-Daily Freeman Journal photo by Joe Sutter
Cheryl Westrum, Motor Vehicle Supervisor at the Hamilton County Treasurer's office, explains the new identification documents needed to get a Real ID compliant license. The driver's license office at the courthouse is open Monday and Wednesday 8 a.m to 4 p.m., and Thursday noon to 4 p.m.

There’s only one year left before a new sort of driver’s license will be needed to fly on airlines in the U.S.

The Real ID system is being phased in, and will be officially required to get through airport security on Oct. 1, 2020.

Getting the new license doesn’t cost extra. It requires a few documents to prove identity, home address and social security number, said Cheryl Westrum, Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office motor vehicle supervisor.

“There’s no additional charge, if your license is up for renewal,” Westrum said. “Otherwise, it’s a $10 duplicate,” – the same price you would pay to get a new license for any other reason, she said.

You can still renew a license without getting a Real ID, but most visitors to the office are bringing in the extra paperwork, she said.

“Probably the majority. Because if you are going to travel, and you are taking a commercial flight, if you don’t have to take your passport with you that’s going to be a lot more convenient,” she said. “(The state) started pushing it more. And I guess, with the information we have that we’ve been handing out, that’s raised the awareness of it also. Plus we’re getting closer to when it goes into effect.”

What papers are needed? The state requires proof of identity, proof of social security number, and two items showing proof of residency. That can be fulfilled, for example, with a birth certificate, social security card, utility bill and bank statement or piece of postmarked mail.

“You need the official, certified copy of your birth certificate,” Westrum said. “It can’t just be the hospital birth certificate. They won’t accept those.”

Proof of any legal name changes are also required. That means a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order for a name change must be shown.

Other documents are accepted to get the ID. Check online at iowaDOT.gov/mvd/realid to get more details of how to get a Real ID.

The documents are only needed once. After you have a Real ID, you won’t have to show any documents to renew it.

The Real ID compliant license looks just like old one, but with a gold star in the top right corner.

Iowa has been preparing for these new requirements for some time.

“This was created by a federal act in 2005, in response to the 9-11 terror attacks,” Westrum said.

Iowa started issuing Real IDs in 2013, but some states are just now starting to issue them.

The old style license will still be good for driving, but can’t be used after October 2020 to get into an airport, nuclear facility, or any other federal facility that screens your identity when you enter.

“And it’s possible they’ll accept some other form of identification after October 2020, but they haven’t told us what it is,” Westrum said.