Learn what the star at the top of your driver's license means.
If a star appears on your driver's license in one of the upper corners, it means that it is safer than previous versions and it is a REAL ID. This measure seeks to establish minimum security standards for the issuance of licenses.
A REAL ID card is not a national identity document, however, since 2005 after the approval of the REAL ID Act, each state is required to issue this type of identification to comply with security standards when entering federal facilities, accessing to nuclear power plants or board federally regulated commercial aircraft.
"Secure driver's licenses and identification documents are a vital component of our national security framework," explains the Department of Homeland Security.
Since the REAL ID Act passed in 2005, all states have met the minimum standards set forth in the Act. By May 3, 2023, all licenses valid in the United States must have the star that accredits them as REAL ID.
Learn about REAL ID information by selecting your state on the map from the following link: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
