Practical Travel Safety Issues - Is There Any Value To An Enhanced Driver License?

My license expires next month and the renewal just came in the mail.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is trying to upsell me for a $30surcharge an "Enhanced" Driver License which it says is "valid for air travel within the U.S." Huh? I thought my regular driver license was also valid. Is this not correct?

Getting this new card would require a personal appearance at a DMV office which here is about as desirable as a colonoscopy, but if it is worth getting, I'll apply for it.

My license expires next month and the renewal just came in the mail.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is trying to upsell me for a $30surcharge an "Enhanced" Driver License which it says is "valid for air travel within the U.S." Huh? I thought my regular driver license was also valid. Is this not correct?

Getting this new card would require a personal appearance at a DMV office which here is about as desirable as a colonoscopy, but if it is worth getting, I'll apply for it.


Not an expert on this subject, but a web search gets this http://www.dmv.ny.gov/edl-main.htm

It seems it could be used to prove citizenship. I suppose ''valid for air travel' might mean this.

IMO i would not be able to sleep well if only carrying the enhanced card only, without a passport, overseas.

A plain-vanilla DL is sufficient for air travel within the US. An enhanced DL/ID can substitute for a passport when coming back into the US via trains, boats or automobiles (but not by air) from Canada or Mexico.

Having done both, I'll take a trip to the DMV office over a colonoscopy any time. No messy enemas needed for DMV.

Wow, in your neighboring state they are the same price as a regular renewal

The goal was to require them to get through security at places like airports, being accepted where a regular drivers license was not. The RealID act is requiring the enhanced ID's for accessing federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.

But because so many states are saying we won't participate, they can't possibly meet their deadline. Supposedly, you will need the Real ID compliant ID's in 2017, either something like an enhanced drivers license or for those who don't have it a passport or passport card. That was when they thought all the states would be like sheep and just go along with it.

If they implement it, there is an advantage in that you can use your enhanced license to get through airport security, the regular license you would no longer be able to use. The question of course is will they be able to implement it with so many states saying stuff it.

Currently, all driver's licenses are valid for domestic travel. However, after 2014 or 2017 (depending on your age), only REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses will be accepted. I don't know if NY is planning to upgrade their non-enhanced licenses to REAL ID standards, but it sounds from what they said like they are not. This is, of course, assuming that the REAL ID Act doesn't get repealed, modified or delayed.

Other than that, the only benefit to an enhanced license is the ability to drive across the border to Canada/Mexico without a passport.

I wouldn't waste my time getting a REAL ID-compliant driving license. The passport and regular driving license work just fine, so I wouldn't even pay someone to hold a DMV spot for me to get one of these "enhanced" driving licenses.

Currently, all driver's licenses are valid for domestic travel. However, after 2014 or 2017 (depending on your age), only REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses will be accepted.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, but that is why you posted the stuff about being repealed, modified, delayed. A lot of people in the US Congress are not going to want a lot of upset constituents whose tickets and/or travel plans get spoiled because of DHS/TSA. Not in 2014 nor in 2017.


Other than that, the only benefit to an enhanced license is the ability to drive across the border to Canada/Mexico without a passport.

People are able to drive across the US-Canadian and US-Mexican border without a passport even if without an "enhanced" (REAL ID-surrender monkey compliance) driving license. The US government continues to routinely process US citizens and LPRs as US persons at US ports of entry even if without a passport/passport card and without an "enhanced" driving license. The Canadians and Mexicans still process US citizens at surface border crossings even if without both too. The regular state issued photo ID + birth certificate approach is still working, despite the implied intimidation tactics used by the scaremongering WHTI supporters.

The deadline under the RealID act has been repeatedly abandoned and reset since its inception in 2006. First, it was 2008, then 2009, then 2012, now 2017. Over half of the states have rejected REALID and as of my most recent count (source EPIC) (http://epic.org/privacy/id_cards/) 23 states have rejected the REAL-ID act and up to 41 states have had legislation opposing REAL-ID introduced. Several states (Maine and Minnesota) have made it illegal for any state agency to spend money on implementing REAL-ID.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but at least for now, get your colonoscopy and skip the DMV. You'll be healthier.

No extra fee in CT for it. Just bring some documents. I brought a passport and some mail. If it helps get through security, why not?

Anyone who has a Passport can just get a Passport Card for $20 and not worry about this REAL ID nonsense.

REAL ID will be repealed or modified anyway, so no big deal here. The real problem is the NYSDMV's fear mongering to upsell you to a product you probably will never need.

I have a NYS EDL (Enhanced Driver's License). I've had it since '09 and I had to show up to the DMV with a bunch of other documents. Basically, if you travel across the border (Mexico or Canada), it counts as a Passport, so you don't need to carry a passport and your photo ID.

However, to date, the only use I've gotten out of my EDL is as a conversation starter. Some TSA agent or car rental rep will go "oooh, what's an ENHANCED driver's license?".

Other than that, if I do end up traveling out of the country, I can't see leaving my Passport at home, so I end up bringing both anyway. It's not like carrying one extra little booklet is going to cause me much grief. The value proposition just isn't there, unless you live near the border and cross often enough.

:) Mordy

Thank you all. I will keep my regular unenhanced driver license and save the 30 bucks.

By the way, the want your social security number in full on the renewal form.

Thank you all. I will keep my regular unenhanced driver license and save the 30 bucks.

By the way, the want your social security number in full on the renewal form.

