The Real ID Act:
National Impact Analysis
Presented by:
National Governors Association
National Conference of State Legislatures
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
September 2006
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Executive Summary
On May 11, 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act (Real ID) as part of the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami
Relief Act (P.L. 109-13), creating national standards for the issuance of state driver’s
licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs). The act establishes certain standards,
procedures and requirements that must be met by May 11, 2008 if state-issued DL/IDs
are to be accepted as valid identification by the federal government. These standards
are likely to alter long-standing state laws, regulations and practices governing the
qualifications for and the production and issuance of DL/IDs in every state. They also
will require substantial investments by states and the federal government to meet the
objectives of the act.
To ensure Congress and the federal government understand the fiscal and operational
impact of altering these complex and vital state systems, the American Association of
Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) in conjunction with the National Governors
Association (NGA) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) conducted
a nationwide survey of state motor vehicle agencies (DMVs). Based on the results of
that survey, NGA, NCSL and AAMVA conclude that Real ID will cost more than $11
billion over five years, have a major impact on services to the public and impose
unrealistic burdens on states to comply with the act by the May 2008 deadline. The
organizations also provide practical and cost effective solutions for Congress and the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address these shortcomings and meet the
objectives of the act.
PROCESS
In February 2006, NGA, NCSL and AAMVA provided a sectio