REAL ID Appointments Going Fast In NJ: How To Get One

NEW JERSEY — After years of preparation and several delays, the final deadline for REAL ID is approaching — and Garden State residents who haven't upgraded yet may struggle to find an appointment with the Motor Vehicle Commission.

New Jersey residents who are 18 and older must show a REAL ID, a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings when enforcement begins May 7.

And with that date inching nearer, the MVC has seen a "historically high" demand for services, spokesperson William Connolly told Patch. More than 1.2 million New Jersey residents have gotten a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, Connolly said on Friday.

Anyone who holds a driver license in the Garden State can update it to a REAL ID when they go to renew, or by making a non-renewal appointment. Those who do not have a standard New Jersey license can get their REAL ID at a non-driver ID appointment or an out-of-state transfer appointment, if they recently moved.

All appointments are booked through the MVC scheduler.

If you just need to upgrade to a REAL ID, you can make an appointment online — but as of Tuesday morning, there aren't any openings anywhere in the state until May 19. Some residents may get lucky when they are browsing for an appointment if someone else has canceled, but that is no guarantee.

"If a customer cannot make their appointment, we urge them to please cancel or reschedule it so that the appointment slot can be opened up to service someone else," Connolly explained.

The MVC Mobile Units may also have appointments, though none were available Tuesday morning.

It's a little easier for people who need to renew their license or non-driver ID in the next three months, as there are tens of thousands of appointments available online, and they can upgrade their IDs upon renewal.

Connolly said the MVC added 36,000 non-renewal appointments earlier this month, and is currently adding about 3,000 new appointments every day in its online scheduler to help cope with the demand.

Appointments are scheduled out for 90 days.

"The MVC continuously monitors appointment availability and will regularly add and reallocate appointments to better meet the demand for specific services," he said.

The REAL ID law, passed in 2005 in response to the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, strengthens national security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

To get a REAL ID in New Jersey, you must bring two proofs of residential address, one proof of Social Security Number and six points of ID (a U.S. Passport or birth certificate counts for four points; one-point forms of ID include a high school diploma, social security card, bank/credit union statement, debit card, property tax statement and more).

A REAL ID is $35, while a standard New Jersey license or ID is $24.

Federal agencies, including the TSA, will begin REAL ID enforcement on May 7. Agencies may choose to phase in enforcement, but TSA officials urge people to upgrade their licenses now "to facilitate a smooth transition."

Related article — Will Real ID Really Take Effect In 2025? What You Need To Know In NJ