Beginning in June, New Jersey will begin beta-testing the new REAL ID’s which will soon be required to board an aircraft. Starting October 1, 2020, you must have have a REAL ID compliant driver license/ID to fly commercially, unlessyou use a U.S. passport or military ID. Until that date, a standard New Jersey driver license is valid for domestic air travel.

REAL ID is the new federal requirement for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver IDs to help prevent fraudulent identification. New Jersey is one of just six states that have not yet implemented the REAL ID’s.

You are not required to get a REAL ID. However, starting October 1, 2020, if you typically use your driver license or non-driver ID (instead of a passport or other form of ID) to fly domestically you probably want a REAL ID. Otherwise you will need to use other acceptable identification such as a valid U.S. passport or military ID. The standard New Jersey driver license can still be used for driving.