PHOENIX — New to driving or new to Arizona? Renewing a driver license or getting a 12-year photo update? If you’re planning to visit an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office for these reasons, you’re among those who may want to consider getting a Voluntary Travel ID – and bringing along the documentation needed to get one.

The Voluntary Travel ID is the credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act for getting through security checkpoints at airports, restricted federal buildings and military bases. It’s available as both a driver license and an identification card.

While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that all Arizona driver licenses and ID cards are valid at these checkpoints until October 2020, it may be worth getting a Voluntary Travel ID now if you need a new driver license.

“We want first-time applicants and those renewing their licenses to understand their options around Voluntary Travel ID, particularly if they travel frequently,” ADOT Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen said. “While it is up to the customer, we would hate for them to spend their time and money to get a standard driver license now only to have to return in a couple of years to go through the whole process again to get a Travel ID.”

The Voluntary Travel ID costs $25 and is valid for a maximum of eight years. Standard licenses cost no more than $25 and are valid until the driver’s 65th birthday, although a new photo is required every 12 years.

A Voluntary Travel ID requires specific documentation, and failing to bring it will cost you time if you decide to get one. You must provide:

• A document establishing citizenship or legal presence such as a certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport or valid immigration documents.
• A Social Security card or a W-2 form to confirm Social Security information.
• Two forms of documentation to establish proof of residency such as a bank statement, utility bill or an Arizona Voter Registration Card. All residency documents must have a current address.

A full list of acceptable documents is available at azdot.gov/TravelID.

Those who decide against a Voluntary Travel ID should keep in mind that the REAL ID Act requires newly issued standard Arizona driver licenses and identification cards to contain the phrase “Not for federal identification.” However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will continue to accept these credentials until October 2020.

Not everyone needs a Voluntary Travel ID. Arizonans who travel by plane or need to pass through other federal security checkpoints may use an alternate form of ID such as a current U.S. passport or a military ID.

For more information on the Voluntary Travel ID, please visit azdot.gov/TravelID.

To view a video on documentation needed for the Travel ID, visit https://youtu.be/v_rWDTKJVcc