Do you keep hearing about Idaho’s Star Card? Here’s how to get one and why you need it by next year

Idahoans only have one year left to exchange their current license for a REAL ID or Star Card. Failure to do so may result in significant inconveniences, such as not being able to board a domestic flight or being unable to enter certain federal buildings.

Therefore, it is important to act now to avoid these potential problems.

The federal deadline before Star Cards and REAL IDs go into effect is May 7, 2025. Officials with the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles are urging Idaho residents to act sooner rather than later to update their IDs.

“A year seems like a long time, but May 2025 will come before we know it. Don’t wait until the last minute,” DMV Administrator Lisa McClellan said in a news release. “We anticipate that DMV offices may be very busy as this deadline approaches.”

But what is a Star Card or Real ID and why is it important to have a card over your current ID? Here’s what you should know.

What is a Star Card or a REAL ID?

REAL IDs and Star Cards are essentially the same thing, except that Star Cards are only available in Idaho.

Both comply with the federal REAL ID law and can be used for the same purposes, such as: B. for boarding domestic flights and entering federal facilities. The only difference is that Star Cards are issued exclusively by the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles.

The federal government passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to set standards for the issuance and use of ID cards – for most people, that’s their driver’s license.

By May 7, 2025, an updated REAL ID will be required to access some federal buildings, enter nuclear power plants, and, most relevant for most people, to board and fly commercial aircraft.

For activities that require ID, such as: For certain purposes, such as traveling and driving, other approved forms of ID such as a passport can still be used in place of a REAL ID. An enhanced driver’s license – issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont – is also an acceptable alternative to a REAL ID.

The updated REAL IDs have a small icon in the upper right corner indicating you have an updated ID – in Idaho it’s a star, hence the name Star Card.

How do you get a Star Card in Idaho?

The Star Card has been available in Idaho since 2018. So if you’ve gotten a new driver’s license in the last six years, you’re probably good to go. According to the Idaho Transportation Department, about 49% of Idaho residents already have a Star Card.

“If you have had a Star Card for a while, check the expiration date and plan to renew it if necessary,” McClellan said in the release. “If your details are the same when you renew, the new card will also be a Star Card.”

If not, you can purchase a Star Card at an Idaho DMV, similar to how you used to get a driver’s license. The only change is that you will need more proof of identity than before to receive a Star Card:

• Proof of identity and date of birth. One of the following:

• Social Security Number or USCIS Number for Temporary Aliens

• Two forms of proof of residency in Idaho. Some of these include: