What documents do i need to get gold star on drivers license in indiana

The next time you renew your license, the state is asking you to bring some extra paperwork with you, including your birth certificate, your marriage license, social security card and a bank statement.

You don’t have to get the new verified identification, but starting Oct. 1, 2020 federal law will require you to have one in order to board a plane or enter a federal building. State officials said getting the process done now will save time later.

The new identification, called a Real ID, stems from the Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005, which establishes minimum standards for the production and issuance of driver licenses and identification cards. Indiana has been compliant with the standards since 2010, one of the earliest states to comply.

A Real ID, which has a gold star in the right hand corner, shows that the person has provided the proper documentation to prove their identity.

“In the past, it was really easy across the country to obtain a fake ID,” said Christine Meyer, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles director of communications and public affairs.

Indiana residents getting a new drivers license are required to get the Real ID. Residents renewing their license are not required to update their license to the new standard.

If residents choose not to get a verified identification, they can still vote and drive, but a standard identification will not be accepted to board a commercial airline or enter a federal building or nuclear plant, Meyer said. A valid passport can be used to fly on any airline or enter federal property after 2020. People can still get the Real ID after 2020, when the new standards are in place, Meyer said.

“Everyone says that’s a deadline, but it’s just when the standards will begin to be enforced,” Meyer said. “It is just a timeline we are working on to make everyone aware.”

If you want to get a Real ID, you will need to bring extra documents with you to the license branch, including proof of identity, social security number, lawful status in the United States and proof of Indiana residency.

Bette Whitaker is currently working on gathering all the correct documentation she needs to upgrade her identification, she said.

The Franklin resident is concerned people aren’t informed enough about the documents they need, she said.

“A lot of people are going to have to take time to get what they need, and I feel people don’t realize that,” Whitaker said.

Ryan Grinstead, of Whiteland, upgraded to the Real ID three years ago while getting his daughter’s learner’s permit. Obtaining a learner’s permit required the same documents needed for a Real ID, so the employee at the license branch asked if he wanted to go ahead and upgrade, he said.

“They said, ‘You’re going to need to do this anyway,’” Grinstead said. “It was nice and easy.”

But he can understand why the new requirements may seem confusing, he said.

“People get frustrated and confused any time they have to deal with the BMV,” he said.

The state offers an interactive, step-by-step video on their website explaining what people need, Meyer said.

People can also call the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles service desk and they will go through all the documentations needed, she said.

“We don’t want people to show up to the branch without the right documents,” Meyer said.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”What you need” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The following documents are needed to get a Real ID:

One of the following is needed for proof of identity:

  • Birth certificate
  • Passport
  • If a change in name: marriage license or a passport with updated name.

One of the following is needed for proof of lawful status in the U.S:

  • U.S. birth certificate
  • U.S. passport
  • If not a U.S. citizen, certificate of citizenship or naturalization

One of the following is needed for Social Security number:

  • Social Security card
  • W-2 form
  • SSA-1099 form
  • Pay stub with name and social security number on it

Two of the following are needed for proving Indiana residency:

  • Computer-generated bill from a utility company, credit card company, doctor, or hospital, issued within 60 days of the date you visit a BMV branch, and containing your name and address of residence.
  • Bank statement
  • Pre-printed pay stub
  • Medicaid or Medicare benefit statement

For more details visit: www.in.gov/bmv/2440.htm

[sc:pullout-text-end]

What documents do i need to get gold star on drivers license in indiana

Is your driver's license Real ID compliant? If it doesn't have a little gold star up in the corner, that's a nope.

People in Indiana applying for a new driver's license, learner's permit or ID card are being encouraged to go ahead and upgrade to a Real ID-compliant version at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The cards will be required for everyone beginning in October 2020.

Here's what you need to know.

What is a Real ID driver's license?

A response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Real ID Act became law in 2005, enacting standardized requirements for obtaining driver's licenses and detailing what will be displayed on them.

The information and features of these cards are:

  • Full legal name.
  • Residential address
  • Birth date.
  • Gender.
  • Driver's license/identification card number
  • Digital, front-facing photograph.
  • Signature.
  • Bar code and security devices to prevent tampering and counterfeiting.
  • Star in upper right-hand corner.

A database of licensed drivers will be shared by each state, including their driving histories.

How can I tell if my license is Real ID compliant?

Compliant credentials have a gold outline of a star in the upper right-hand corner.

Why do I need one?

Here's what will affect the most people: Beginning in Oct. 1, 2020, a Real ID-compliant for of identification will be required for boarding commercial flights. U.S. passports and passport cards remain acceptable for use instead of a driver's license for air travel. Other acceptable types of government-issued ID are also , such as Global Entry and other "trusted traveler cards."

They'll also be required to enter federal courthouses, military bases and other secure facilities (for those times you want to visit a nuclear power plant).

Do minors need one?

The Transportation Safety Administration "does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States," though their companion needs acceptable ID, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Where do I get one?

At your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

What documents do I need to get a Real ID?

Original or certified versions of documents proving:

  • Your identity.
  • Your Social Security number.
  • Lawful status in the United States.
  • Indiana residency (two different documents are required for this). 

Some requirements change depending on your citizenship status or need to prove a change in name or gender. Acceptable documents are outlined on the BMV's website. You can go through the list and create a printable checklist of the documents you need to take to the license branch to apply for your Real ID card.

What if I don't have one but need to vote?

To drive or vote, citizens with a current driver's license but who are having trouble assembling the documents required for a Real ID can apply for a non-compliant driver's license or ID card.

If personal information hasn't changed and testing is not required, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles says a non-compliant driver's license can be applied for online every other time the credential needs updated. Information required for this method are name, date of birth, legal address and Social Security number.

When will you get your Real ID?

These identification credentials will be mailed because they are printed at a secure, government-run location, according to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

If your documentation is in order, new, renewed, amended and replaced credentials should arrive within 14 days of application.

Has there been opposition to the Real ID?

Why, yes. Some opponents have argued that the Real ID Act essentially creates a national identity card, that it allows the government to gather and store a lot of personal information and that implementation costs money. This, in part, led to numerous extensions and postponements until landing at the Oct. 1, 2020, deadline.

Where can I find more information?

Visit your local BMV, call the BMV toll-free at (888) 692-6841 or go online to myBMV.com or www.dhs.gov/real-id.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow IndyStar digital content editor Leigh Hedger on Twitter: @lhedger.

What documents do I need to renew my license in Indiana?

You will need the following documents:.
One document proving your identity; and..
One document proving your lawful status in the United States; and..
One document proving your Social Security number; and..
Two documents proving your Indiana residency..

How much does a real ID cost in Indiana?

While in Indiana, a Real ID will also cost $17.50 for a driver's license or $9 for a state-issued ID card. A state-issued ID card is free for residents who are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote.

What do you need to bring to the DMV to get your license in Indiana?

Present your current out-of-state driver's license or a copy of your official driving record. You must also present documentation providing your identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Indiana residency. Applicants under 18 years old are required to pass a knowledge examination and a vision screening.

What documents do I need to get an ID card in Indiana?

Required Documentation to Obtain an ID Card One document proving your identity; and. One document proving your lawful status in the United States; and. One document proving your Social Security number; and. Two documents proving your Indiana residency.