As of today, Ohio residents have one year to secure their REAL ID compliant identification that will be needed to board domestic flights, access federal facilities, or enter a nuclear power plant. Beginning October 2020, all U.S. residents will need a compliant license or an acceptable form of ID as per Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements. Acceptable forms of ID will be limited to passports, military ID, or Real ID-compliant state issued driver’s license or identification cards which meet the minimum-security standard established by the Department of Homeland Security.

“One year may seem like a long time to sign up for REAL ID, but it’ll fly by before we know it,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs for AAA East Central. “The process of collecting the documents for the identification may take longer than people realize, so it’s important to start planning now.”

Signing up for REAL ID is not required, but for anyone in the Buckeye State who decides to do so, a compliant identification comes at no additional cost. These IDs can be obtained at Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) Deputy Registrar locations, and will be mailed to the holder’s home when completed. The only costs associated will be the normal renewal or first-time license fees that motorists already pay.

How to obtain a REAL ID:

Apply at any BMV Deputy Registrar location.

Bring the necessary documents from the approved document list for satisfy Ohio and federal requirements. These documents will need to prove:

Full legal name.

Date of birth.

Social Security Number.

2 proofs of Ohio residency.

Proof of legal presence.

Proof of any name changes.

According to the BMV, ID cards will be mailed in about 10 business days after they are ordered.

While AAA East Central branch offices are not REAL ID distributors, AAA Travel Agents are on hand to discuss any questions members or the general public may have about the upcoming changes. Additionally, travelers can consult the BMV’s website with any questions.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 79 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. Past news releases are available at [news.eastcentral.aaa.com]news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.