The REAL ID rush: Travelers scramble ahead of May 7 deadline

Americans are flocking to the DMV to get their REAL ID driver’s license to fly domestically. Starting May 7, flyers must show their passport or the upgraded ID at the airports.

REAL IDs are upgraded driving licenses, and with the fast-approaching deadline, DMVs across the country are overwhelmed despite adding hundreds of appointment slots and extending work hours.

Some citizens say they can’t get a slot until summer, while others often wait in line for hours at the DMV. Frustrated, few people have turned to social media for tips on finding less-crowded locations.

Illinois even added a “DMV REAL ID Saturdays” and walk-in centers in Chicago to ease the demand.

While the appointments are free, government officials in Miami-Dade County recently discovered scalpers are selling the much-demanded slots.

The deadlines for getting REAL IDs had been extended thrice, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But federal authorities have urged people to apply, stating that this May could be the final deadline.

States like Texas have 98% of residents with REAL IDs, while some others, like Pennsylvania, have only 25.6% of people with REAL IDs. These regions are scrambling to meet the rise in applications.

Despite years of warnings, one in five US travelers do not have a REAL ID, say TSA officials. For those struggling to get an appointment, a valid US passport remains a backup option.