Will REAL ID be required in SC? What you need to get one.

Beginning May 7, 2025, South Carolina residents will need a REAL ID to board a flight in the U.S. and visit secure federal agencies/buildings or military bases.

These new federal identification requirements are outlined on the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) website.

According to the SCDMV, the REAL ID Act of 2005 was established due to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to standardize government-issued identifications such as driver’s licenses.

A REAL ID is only valid for eight years.

Is a REAL ID optional?

Those who do not plan on flying, entering a federal building, or visiting a military installation do not need to obtain a REAL ID. After May 25, 2025, residents without a valid U.S. passport, military ID, or another federally accepted identification such as REAL ID will be denied access to commercial and domestic flights. Residents are still required to have an unexpired U.S. passport to travel internationally.

What privileges do I still have without a REAL ID?

A REAL ID is not required for the following:

∎ Driving

∎ Voting

∎ Appling for federal benefits such as Social Security, Veterans Affairs, etc.

∎ Entering federal facilities that do not require a REAL ID like the post office

∎ Accessing a hospital or receive lifesaving services

∎ Participating in law enforcement investigations and proceedings (for example, serving on a federal jury or testifying in court)

What documentation do I need to obtain a REAL ID?

∎ Proof of identity (government-issued birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport).

∎ Two proofs of current, physical S.C. address (current, unexpired South Carolina driver's license or identification card and a utility bill with the same name and address). View a complete list of all accepted address documents on the United States Citizens’ Checklist (SCDMV Form MV-93).

∎ Proof of legal name (marriage license, divorce decree, or court order issued by your county's probate or family court).

How do I purchase a REAL ID? How much does it cost?

If you are a South Carolinian who purchased their first S.C. driver’s license after November 2010, you can check to see if you are eligible to purchase a REAL ID online from home. You can do this by logging into the SCDMV with your date of birth, license number, and social security number.

Those who are eligible will pay for the REAL ID with a debit card or credit card. The license will then be mailed to the address on file. Those who are not eligible or are first-time license or ID applicants must visit their local SCDMV branch to purchase a REAL ID with the required documentation.

A REAL ID, like most SC licenses, costs $25. Identification cards are free for those 17 years old and older. ID cards for those 16 and under cost $15.

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: REAL ID: What you need to get one in SC, other questions answered