Beginning on Oct. 1, 2020, federal agencies will enforce tougher security standards at airport check-ins, federal buildings, military installations and nuclear sites. The N.C. REAL ID is just like a traditional license or ID but has a gold star at the top, and will make more convenient to board a commercial airplane or visit a military base or other federal facility.
N.C. REAL IDs are only available by visiting a driver license office, where it will be scanned and permanently stored, as required under federal law, in an individual’s NC Department of Motor Vehicles record. The NC Department of Transportation would like to encourage everyone to acquire their NC REAL ID before Oct. 1, 2020.