What You Need to Know About REAL ID

The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office developed this informational publication to help explain the federal REAL ID/Gold Star requirement.

First, please do not be alarmed – as of December of 2020, 95% of Manatee County residents have licenses/IDs (credentials) that are REAL ID/Gold Star compliant – meaning no action is necessary by the license or ID holder unless changes are needed. Over 300,000 Manatee County residents are already in compliance with this law.

IMPORTANT – These regulations may change at any time, so please visit TSA.GOV for the latest information. In addition, please direct specific questions to the TSA and your airlines, as we will be unable to answer them.

Q: How can you tell if you have a REAL ID compliant license/ID?

A: It is very simple – Look near the top right of your license or ID – if it has a STAR, the license or ID is REAL ID compliant – regardless of the state that issued it. (The other requirement would be for the license or ID to not be expired.) For Florida licenses, it does not matter what version of Florida license you have; the key is whether or not there is a star in the upper right corner (see examples on right) – and that it is not expired. (We do not have any other information for licenses from other states – please direct inquiries to the appropriate state DMV.)

Q: I am not REAL ID compliant (I do not have a gold star on my license); what documents do I need to bring in?

A: The following are the most common documents provided to become REAL ID compliant. For a complete list of acceptable identity documents, visit flhsmv.gov/whattobring.

#1. IDENTIFICATION - BRING ONE:

Unexpired US Passport
Original or Certified US Birth Certificate (must be government issued)
Original or Certified US Naturalization Certificate
INS (USCIS) Documentation (if presented, you must visit our Driver License Branch)

Does the name match your license or ID card? If not, don’t forget your name change documents; see #4.

#2. SOCIAL SECURITY - BRING ONE:

Proof must list full name and full Social Security #.

Social Security Card or Stub
W-2/1099 Form (pre-printed)
Pay Stub
Military ID card

Name changes must be reported to Social Security at least 48 hours prior to visiting our office.

#3. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS - BRING TWO:

Bring two physical documents for proof of your residential address – it cannot be a PO Box. The documents must show your name and your residential address.

Current Florida Car, Boat or Mobile Home Registration or Title
Manatee County Property Tax Bill - obtain here (https://secure.taxcollector.com/ptaxweb)
Manatee County Voter Registration Information - obtain here (votemanatee.com/Voter-Information/Voter-Status-Information-Check-Your-Registration-Status)
Deed, Mortgage Statement, or Rental/Lease Agreement
Selective Service Card
Current Homeowner's or Automobile insurance policy/bill
Most recent W-2 or 1099
Utility bills (such as water, gas, electric, cell phone, cable)*
Automobile payment booklet*
Medical/Health card or medical bill*
Paycheck stub*
Financial statements (such as bank, credit cards, investment accounts)*
Documents issued by Federal, State, County or City Government Agencies*

*must be dated within the last 60 days

If you are unable to provide two (2) proofs of residential address in your name as outlined above, you must comply with one of the following options in order to establish proof of residence:

Option 1:

Customers unable to provide proof of residential address in their name (as outlined above) may have the person they reside with complete a Certification of Address form (English - flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/71120.pdf / Spanish - flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/71120sp.pdf) along with providing two proof of address documents as outlined on the form. The person the customer lives with must be present at the appointment OR must sign the Certification of Address form in the presence of a notary.

Option 2:

Customers who are homeless and reside in an agency where housing services are provided (such as a homeless shelter or probation home) may provide the following:

a letter from an authorized Manatee County homeless shelter, transitional service provider or half-way house verifying the customers resides at the agency's address (must be dated within the last 60 days) AND
Section A of the Certification of Address form Certification of Address form (English - flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/71120.pdf / Spanish - flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/71120sp.pdf) completed by the customer, self-certifying their residential address.

Option 3:

Customers under the age of 18 may present two proofs of residential address as outlined above in their parent or guardian's name. Proof of relationship (such as birth certificate, military dependent ID card, etc.) is required.

Refer to our Commercial Driver License publication for specific requirements for CDL holders/applicants.

#4. NAME CHANGE - BRING ALL THAT APPLY:

Original or Certified Marriage License/Certificate (must be government issued – cannot be issued by a church)
Divorce Decree
Court Order

This is only required when a prior name (or maiden name) is shown on the identification document provided; see #1.

Q: Is it required that everyone obtain a REAL ID license or ID by May 7, 2025?

A: No! Your driving privileges in Florida will not be impacted if your license is not expired and otherwise valid. If you are never going to leave Manatee County and you’re never going to visit the list of Federal facilities that require REAL ID identification, you could conceivably wait until your next license or ID renewal before obtaining your REAL ID credential.

Note: If an emergency came up and you needed to board a plane or enter the list of federal facilities requiring REAL ID credentials, you would be denied entry unless you had other acceptable identification – see below.

Q: What exactly is the REAL ID?

A: Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are: accessing federal facilities; boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft; entering nuclear power plants.

Q: When will REAL ID be enforced?

A: The final enforcement deadline is May 7, 2025. By this date, not only must all states be issuing Real ID-compliant licenses or IDs, but individuals must also have visited their state’s driver’s licensing agency and obtained a REAL ID compliant card, or acceptable alternative such as a US passport, if they wish to fly on commercial aircrafts or access federal facilities.

Q: What happens on May 7, 2025?

A: Federal agencies, including DHS and TSA, may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards as identification for purposes of accessing federal facilities – including TSA airport security checkpoints – if the license or card was issued by a REAL ID compliant state in accordance with the REAL ID security standards (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking).

Q: What happens to travelers who show up without a REAL ID compliant license? Will TSA turn them away?

A: Travelers who do not present a REAL ID compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025, will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.

Q: What else besides a REAL ID compliant driver license or ID card will allow someone to fly?

A: TSA accepts valid unexpired US Passports and many other forms of identity documents. For more information on acceptable forms of identification for boarding aircraft, please visit TSA’s website.
Source: tsa.gov/sites/default/files/resources/realid_factsheet.pdf

Q: Are Weapons Permits and Temporary Driving Permits REAL ID acceptable forms of identification?

A: No, neither are acceptable.
Source: tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

Q: Do children need a REAL ID compliant driver license or ID card?

A: TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States, but airlines might have their own policies. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.
Source: tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

Note: For details on obtaining an ID for the first time for a child under 18, view our Original ID Card publication (helpcenter.taxcollector.com/hc/en-us/articles/26722376961549)