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How do states handle residents who decline to obtain Real ID — alternatives and consequences?
Executive summary
States generally let residents refuse a REAL ID — your standard state license continues to work for driving, voting and many everyday uses — but after May 7, 2025 federal checkpoints (airports, some federal facilities, nuclear plants) will require a REAL ID or an accepted alternative such as a passport, passport card, enhanced IDs, military IDs or other TSA‑listed documents [1] [2] [3]. For travelers who show up without an acceptable ID, TSA offers an identity‑verification process and (as of late 2025 rulemaking) a paid modernized alternative identity verification option; that process can delay or deny entry through security [2] [4].
1. What “declining” REAL ID means in practice — states still issue non‑REAL IDs
Most state DMVs continue to issue a standard (non‑REAL ID) driver license or ID and explicitly say you are not required to get a REAL ID; those standard cards remain valid for driving, voting and many everyday state‑level functions (examples: Michigan, Washington, New Jersey guidance) [5] [6] [7]. State materials emphasize the choice: you can opt for a REAL ID or keep a standard card, but if you keep the standard card you’ll need an alternate federally accepted ID to enter certain federal sites or board domestic flights [7] [6].
2. Where the federal consequences kick in — airports and selected federal sites
The federal REAL ID requirement applies to accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding commercial aircraft; beginning May 7, 2025 travelers who rely on a non‑compliant state license must present an acceptable alternative or they risk extra screening or denial at TSA checkpoints [2] [1]. DHS/TSA enforcement has been phased and flexible in prior rulemaking, but the underlying restriction is that federal agencies will not accept noncompliant IDs for those listed purposes [8] [2].
3. List of common alternatives — passports, enhanced IDs, military and more
TSA’s published list of acceptable alternatives includes a U.S. passport book or card, U.S. passport card, U.S. Department of Defense ID (including dependent IDs), certain immigration documents (e.g., employment authorization card), Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (issued by a handful of states), tribal IDs and other federally specified credentials [1] [3] [9]. Several news outlets and consumer guides compiled the same list and advise travelers to check TSA before travel because the list can change [10] [11] [12].
4. What happens at the checkpoint if you don’t have REAL ID or an alternative
TSA may notify non‑compliant travelers, direct them to a separate area, and require identity verification that can include collecting personal info and additional screening; if identity is confirmed travelers may be allowed to the screening checkpoint but could face significant delays and there is no guaranteed outcome [13] [10] [11]. UpgradedPoints and local reporting stressed that the process is discretionary and can be time‑consuming, so arriving early is recommended [14] [11].
5. Newer development: a paid modernized alternative verification program
Federal rulemaking published in late 2025 establishes a “modernized alternative identity verification” program that is optional, does not guarantee access to the sterile area, and carries an $18 fee to recoup government costs — a formalization of the checkpoint verification pathway for people without acceptable ID [4] [15]. This change shifts some of the burden onto the traveler who elects not to carry a federally accepted credential.
6. State-level variations and political context
Some states emphasize protections for residents who decline REAL ID, framing standard licenses as adequate for state functions and daily life; a few states also issue Enhanced IDs that meet federal needs without the REAL ID star [5] [16] [9]. Advocacy and privacy groups have opposed REAL ID on civil‑liberties grounds; others argue the law strengthens document security. Coverage shows competing priorities: states balancing resident convenience and privacy versus federal goals for uniform identity standards [17] [16].
7. Practical advice and limitations of current reporting
If you decline REAL ID and plan to fly, carry a passport or another TSA‑accepted credential, or be prepared for identity verification at checkpoints and potential delays [1] [11]. Sources do not provide exhaustive examples of every outcome at every airport nor do they guarantee uniform treatment across federal facilities; local airport and agency practices vary and enforcement arrangements have been adjusted over time [2] [8]. Available sources do not mention long‑term criminal penalties for declining REAL ID; they focus on access and screening consequences [2] [5].
Bottom line: keeping a non‑REAL state ID remains legal for many everyday state uses, but it shifts the burden to the individual when interacting with federal checkpoints — plan to carry an accepted federal credential or allow extra time for TSA verification [6] [1] [11].