Been meaning to upgrade to an enhanced driver license or identification card? Hurry!
License or ID card set to expire in the next year? Renew now!
Don’t procrastinate.
Do. Not. Wait.
Because the longer you wait to address your licensing needs, the longer you can expect to wait in line.
How long? By late summer, it could be hours.
New federal ID requirements for air travel go into effect Oct. 1. Under the new law, known as the REAL ID Act, a standard Washington driver license or ID card will no longer be accepted for the purposes of domestic air travel or accessing federal facilities such as military bases.
Although residents can choose from many acceptable ID options, we expect a sharp increase in applications for enhanced driver licenses and enhanced ID cards. These REAL ID-compliant forms of identification can be obtained only by bringing the necessary documents to a licensing office.
That means we could be processing hundreds of thousands of last-minute transactions.
If you already have what you need to fly and just want to renew, you might be able to skip a trip and go online. Remember, you can renew up to a year before your license or ID expires; your renewal term will still begin when your current term ends.
If an office visit is unavoidable, you can see up-to-the-minute wait times before you go. Just click on your chosen location and check the right side of the page.
Wait times can vary greatly depending on the office, the day, and even the time of day. Some offices, especially along the I-5 corridor, can experience wait times 3-4 times longer than average. A little planning can save you a lot of time.
Best times to visit tend to be:
- Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
- Weekday mornings
Busiest times tend to be:
- Lunch time
- The first day the office is open after a holiday
- Weekdays after 3 p.m., when children are out of school
See more tips for visiting a licensing service office.
Licensing Express 