To get a DC REAL ID, you need to visit a DC DMV service center in person with one proof of identity and lawful presence, one proof of your Social Security number, and two proofs of DC residency. Enforcement began May 7, 2025, so a standard DC driver license without the star marking no longer works at TSA checkpoints or most federal buildings.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A compliant driver license costs $47 and a non-driver ID card costs $20, each valid for eight years.2Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License Fees
Check Your Current Card First
Look at the upper portion of your current DC driver license or ID card. If it shows a star, you already have a REAL ID and do not need to do anything until your next renewal. If it does not, keep reading.
Documents You Need to Bring
DC DMV requires documents in four categories, drawn from 18 DCMR § 103. Missing one means a wasted trip, so gather everything before you go.
Identity, Date of Birth, and Lawful Presence
Bring one original from this list: an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, a certified U.S. birth certificate from a state vital records office, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Permanent Resident Card, a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, or an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and approved I-94.3DC Rules. Section 18-103 Application for a Driver License A REAL ID-compliant license from another state also works.
Social Security Number
Bring one original document showing your full name and full Social Security number. Options include your Social Security card or an SSA printout, a W-2, an SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099, or a pay statement.3DC Rules. Section 18-103 Application for a Driver License DC DMV verifies the number electronically with the Social Security Administration, so the name on the document must match exactly.
Two Proofs of DC Residency
You need two documents from different sources showing your current DC address. Both must match each other and match the address on your application. Accepted documents include utility bills within the last 60 days, telephone bills within the last 60 days, a deed or mortgage statement, an unexpired lease, a DC property tax bill from the past 12 months, an unexpired homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, or official government mail received within the last 60 days.4Department of Motor Vehicles. Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Leases must show the landlord’s name, start date, lease term, and both signatures. For a month-to-month lease, add a signed landlord statement confirming it is still active. Printed online bills count as originals. Disconnect notices and PO box addresses do not.4Department of Motor Vehicles. Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Name-Change Documents If Your Name Has Changed
If your current legal name does not match the name on your identity document, bring proof of every change linking the two. For marriage or divorce, bring the certificate. For a court-ordered change or adoption, bring the court documents.5Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Proof of Identity-Full Legal Name, Date of Birth and Lawful Presence If you married, divorced, and remarried, you need paperwork for each step. This is where applications most often stall.
What Happens at the Service Center
Bring your completed application, which you can fill out on the DC DMV website beforehand, along with all your original documents to any DC DMV service center. Staff review your documents, and you take a vision screening. First-time driver license applicants also take a knowledge test. DC DMV takes a new photo at every transaction, and District policy requires a full frontal photo showing either your ears or up to your hairline.6Department of Motor Vehicles. Obtain a REAL ID Driver License
After payment, you leave with a temporary paper license valid for 45 days. Your permanent card arrives by mail within 10 business days. DC DMV does not mail to PO boxes, so your mailing address must be a physical street address.6Department of Motor Vehicles. Obtain a REAL ID Driver License
Fees and Payment
- Driver license, first-time or renewal: $47 for an eight-year card
- Non-driver ID card, first-time or renewal: $20 for an eight-year card
- Duplicate driver license: $20
- Duplicate non-driver ID card: $20
These fees apply to both REAL ID and non-REAL ID versions of each credential.2Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License Fees DC DMV accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, contactless and digital wallet payments, money orders payable to DC Treasurer, and verified checks. Cash and debit cards are accepted in person. Credit and debit card transactions carry a 2.5% service fee, online or in person.7Department of Motor Vehicles. Accepted Forms of Payments
If You Cannot Show Lawful Presence or a Social Security Number
DC residents who cannot provide those documents can apply instead for a Limited Purpose driver license or ID card. It lets you drive legally and use local services, but it does not satisfy REAL ID rules for flights or federal buildings.8D.C. Law Library. District of Columbia Code 50-1401.05 – Limited Purpose Driver’s License, Permit, or Identification Card Instead of the standard residency and SSN requirements, applicants provide proof of identity and age, two documents proving current DC residency, two more proving at least six months of DC residency, and proof of Social Security ineligibility. DC law prohibits the DMV from requiring a Social Security number or any document showing the absence of one for these applicants.9Department of Motor Vehicles. Obtain a Limited Purpose Driver License
If You Would Rather Skip the Upgrade for Now
A REAL ID is not your only option for flying or entering federal buildings. TSA also accepts a U.S. passport or passport card, DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), a U.S. military ID including dependent IDs, a Permanent Resident Card, a foreign passport, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, and a Veteran Health Identification Card. TSA is also testing digital options including Apple Digital ID, Clear ID, and Google ID pass.10Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you already have a valid U.S. passport, you can use it at the checkpoint and put off the upgrade until your next renewal.
Renewals
DC driver licenses and ID cards are valid for eight years. DC DMV allows online renewal every other cycle: you can renew online once, then must visit a service center for the next renewal.11Department of Motor Vehicles. Renewals Renewal fees match issuance: $47 for a driver license, $20 for a non-driver ID card.2Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License Fees If your current card is not REAL ID-compliant and your renewal is an in-person one anyway, that is the easiest visit to handle the upgrade.