Do drivers need to carry their license even when they aren’t behind the wheel? Rules behind the ID card explained

DRIVERS are curious whether it’s considered illegal to travel without your state-issued ID or driver’s license.

While carrying your license or ID is wise, it’s not illegal to be without it.

Getty

Getty

Getty

As of 2024, there aren’t any laws mandating a license or ID be on your person – though there are several instances where you would be asked to present a license or ID.

In states like Nevada and Arizona, people are asked to give their full name to police in most instances, but an ID isn’t necessarily required.

Other states have laws that make it legal for officers to arrest you if you refuse to identify yourself, though these laws make it clear that officers must have reason to detain someone.

There’s an instance that will result in a ticket or a fine if you’re caught without it: driving .

In all 50 states, drivers are legally obligated to carry their driver’s license while driving, as it’s an official means of identification.

It also tells them that a driver has passed a driver’s test, letting them know a driver has general knowledge of local and state driving laws.

Without a license, officers have difficulty identifying a driver and trusting whether or not local and state laws are understood.

It should be noted that refusing to show a license after being pulled over is considered a lesser offense than not having one at all in many states.

Other times, presenting an ID or license is required for certain purchases like alcohol or tobacco.

In some cities and states, clerks may ask for ID when purchasing cold medicine with specific ingredients.

However, it’s not illegal to attempt the purchase without an ID.

It is illegal for the clerk to sell those items to customers who don’t have an ID showing they meet or exceed age restrictions.

Voting in some states prompts people to show their ID before entering a voter’s booth.

Texas was one such state that required people to show a valid ID before voting before it was overruled by a federal judge in 2017, reported FindLaw .

To help streamline a lot of processes, the federal government passed a REAL ID law in 2005 to help “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.”

A REAL ID is a federally recognized form of identification that drivers apply for and use several documents to prove their identification.

Applying for a REAL ID

The process varies by state, but residents will need a few documents to apply for a REAL ID before the deadline.

No matter the state, the application process can be started online by scanning and uploading the necessary documents, basic information, and social security numbers. Once submitted and reviewed, an in-person visit to the DMV or your state’s department agency is necessary for an attendant to verify the documents.

From there, a thumbprint will be recorded into the system, and a photo will be issued for the ID before it’s mailed.

The documents needed are those that show:

1. Full legal name (previous driver’s license, passport, etc)
2. Date of birth (like a birth certificate, or an official copy of one)
3. Social Security number (Social Security card)
4. Two proofs of residence (like a utility bill or voter registration card)
5. Lawful status

Source: Department of Homeland Security

This is especially helpful for domestic travel, as the special and aesthetically different REAL ID tells airport security the ID holder is federally recognized and approved.

Travelers would still have to go through TSA to make sure all possessions are within legal parameters, but it shortens the process substantially, the Department of Home Security writes .

They would also be used to access certain federal facilities and enter nuclear power plants .

For international travel, people will still be required to present a passport.

All states will require drivers to apply for and obtain a REAL ID by May 7, 2025.