What? If it is time to renew your driver's license, it's time to get a REAL ID. It can only be postponed for so long.
For what it's worth, if you're being offered the option to get an Enhanced ID, they're not the same thing.
The main difference between a Real ID and the Enhanced ID is that the Enhanced ID will let Americans enter the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean in lieu of a passport and costs more.
Matthew Michael from NY here is a prime example of showing what an Enhanced ID looks like:.
A REAL ID is a beefed up driver's license that will let you board a plane within the contiguous United States starting May 7, 2025.
An Enhanced ID will let American citizens enter the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean in lieu of a passport. (Don't rely on the Enhanced ID letting you do that in reverse; it's fully possible you will need a passport to enter Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean).
On top of it, it costs $30 more.
Here's a quick chart explaining the differences between the two in New York State, highlighting the main differences in orange. (The red highlights the ID to avoid.)
To make it even more confusing, Enhanced IDs are only available in five states:
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Vermont
- Washington
