friends who hate to travel who don't have Real ID yet.

I mean, eventually they COULD insist on me obtaining proper documentation to travel, but this obviously would take time - which means there’s no way they could spring something on me. “Yeah, why don’t you just go ahead and plan on taking a plane trip to take care of this customer. Like…tonight.” No can do, man. Sorry. You’ll have to wait for the proper documentation to be completed.

>The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity.

Yea, the stuff that's on the non-Real ID. Fascinating.

They keep pushing back the compliance date, I doubt they'll ever actually enforce it.

I'm on some list where I get the pat-down treatment every freaking time.

A passport is the realest American ID one can have, as it is issued by the State Department. Get one. It's valid everywhere on earth.

FFS in 10 years they will want DNA swabs, save yourself the fees.

Allegedly. I got my real ID in 2020 because they were after several times delaying really really they mean it this time going to require real ID to fly in 2021.

A passport is an option, I just find the realID to be easier.

when you renew your passport, get a passport card as well - easy to carry in wallet, valid federal ID, good for going to Canada and Mexico, no worries about losing your larger paper passport somewhere. it's like $40 to add it to your renewal (or get it new, I guess.)

I always use mine whenever I have to show ID somewhere especially if it's some place that wants to scan DLs and harvest that data for whatever bad purpose (looking at you, Target.) they just kind of look at it and go "huh." and move on

Didn't know those existed. Thanks for the recommendation.