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Learn About The REAL ID From A Travel Agent

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Dawn Mulford – Contributing Columnist

Greetings! My name is Dawn Mulford, a Trenton resident and travel agent. As a guest columnist, I will be sharing some tips, tricks, and news about travel with you that I’ve gathered over my 40+ years in the industry.

I started my career in California’s Silicon Valley by planning corporate business trips for executives. When asked, I also planned their vacations, which I loved doing.

After my husband retired, we settled in Trenton to be close to our son who lives in Chattanooga. Coming full circle, I returned to my first love—planning leisure travel. Whether your job takes you on the road or you’re planning your next family vacation, I hope to help make your next trip smooth and enjoyable.

First, you’ve probably heard talk about the REAL ID in recent years. The REAL ID Act mandates higher security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. This law was passed by Congress in 2005 but not fully implemented until May 7, 2025.

If your driver’s license already has a star in the upper right hand corner, you have the new REAL ID license and do not need to do anything.

If you do not upgrade your driver’s license to the new REAL ID, you may not be able to board airlines, enter military installations, or government buildings.

It is important to inquire with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles before going in person to verify what you will need in advance. Each state has their own set of requirements to get the REAL ID Driver’s License, but in most cases, you will need to provide at least one of the following:

  • Proof of identity: U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) if you are a non-U.S. citizen
  • Proof of a Social Security number: Social Security card, Form W-2 which shows your earnings for tax purposes, or a pay stub or paycheck
  • Proof of residency: Your DMV may ask you for a deed, mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bill, or bank statement to prove you are a state resident.

Passports can be used for airline travel in lieu of the Real ID for both domestic and international flights. The passports have to be valid and current (you cannot use an expired passport).

Currently, children under the age of 18 and traveling on US Airlines are not required to have this type of identification.

Georgia is 99 percent compliant with the REAL ID requirements, so many Dade County residents likely already have a REAL ID driver’s license. Georgia is ahead of Tennessee and especially Alabama.

Tennessee has made significant progress:

  • Over three million Tennesseans have obtained a REAL ID as of May 12.
  • This figure represents over half of the licensed drivers in the state, indicating a solid compliance rate.
  • Even after the May 7 enforcement date, residents can continue to apply for and obtain REAL IDs.
  • Previously, there were some printing problems that caused delays in the production of REAL IDs, but these issues were expected to be resolved.

Alabama has a lower compliance rate:

  • As of April 22, only 31 percent of Alabamians had a STAR ID (Alabama’s version of REAL ID).
  • The Federal Security Director for Alabama has said that the state is in the lowest percentage range in the United States regarding STAR ID adoption.
  • Similar to Tennessee, STAR IDs are still available for issuance after the May 7 enforcement date.
  • Due to the lower compliance rate and the enforcement date, travelers without a STAR ID (or another acceptable form of ID) might experience delays or additional security screenings at airports.

Have more questions? You can always check online for your state’s requirements.

Dawn Mulford has been in the travel industry for over 40 years—first in corporate and then leisure travel. For the last three years, she has been in the top two percent of travel agents out of 10,000 agents in the Travel Leaders Network group. Dawn has been blessed with a lifetime of travel, a fulfilling job, and the ability to work from home. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with great clients and friends.

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