Why Americans Are Saying 'No Thanks' to REAL ID—And What’s Really Holding Them Back

The countdown is on for the REAL ID deadline, and Americans are split—some are scrambling to upgrade, while others are taking a hard pass or just plain procrastinating. Starting May 7, you’ll need a REAL ID or another approved form of identification to fly domestically. Yet, plenty of folks are sticking with their trusty passports or just waiting for their regular license to expire before making any moves.

Why the hesitation? For many, it comes down to cost. REAL ID fees vary by state, and some travelers, like Lisa from Oregon, say they’d rather put their money toward a passport. Lisa admitted she might get a REAL ID eventually, but for now, her passport does the trick—even if lugging it around for a quick domestic flight isn’t exactly ideal.

There are alternatives if the REAL ID isn’t your thing: U.S. passports, passport cards, Global Entry, Department of Defense IDs, permanent resident cards, and border crossing cards are all on the list. So, if you already have one of these, you might not feel the rush.

Some states, like California, are trying to ease the pain by offering reduced or waived fees for people who meet certain criteria—think low-income applicants, seniors over 62, or those experiencing homelessness. But let’s be honest, even a discount can’t make a trip to the DMV feel like anything other than a special kind of torture.

Kelsey from Illinois summed up the procrastinator’s mindset: her ID doesn’t expire until November, and her trip wraps up before the deadline, so why bother? She’s just planning to bundle it all together when it’s actually necessary. Nick, also from Illinois, keeps it simple—he just travels with his passport and hasn’t bothered to learn much about the REAL ID yet. Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

Meanwhile, airports like DCA in D.C. are going all out with deadline countdowns and paper handouts, because nothing says ‘urgent’ like a flashing sign at security. Victoria from Arizona doesn’t travel much, so she’s skipping the REAL ID—she also wants her parents to get one so they can finally travel and enjoy retirement, but the DMV isn’t exactly calling their names either.

Lesley from California is one of the converted—she got her REAL ID, but mainly because a colleague’s lack of one led to a DMV nightmare: a two-to-four-hour wait in the infamous California lines. Some DMVs are trying to help by opening on Saturdays or extending hours, but for many, the process still feels like a test of patience more than anything.

So, whether it’s the cost, convenience, or just sheer dread of the DMV, Americans have plenty of reasons to delay—or dodge—the REAL ID rush. Honestly, if the government really wanted us all to comply, maybe they should offer free snacks and Wi-Fi in those DMV lines. Now that would be a game-changer.