Time is Running Out For Your Regular Michigan Driver’s License

There's nothing more annoying than when you look down at your ID and realize that it's already expired before you had a chance to renew it. You now have to quickly rearrange your life, get a new photo, and wait on it to arrive at your home before you get busted with your old one.

A lot of Michiganders may not realize their current ID is no longer going to work for them in certain situations after May 2025, even if it's not expiring at that time.

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You've probably heard them warning of this coming for over half of a decade now, but the Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that Michigan drivers will need to get their Real ID compliant license / Enhanced Drivers License by May 7th, 2025.

Why do I need to get a Real ID if I live in Michigan?

This new form of ID isn’t just another expensive upgraded drivers license. The Real ID is your chance to travel hassle-free across the United States. Starting in May of next year, all domestic airline flights will require you to show a Real ID before you board the plane. They also allow you to travel across the Canadian border without a passport.

The Real ID act of 2005 set a goal to standardize all licenses across the US after 9/11, and it has taken a very long time to implement. It was suppose to be all underway before 2020, but the pandemic delayed a lot of states being able to get the technology into place, so the date has been extended year after year to allow them to roll out everything they need to make their citizens compliant.

How much does a Real ID cost in Michigan?

Michiganders are lucky, There is no additional cost for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card when a person renews normally. If you need a correction or replacement outside of your normal renewal window, there is a fee charged.