The Department of Motor Vehicles announced today that offices in metropolitan New York and Long Island will expand hours on Thursdays exclusively for REAL ID and Enhanced ID processing ahead of the May 7, 2025, federal deadline. Beginning April 3, DMV offices in New York City’s five boroughs, as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties, will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays to help New Yorkers process transactions to get their REAL ID or Enhanced driver license.  

The DMV is also significantly increasing REAL ID/Enhanced ID appointments and is releasing available time slots throughout the day on a daily basis to make booking as convenient as possible for all customers. New Yorkers are encouraged to continue checking the DMV website to find and book an appointment. 

“We know New Yorkers have been looking for more opportunities to get their REAL ID. These extended hours and added appointments represent our latest efforts to expand that opportunity in the parts of the state where appointments have been hardest to come by,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “We’ve been issuing REAL IDs since 2017, and in these final weeks until the federal deadline, we remain committed to helping New Yorkers get their REAL ID or Enhanced license as soon as possible.”    

The expanded Thursday hours follow the DMV’s announcement earlier this month that 10 New York City and Long Island offices will be open on Saturday mornings from April through June specifically for REAL ID processing.  

In addition, the DMV is reminding New Yorkers that through a partnership with AAA Northeast, AAA members can have their transactions processed at 10 of AAA Northeast’s offices in the New York City area, in Westchester County and on Long Island. These offices are open for REAL ID and Enhanced ID processing, by appointment, Monday through Saturday.   

DMV will also be processing REAL ID applications at the New York International Auto Show, which runs from April 18 through 27 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The DMV mobile location is at booth number NC 1, Second Level, North Concourse. Attendees must have tickets to the Auto Show to access DMV services there.  

About the REAL ID Act  

The REAL ID Act will become enforceable starting May 7. The federal law, which Congress passed in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued IDs after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, will require everyone to show a REAL ID, Enhanced ID, passport or another form of federally compliant identification to board all domestic flights and to enter certain federal facilities.  

How to Get a REAL ID  

The law requires customers to bring certain documents to the DMV to prove who they are and to have a new photograph taken before their REAL ID or Enhanced ID can be issued.   

Many DMV offices strongly encourage customers to make a reservation, which can be done online. To assist New Yorkers, the DMV has implemented several online tools, such as a document guide and an online application pre-screening process, to help them prepare.   

DMV is also advising New Yorkers to avoid common mistakes that can stymie their REAL ID application, such as failing to provide proof of their full, legal name.

New Yorkers are encouraged to visit a DMV office to get a REAL ID even if their license, permit or non-driver ID is not yet due for renewal.   

In addition to the REAL ID, which costs the same as renewing a standard license, the DMV offers an Enhanced ID for an additional $30 fee. This ID meets federal REAL ID standards and can be used as identification when returning to the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. A passport is also acceptable as a REAL ID-compliant document.  

For more information about REAL ID and Enhanced Driver Licenses, visit Enhanced or REAL ID and watch DMV's REAL ID instructional video on YouTube.   

For more information about DMV, visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website, or follow the DMV conversation online on Facebook, X and Instagram.