I've renewed my (regular) NYS drivers license on the internet 3 or 4 times--over nearly a 15 year period, and I recollect that they always asked for your ss#. To encourage on line (or mail) renewals, NYS has even dropped the eye exam requirement. Since they have NOT updated my picture in all that time, I'll be forced to visit a DMV office, when my license comes due for renewal later this year to get a new picture.:td:

I was also contemplating about getting the WA enhanced driving licence, but after doing more research, I decided not to go with it. The are several disadvantages compared to the passport card:

1) Even though it is enhanced, it is still a licence, so it is tied to Washington state. As I was told by a DOL employee, moving to a different state will invalidate all its functions.
2) It is valid only for 5 years
3) It can be revoked by the DOL for some violations
4) It lists an address, which some store clerks have been known to enter in their system without my permission :(

Also, I was able to use my passport card overseas as an identification document when dealing with non-government entities. For instance, in Germany whenever they see words "driving licence" or "driver's license" or something like it, they will immediately reject this document as an ID, no exceptions. However, they are much more likely to accept a card that has a word "passport" on it.

Wow, in your neighboring state they are the same price as a regular renewal

The goal was to require them to get through security at places like airports, being accepted where a regular drivers license was not. The RealID act is requiring the enhanced ID's for accessing federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.

And CT licenses that aren't "enhanced" have something like "NOT VALID AS FEDERAL ID" emblazoned across them. I wonder how often this trips up TSA TDCs or leads to non-acceptance at the checkpoint.

And CT licenses that aren't "enhanced" have something like "NOT VALID AS FEDERAL ID" emblazoned across them. I wonder how often this trips up TSA TDCs or leads to non-acceptance at the checkpoint.

Actually there is a difference between REAL ID-complaint and enhanced. Connecticut does not issue enhanced licenses AFAIK. They issue REAL ID-compliant licenses (which they call SelectID) and non-compliant licenses which have "not for Federal Identification" on them. Neither is an enhanced driver's license, and neither will get you across the Canadian border.

Actually there is a difference between REAL ID-complaint and enhanced. Connecticut does not issue enhanced licenses AFAIK. They issue REAL ID-compliant licenses (which they call SelectID) and non-compliant licenses which have "not for Federal Identification" on them. Neither is an enhanced driver's license, and neither will get you across the Canadian border.

There is indeed a difference in a variety of places and ways.

All types of above-mentioned IDs issued by US states still do work for people to get across the borders from the US -- to Canada and to Mexico -- when driving or walking across the borders and also presenting a birth certificate indicating US place of birth.

Even if someone doesn't have a passport or an enhanced license, US border patrol cannot turn away a US citizen since they have the right to re-enter the US.

All types of above-mentioned IDs issued by US states still do work for people to get across the borders from the US -- to Canada and to Mexico -- when driving or walking across the borders and also presenting a birth certificate indicating US place of birth.
Even if someone doesn't have a passport or an enhanced license, US border patrol cannot turn away a US citizen since they have the right to re-enter the US.
This is true, but such re-entry will not be as smooth as if you had a WHTI-compliant document. If you don't mind a secondary inspection every time you are returning from Mexico or Canada, then usual DL + birth certificate will indeed be enough.

And CT licenses that aren't "enhanced" have something like "NOT VALID AS FEDERAL ID" emblazoned across them.
Does this mean such IDs are not valid even to apply for a passport? Does it also mean that other states may refuse accepting these IDs as well?

It would be valid for a passport with all the other associated documents you need to provide, and would be valid for other states as proof to drive in Connecticut. Ir shows to whoever you are showing it to that to the State of Connecticut, you are who it says you are on the license. It does not verify your citizenship or does not verify your address.

It may (may being the key word here) not be valid to get through security to get onto an airplane, and it may (again may being the key word here) not be valid to enter a federal building where you have to show ID.

If that ever happens (which it probably won't) it can't happen for years, as Connecticut for example just started issuing the SelectID's in October, and it won't be available to everybody for another five or so years (as their licenses come up for renewal). Indeed, you can not even apply for one until the 60 days before your current license expires.

Does this mean such IDs are not valid even to apply for a passport? Does it also mean that other states may refuse accepting these IDs as well?

After (or should I say "if") REAL ID takes effect, the federal government will not accept non-compliant IDs for "official purposes" as defined by DHS. The list of official purposes commonly given in the media says "accessing a Federal facility; boarding a commercial airplane; and entering nuclear power plants."

If a large number of states can't/won't participate, then the list of official purposes will probably be very short.

This is true, but such re-entry will not be as smooth as if you had a WHTI-compliant document. If you don't mind a secondary inspection every time you are returning from Mexico or Canada, then usual DL + birth certificate will indeed be enough.

Re-entry has been as smooth as if you don't have the WHTI, before the US government came up with the WHTI to try to get other governments to do what te US government wanted it to do.

Even after the WHTI-compliance documents were created, not every surface border crossing into the US using a DL+birth certificate involves a secondary inspection.

After (or should I say "if") REAL ID takes effect, the federal government will not accept non-compliant IDs for "official purposes" as defined by DHS. The list of official purposes commonly given in the media says "accessing a Federal facility; boarding a commercial airplane; and entering nuclear power plants."

If a large number of states can't/won't participate, then the list of official purposes will probably be very short.

The federal government will be no less fickle with US citizens without a "REAL ID"-compliant if/after it goes into full force -- an implementation not expected in full unless at least two-thirds of the states and the population jump on the bandwagon. Even then it will always be littered with exceptions.

The federal government has complicated things enough such that: most adult US males have unwittingly become violators of federal law; and much of what Congress wants is littered with exceptions because of what Congress, the Executive Branch or the Courts have done before or since. This will be no different.

The country's body of laws and regulations has become so complex that these kind of whimsical outcomes are what people are left with, with or without an "enhanced driver license".

With the additional paperwork and presence items required to get an "enhanced" driving license, the OP is in good company of many who aren't doing it and won't be doing it anytime soon.