The holiday travel season is upon us and Kentuckians are being urged to secure a REAL ID before boarding a commercial flights in the United States.
Thanks to several customer service improvements, in-and-out times at Driver Licensing Regional Offices have been significantly reduced in recent months, making it easier to upgrade or renew a license.
REAL ID enforcement took effect on May 7, 2025, requiring anyone flying domestically or visiting a military base to present a REAL ID-compliant credential, such as a valid passport or a REAL ID driver’s license, permit or ID card. State law gives Kentuckians the choice of a standard or REAL ID license or ID, and about 45% have opted for a REAL ID-compliant card.
From January through October, more than 1.1 million state credentials have been issued, including more than 21,000 permits to 15-year-olds.
From April through October 2025, average walk-in customer wait times fell from 49 minutes to just 14 minutes, and average appointment wait times dropped from 25 minutes to 11 minutes.
Kentuckians can use the “Skip the Line” quiz tool at drive.ky.gov to determine whether they can renew their ID by mail or online, or whether they need an in-person visit.
Source: WAVE
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