The Real ID deadline is looming, and DMVs across the country are extending hours, adding staff, and launching new initiatives to help Americans secure an appointment.
Why It Matters
The May 7, 2025, deadline for obtaining a Real ID is rapidly approaching and will impact millions of Americans who need it for domestic air travel and access to federal facilities.
As of April 2025, approximately 81 percent of travelers at airport security checkpoints presented a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or passport, according to the Transportation Security Administration—leaving many Americans potentially facing last-minute scrambles to meet the deadline.
What To Know
The California DMV has announced extended office hours for Real ID appointments , running from April 14 through June 27. Select DMV offices will open one hour earlier—7 a.m. to 8 a.m.—on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. These early hours are available by appointment only and specifically for REAL ID services.
Standard DMV hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most weekdays, with a later opening at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays…