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I have a trip coming up in June, and need to get my real id. I’m aware that the cutoff for needing a real ID to board a plane is may 7 (tomorrow) but I went to the only Real ID center in my area on Friday (and I have been to this dmv before, walked in and walked out with my ID in a couple short hours) and the line went around the building. I decided to come back before opening time on Tuesday, got there 20 minutes before they opened and again, a line around the building. I can’t really stand around that long due to some physical issues, so again, I went home. Hoping that I can come back after the 7th and it won’t be so freaking busy, but is this just how it is now?
All PA Drivers license centers are able to process Real ID requests, and verify the documents, the only downside is you at most will have to wait 15 days to receive it in the mail.
"Driver License Centers verify your documents, but your REAL ID will be mailed within 15 business days."
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/faqs/driver-licensing-faqs/real-id-faqs.html
So if you don't have any travel coming up within 15 days, just save yourself a couple of hours and go to a regular Driver's license center that doesnt offer same day Real ID printing, bring your documents, and they will process them, you will pay, and they will ship you your new ID.
I did this, and was in and out within an hour, a couple days later I got my real ID in the mail.
My mom needs her realID done and went to both Enola and Riverfront around 10am and they were packed. Is it just a Tuesday or first of the month thing? I got mine done last May at Enola and it didn't take long.
And if we can't schedule an appointment, is there a good time without lines out the door?
My license expires in September and I honestly don't see myself having the time to renew around then since I'll be starting a new job. I have NOT received the form to regurlarly renew my License yet.
If I bring all proper documentation and walk right in to the DMV can I get my RealID then and there?
The PenndDot website says it will add 4 years onto your current license but I wasn't sure how trustworthy that was since its PennDot.
Just in case anyone is still interested in or needs or wants to get a Real ID driver’s license from our beloved commonwealth, this is my recent timeline:
Monday, 5/12: When I saw that there were almost no cars in my local PennDOT Photo Center’s parking lot, I swung by home and grabbed my docs. There were 3 idle PennDOT staffers inside and zero customers. Total time, in and out: 5 minutes.
Friday, 5/23: I got my shiny new Real ID DL in the mail. Wait time: 10 days. For whatever weird reason, non-Real ID Photo Centers can only print non-Real ID DLs on the spot. Not sure what that ✪ is made of. 🤷 That’s literally the only difference to a ✪-less license.
I see people ask about this sometimes, so thought if people were sort of close to this location, maybe they could get a real ID, instead of the fake one. lol
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/penndot-host-real-id-day-penn-hills-dirver-license-center/O4AZGYYBVVAW5BS2A34YQ4XOGY/?tbref=hp
Has anyone gone for a REAL ID in the last week or two? My nearest center is a bit of a hike and I was curious if the lines were still insane.
Thank you for indulging my laziness.
UPDATE FROM THE COMMENTS: Still a mess. Gonna just use my passport for at least another few months.
I went to the PennDOT REAL ID center today during lunch and the line was easily 50 people long. I saw the same outside the center near Chinatown for the past few months.
Has anyone gotten their REAL ID without waiting in such long lines? Tell me where to go and when, and thanks in advance!
(I don't remember the exact rules, but I do qualify to have my REAL ID mailed to me - I don't need it right away.)
EDITS:
I have a passport. I'll be ok. I'll probably just wait until after the deadline.
I do not qualify to have one sent by mail (EDIT without going in person to show my documents) because I got my DL prior to 2003.
For those of you chastising myself and others for waiting until the last minute, go pound sand. That's not helpful.
When I first got REAL ID in 2020, the DMV site said that I couldn’t go to Ardmore or Upper Darby, and that South Philly was the closest location I could use. I’ve changed my name and if I’m reading the site correctly, I need a new photo for my new card but the site didn’t distinguish between REAL ID locations and just regular DL places. Do you think I can go to Ardmore or Upper Darby?