Getting a REAL ID in Massachusetts? (rental car, rental, home)

[Chris92881]

My driver's license is due to be renewed in a couple months and I was thinking about getting a REAL ID, which I currently do not have. Which documents did you bring with you to the DMV to get your REAL ID? I know you can't get one by renewing it online. I don't have a passport, either. Thanks for any help offered.

[wmass]

Just did mine; it was pretty easy. Start the process on the RMV website, it will tell you what you need. They will also probably mail you a checklist a month before your birthday (this: https://www.mass.gov/doc/acceptable-...ation/download )

[hunter111]

I brought my W-2, social security card, and marriage certificate (for name change). It's easy if you bring the right stuff, but some people in line ahead of me did get tied up because they'd brought the wrong documents or documents with key info redacted (e.g. W-2 with SSN redacted). One thing that's confusing about the online preregistration is that it's not clear how you register to get a realID (vs a regular driver's license). I just registered to get a regular driver's license and asked to do a realID when I got to my appointment at AAA.

[lrfox]

It was pretty easy. I completed the online form and just triple checked each of my documents to make sure they had the information the RMV was requesting (details on the checklist above). I used my passport, drivers license, W2 (with SSN visible), and an Eversource bill. Each document only counts once, even if it’s listed in two categories. So for example, if you bring a pay stub that displays your SSN, it can either count for proof of SSN or Proof of Residency, but not both.

[MMS02760]

I had a horrible time getting my RealID a year ago. I couldn't use my passport as it had recently expired and I had not yet renewed. Had to use other documents. My SS card then got rejected because it had been laminated to protect it. Recent tax documents were not accepted because they did not show the full SS# (that is now the norm). I had return home to get tax docs from many years ago which displayed the full SS#. Once I had the necessary paperwork and it was accepted, they had computer system issues at my registry office for my case. They could not get a necessary confirmation. I ended up making three separate visits to work everything out. It took them almost a week to work out their system problem after they had to log a help ticket. I then finally was mailed my RealID license.

[justyouraveragetenant]

What's with the real id? Is a license not good enough? It sounds like new world order plans.

microchips are coming.

[Chris92881]

Originally Posted by justyouraveragetenant

What's with the real id? Is a license not good enough? It sounds like new world order plans.

microchips are coming.

Appreciate the help. I think I have what I need.

A REAL ID will allow you to board a plane in the US starting late next year (I believe) as well as being necessary for entering certain Federal buildings, from what I understand.

[matrix5k]

If you have AAA it's much faster to get it there. I was in and out in 15 minutes or so. Brought my passport, social security card, and two bills with current address. May have brought my birth certificate in case too.

I had no idea the MA license was a real ID until I traveled in March. The TSA agent was relieved that we had real IDs.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

I had a horrible time getting my RealID a year ago. I couldn't use my passport as it had recently expired and I had not yet renewed. Had to use other documents. My SS card then got rejected because it had been laminated to protect it. Recent tax documents were not accepted because they did not show the full SS# (that is now the norm). I had return home to get tax docs from many years ago which displayed the full SS#. Once I had the necessary paperwork and it was accepted, they had computer system issues at my registry office for my case. They could not get a necessary confirmation. I ended up making three separate visits to work everything out. It took them almost a week to work out their system problem after they had to log a help ticket. I then finally was mailed my RealID license.

The only issue that wasn't in your control was the last one - computer system issue.

The instructions are pretty clear in what is good and what isn't. My passport was expired, I got certified birth certificates. My SS card was laminated, I ordered a new one. My W2 and pay stubs have the SS redacted, I pull out a tax return.

[GeoffD]

I kind of wish Massachusetts participated in the Enhanced Drivers License program. You can use it to do a land crossing into Canada without a passport. My sister is a Canadian citizen and I always worry that I'll need to get to Canada in a hurry while my passport is being renewed. With an EDL, I always have the option of driving to Montreal and hopping in an airplane, or flying to Seattle and driving to Vancouver in a rental car. I think it works for some cruise ships, too.