New Jersey has made significant strides in expanding access to REAL IDs, but the state still has a long way to go.
Governor Mikie Sherrill marked the progress Thursday at a press conference outside the Motor Vehicle Commission’s main office in Trenton, where Acting MVC Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson outlined the operational changes behind the improvement. At its peak, the average wait time for a REAL ID appointment in New Jersey stretched to 75 days. It now sits at 40—down nearly half, but still the highest in the region.
The gains came without any new spending. The MVC expanded REAL ID services to four additional offices in Trenton, Medford, South Brunswick, and Springfield, which had previously been reserved for vehicle services only. The agency also began allowing applicants to upload proof-of-residency documents digitally—addressing the single most common cause of rejected appointments and return visits. Since the change, the share of applicants required to come back for a second appointment has fallen from 15% to 8%, freeing up roughly 6,700 appointments per month.
More than 300,000 REAL IDs have been issued since Sherrill took office on January 20, including a record 100,000 in May alone—marking significant progress. Roughly 2.5 million New Jerseyans now hold a REAL ID—up from approximately 2.2 million at the start of the year, and from just 17% compliance as recently as April 2024. The current compliance rate sits at about 28%.
The numbers reflect real demand. Under federal law, a REAL ID or passport is now required to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities. Travelers without one face longer airport screening times and a $45 security fee.
North Jersey continues to see the longest wait times due to population density. Johnson suggested applicants book appointments at Central or South Jersey offices if speed is a priority.
“If somebody has been frustrated in the past and they’re like, ‘Forget it. I’m not even going to try’—I encourage and plead with them: Make the appointment,” Johnson said at Thursday’s press conference.
Sherrill has her eyes set on an ambitious end goal: walk-in REAL ID appointments, no booking or reservation required. For now, the MVC requires appointments to be made online. More information regarding REAL ID is available at the Motor Vehicle Commission website.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.