What can I expect at an appointment for the REAL ID? My regular license expires in about a year but I was to renew now for the real ID. Should I expect to have to retake the written test? I also need to update my picture and signature and I’m assuming they’ll do an eye test. I only sometimes wear glasses for distance, am I able to try without them on and only try with them on if I fail? This is my first time renewing my license and I have no idea what to expect.

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

12thMemory t1_j8coldr wrote on February 13, 2023 at 9:14 AM

FAQ regarding enchanted driver licenses in Washington state

earthybeauty OP t1_j8coq7u wrote on February 13, 2023 at 9:16 AM

Thank you! I don’t know why I couldn’t find anything with all this info! Is the enhanced drivers license the same as the real ID?

Logizyme t1_j8d8186 wrote on February 13, 2023 at 1:18 PM

WA enchanced DL is REAL ID compliant.

They'll mostly be looking at your papers. Be sure to bring all that you have: old ID, passport, SS card, any other gov issued IDs, CPL, and other proof of residency, like bills, vehicle registration, or anything else that has your name and address on it.

Derpabo t1_j8qptnx wrote on February 16, 2023 at 7:03 AM

Be sure to check expiry dates. I had one expired document and had to go back a 2nd time.

Salmundo t1_j8dt28i wrote on February 13, 2023 at 3:58 PM

Is there any advantage to EID over a NEXUS card for Canada travel? Or over a passport?

c_sh3pard t1_j8dvua4 wrote on February 13, 2023 at 4:16 PM

I'm not sure about NEXUS, but the benefit over a passport is that if you're driving to Canada, you only need your driver's license. Which, since you're driving, you probably keep on you at all times anyway. Less chance of forgetting and one less thing to carry.

Norwester77 t1_j8dxfec wrote on February 13, 2023 at 4:27 PM

Also, having traveled to Canada quite a bit while growing up in the pre-9/11 days, I just have a visceral reaction against having to take my passport to travel there.

1dad1kid t1_j8fykdv wrote on February 14, 2023 at 12:42 AM

Not really. NEXUS gets you through the express lane. EID just spares you needing to show a passport.

yiakoumis t1_j8gdj22 wrote on February 14, 2023 at 2:36 AM

Converted my WA license to REAL ID recently, took literally 5 mins. They check that your information is current, take a photo, sign, invalidate your old license, on your way!

time4listenermail t1_j8i5krh wrote on February 14, 2023 at 2:18 PM

• Proof of citizenship (certified US birth certificate, or valid US passport or passport card, or certificate of citizenship, or certificate of naturalization, or birth abroad document); originals or certified copies - not photocopies.

• 2 Proof of physical address documents (must be paper copy, not digital); WA ID/L counts as one, other options include mail (personal/business), bills, bank statement, paystub, selective service.

• Proof of identification (valid ID/DL, or valid military ID, or valid Passport).

• Proof of name change (if name on citizenship document is different than current name: marriage cert(s), court order, adoption, etc).

• SSN will be verified, and must match current name, but social security card is not required in person for the transaction.

PS ~ Other documents are Real ID compliant:

Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

U.S. Military ID

U.S. Passport

U.S. Passport Card

Foreign Passport

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID

PPS Real ID has been pushed back til 2025

SrRoundedbyFools t1_j8h6zk1 wrote on February 14, 2023 at 7:28 AM

Remember this was passed in 2005….Washington has been out of compliance with federal rules for REAL ID for over 17 years. At one point Washington DOL had created 400,000 non resident licenses because of lax attitudes and policies from DOL leadership.

Washington when tasked with creating an Enhanced License, with safeguards guaranteed under the US Department of State, refused to use the facial recognition software to check standard license applicants for fraud. The fraud was multiple licenses under multiple individuals who just rearranged their last names and birthdays. Only because Jessie Jones took a whistleblowers complaint to Rob McKenna (then the Attorney General) to inform him that DOL ‘leadership’ deemed fraud ‘too expensive’ to fight at a ‘cost of 1 million dollars a year to run’.

Rob was like…I can get a federal grant to cover that cost to fight identify theft in a week. Only then did DOL execs reluctantly process new applicants for facial recognition. The craziest thing was individuals with 3 or 4 license…who’d signed a criminal perjury statement to get their ‘new identify’ (bank accounts, loans, mortgages, marriages, credit cards)…not a single person was charged from DOL referral and DOL chalked it up to ‘misunderstanding of our laws’…the media buried the story - only Jessie Jones coverage - which is also largely retcon’d out of memory told the crazy details. Many of the people had multiple warrants for their arrest, multiple DUI’s amongst other crimes. DOL’s fraud investigation team is historically staffed by retired WSP sergeants who don’t do much in referring cases to local prosecutors.

Also a side story…it was reported in the times. The CIA exploited Washington States lax ID requirements to get their operatives valid ID. I once met a Venezuelan lady in Spain who told me she’s dated a guy ‘from Washington who worked for the government but was frequenting visits to Venezuela’…I was like here read this story. Her face went white.

Nice to see the ineptitude of Washington’s pushback to comply with the federal mandate has been overcome.

Edit - bravely downvoting Washington’s failure to be a persistent fraud factory….how ‘progressive’.