The pandemic led to extended deadlines for both driver's licenses and ID cards.
Secretary of State Jesse White in late March extended expiration dates for driver's licenses and ID cards an additional two months, to Aug. 1. The extension doesn't apply to commercial driver's licenses and CDL learner's permits.
The pandemic also caused the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to push back the REAL ID enforcement deadline by a year.
DHS delayed the requirement of air travelers to have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to May 3, 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic, 19 months after the previous Oct. 1 deadline.
White commended the federal agency for extending the deadline, saying airports will continue to accept current state driver's licenses and ID cards for the next two years.
“I applaud the decision by DHS to extend the REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023 – 19 months past the old deadline of Oct. 1, 2021,” White said. “This is the proper and necessary action in response to the pandemic.”
