REAL ID Deadline Delayed Until 2021Due to COVID-19

If you've been dragging your feet about getting the Montana REAL ID before the October 1st deadline, it looks like you're safe for another year. The deadline is being delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted every aspect of our daily lives.

The delay is meant to protect against crowding at motor vehicle offices and support the social distancing practices that have been implemented to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Montanans will now have until October 1, 2021 to convert to REAL ID. Without the new form of identification you'll no longer be able to board flights, enter federal courthouses, military bases and more. Although, other forms of ID such as a valid  U.S. passport can be used instead of REAL ID.

Officials were thinking Montana was already going to have a tough time meeting the October deadline this year. Senator Steve Daines had already asked President Trump to extend the date by a year

I got my REAL ID last month so I'm ready to roll. But I've been teasing my wife that she'll end up dropping the ball and not get hers in time. There was a pretty decent chance that I was going to win that bet with the October deadline this year. But it looks like she, and everyone else, has an extra year to get it done.