Real ID Deadline Looming: Montana’s Compliance Rate is 31%

The national deadline for Real ID compliance is coming up on May 7th, 2025. The deadline will come after spring break for a lot of Montanans. But it will come before the Memorial Day holiday, which is a big travel holiday for many.

If you haven't gotten your Real ID yet, you may want to consider making an appointment and getting it done soon. Montana doesn't require anyone to get a Real ID; it is a federal regulation. The TSA will require a Real ID, passport, or passport card to travel by airplane, even if you are traveling within the U.S. The Real ID makes it more convenient than having to carry a passport when you fly.

A Real ID or passport will also be required to enter certain federal buildings. A regular Montana driver's license won't be enough.

Montana Has 31% Real ID Compliance

According to the Montana Department of Justice, Montana currently has a 31% rate of Real ID compliance.

What Documents You Need for Real ID

To get a Real ID you will need to provide documents to the Montana Motor Vehicles Division when getting a driver's license showing:

1. Your full legal name
2. Date of birth
3. Social Security Number
4. Two proofs of address of principal residence
5. Lawful status

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A few examples of proof of address that are acceptable are a utility or phone bill, vehicle registration or title, or pieces of first-class mail with a postmark on them. For a lot of people, providing pieces of mail is getting more and more difficult with more people paying bills online.