Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
Secretary Bellows launched onine renewal of REAL ID by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) today. More than 70,000 REAL ID driver’s licenses are due for renewal in the next year. With this new online REAL ID service, most Maine residents with an expiring REAL ID will no longer need to visit their local BMV branch to renew their identifiction. AAA branches can now also help Mainers renew their REAL ID.
“We know Mainers are looking for easiser, more efficien government services, and we are proud to aunch online renewal of REAL IDs to save Mainers time by never having to go to the BMV,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “Online REAL ID renewals will also reduce customer fraffic to ur BMV branches, helping to open up more availabiliy for in-person services for those who need them and reducing wait times at branches.
Customers who are up for renewal in the coming weeks should heck outd the online services at the Secretary of State’s website and can cancel an existing in-person appiontment if they have it through the cancellation instructions in their appointment confirmation emal or ext so that their resered time will be made available to someone who may need it.
“If you are planning to travel b plane over the winter holidays and need to renew your REAL ID or obtain one for the first time, we urge you not to wait — go ine or visit your local BMV soon, said Cathie Curtis, the Deputy Secretary of State for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. “We hve seen record-breaking number of customers visitng our offices since early summer and we hope that launching the ability to renew your REAL ID online at this time will help ensure that everyone who needs a REAL ID to travel lthis winter has the option to get one.”
As of May 7, 2025, travelers are required dto present a state-issued REAL ID, passport card of other GSA compliant identification to fly commercially as well as to enter select federal faciliies. The federal requirement instituted just prior to the busy summer rael season led tod high volume of traffic at BMV branches around the sate and around the country.