REAL ID licenses available to Warren County Residents during trial phase of regional licensing office in Bowling Green

New, full capacity office expected to open this spring, residents encouraged to gather required documents now

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2020) – Warren County residents now have one more option to maintain U.S. air travel and military base entry thanks to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) expansion of REAL ID-compliant card access during a soft launch of the state’s first regional driver’s license office outside of Frankfort.

The office will initially offer two stations to

process REAL ID licenses for Warren County residents, but in coming months will serve Kentuckians in the region in a new office location with expanded capacity. Warren County residents who have a current driver’s license, permit or identification card may apply for a Kentucky’s REAL ID-compliant version if they want to use a state-issued credential to meet upcoming REAL ID requirements that go into effect Oct. 1, 2020.

“After years of repeated changes and uncertainty surrounding REAL ID in Kentucky, my administration is evaluating the options and working tirelessly to bring our state into compliance with the federal requirements,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “The deadline to comply is quickly approaching and we must continue to improve this service while encouraging Kentuckians to take action to ensure they have an accepted form of identification by October.”

“To avoid a rush, it’s important for residents to know they may already have a valid form of REAL ID, like a passport or military ID, they can use instead of the new license if they want to visit military bases and fly within the U.S. starting this October,” said Warren County Circuit Court Clerk Brandi Duvall. “Current driver’s licenses will continue to remain valid for driving, voting and general identification purposes.”

BACKGROUND ON REAL ID

 WHAT IS A REAL ID LICENSEStarting Oct. 1, 2020, Kentucky driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards displaying the Kentucky Unbridled Spirit logo or the language “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” will no longer be accepted to board U.S. commercial flights or access restricted federal buildings to comply with federal REAL ID law.

Kentucky is in the process of offering REAL ID-compliant licenses, permits and identification cards accepted at airport security checkpoints, military bases and federal buildings that require ID once federal enforcement begins.

REAL ID licenses serve as one of several forms of REAL ID. Below is a list of common forms of REAL ID Kentuckians may use to maintain air travel and select federal building access:   

• Valid U.S. or foreign passport
• Valid U.S. Passport Card
• Voluntary Travel ID license, permit or identification card
• Military ID (issued by U.S. Department of Defense)
• Permanent resident card
• DHS- Trusted Traveler Card
• Global Entry Card

A full list of documents accepted by the Transportation Security Administration is available at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. Kentuckians are encouraged to contact military bases and federal buildings, like the White House, to learn what other forms of identification are accepted.

WHY YOU MAY NEED A REAL IDBeginning nationwide on Oct. 1, 2020, a form of REAL ID will be needed to:

• Pass through airport security checkpoints to board a U.S. commercial flight
• Visit a military base
• Visit a federal building or facility that requires ID (White House, nuclear power plant)

WHERE TO GET A REAL ID LICENSE, PERMIT OR IDENTIFICATION CARDWarren County residents may visit the KYTC-operated Driver licensing regional field office located next to Starbucks at 360 East Eighth Avenue in Bowling Green. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants will receive a temporary 30-day document that serves as a driving credential until the permanent card arrives in the mail at the applicant’s residence.

Only debit and credit cards will be accepted (no cash or check). Regional offices are not equipped to serve applicants who require testing or re-testing. The cost of a four-year REAL ID license is $24 and $48 for an eight-year REAL ID license.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A REAL ID LICENSEResidents applying for a REAL ID license must present documentation that meets specific guidelines, including: 

• one (1) valid proof of identity
• one (1) valid proof of social security number and
• two (2) valid proofs of residency (dated less than 61 days for most documents).
• Additional documentation may be required if an applicant’s name or gender doesn’t match on the four proof documents (like a marriage certificate or divorce decree if your names don’t match due to marriage or divorce). Applicants may need to reorder documents before applying if the documents do not display legal names (like a nickname printed on a social security card). A detailed list of acceptable documents and examples of when additional documentation may be required is available on the Confident Kentucky website. The online IDocument Guide quiz provides a customized list of documents an applicant will need to present. Some acceptable documents have strict requirements (e., no photocopies of birth certificates, no expired documents, no laminated social security cards).

WHEN TO VISIT THE WARREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK OFFICE   The Warren County Circuit Court Clerk office will continue to serve as the application site for standard, non-REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards. A standard driver’s license is $20.

Kentuckians who have never had a Kentucky driving credential or those who require any form of testing or retesting must first visit the Circuit Court Clerk Office before visiting a regional licensing office if they would like a REAL ID license, permit or identification card.