Travelers without REAL ID face $45 fee soon: What to know
What to know about the new TSA Real ID fee
Air travelers in the U.S. without a REAL ID will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday. Steve Lorincz, the TSA executive assistant administrator for security operations joined LiveNOW's Josh Breslow to explain how it works.
TSA will start charging travelers without a REAL ID or passport a $45 fee soon to get through airport security.
The new fee will take effect Feb. 1. Here’s what travelers should know, according to TSA:
REAL ID travel fee
Currently, those who lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law are diverted to a different line and have to take extra steps to verify their identity. They’ll still have to do that after Feb. 1, along with paying the $45 fee. TSA previously said agents will use a biometric kiosk to identify passengers faster. The fee will cover 10 days of travel.
The process will vary from airport to airport. TSA says it’s working with "private industry" to offer online payments before travelers arrive.
FILE - Travelers wait in line at the TSA security checkpoint at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in Dallas, Texas, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Photographer: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images
What you can do:
If you don’t want to pay the fee, TSA says schedule an appointment at your local DMV to update your ID as soon as possible.
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The program is expected to make the alternative verification process more efficient, but TSA has also warned people who don’t have the REAL ID to show up early and be prepared for advanced screening to avoid causing delays.
What is a REAL ID?
The backstory:
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.
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The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008. But the implementation was repeatedly delayed until May 2025.
Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, people also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (in most states, a star) in the top corner of the card.
The Source: This article includes information from TSA and previous FOX Local reporting.