Beginning May 3, 2023, you’ll only be allowed to present your New Mexico driver’s license to board domestic flights if it’s compliant with the standards set by the 2005 REAL ID Act.
A driver’s license not only makes it legal for you to drive, but if you’re like most people, it’s likely your main form of identification. But in 2023, if you want to continue using your driver’s license to board domestic flights, you’ll need to make the change to a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.
Beginning May 3rd, 2023, you will need a REAL ID if you want to:
Now, if you aren’t employed by the government or don’t care to check out a nuclear power plant, you can ignore two of those three. However, if you plan to use your New Mexico driver’s license to get beyond TSA and onto domestic flights, you’ll need to make the switch to a REAL ID-compliant license by 2023.
How to get a New Mexico REAL ID
If you want to obtain a REAL ID in New Mexico, refer to the bullets below:
The price for a REAL-ID-complaint New Mexico license is the same as for a standard ID or license:
Pro Tip Licenses and IDs for residents over 79 years old expire every year and are free to renew.
How to save money on car insurance in New Mexico
A REAL ID-compliant New Mexico license may get you on domestic flights after May 2023, but your car can get you just about anywhere else provided you have good insurance.