Get a REAL ID in Kentucky

By · checked

Get a Kentucky REAL ID: bring your documents in person to a Driver Licensing Regional Office, leave with a 30-day temporary document and get your card by mail.

Your situation

Do you have a Kentucky driver's license, permit or ID card?

A Kentucky REAL ID shows a black star icon. A card without the black star is a standard card and can't be used to board U.S. flights.

Are you a U.S. citizen?
Is your current legal name different from the name on your birth certificate, passport or immigration document?

For example, your birth certificate shows your name before marriage. If you already have a Kentucky REAL ID, answer Yes only if the name on that card is no longer your legal name.

Online or in person
No, one office visit · One visit to a Regional OfficeKentucky says a REAL ID can only be requested in person at a Driver Licensing Regional Office, with your documents. Appointments are recommended and booked online only; walk-ins are welcome at all offices, first come, first served.
Cost
$15 upgradeYour card keeps its current expiration date until you can renew. Extra fees apply when you pay by debit or credit card.
You leave with
30-day temporary document, card by mailThe card is mailed within 10-15 business days. TSA does not accept the temporary document, so bring another accepted ID, such as a passport, if you fly before the card arrives.

Your plan

  1. Gather your documents

    • Show accepted documents (bring 1)
      • U.S. birth certificate (issued by a U.S. state or territory; hospital-issued certificates are not accepted)
      • U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
      • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
      • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
      • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
    • Show accepted documents (bring 1)
      • Social Security card (must show your current name; no photocopies)
      • SSNAP replacement printout
      • W-2 or 1099 (most recently issued, not handwritten)
      • Paycheck stub or statement
    • Show accepted documents (bring 2)
      • Utility bill (landline, electric, gas, cable)
      • Telephone bill
      • Bank statement
      • State or federal tax return
      • Pay slip or salary statement
      • Kentucky voter registration card
      • U.S. Postal Service postmarked mail
      • Kentucky driver's license, instruction permit or ID card
      • Property tax bill
      • Kentucky vehicle registration or title
      • W-2 or 1099 (most recent tax year)
      • Lease, rental agreement or mortgage statement
      • Insurance policy
      • Kentucky school enrollment record
      • Kentucky hunting or fishing license

  2. Pre-apply on myDrive (optional)

    Create a myDrive account and complete a pre-application before your visit to save time.

    myDrive pre-application ↗

  3. Book an appointment or walk in

    Appointments are recommended and can only be booked online; new slots are released weekly. Walk-ins are served first come, first served, and every Regional Office has walk-in hours one Saturday a month, 8:00 to 11:30 a.m.

    Schedule an appointment ↗

  4. Visit a Driver Licensing Regional Office

    Apply for the REAL ID version and show your documents. Offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and take cash, checks and cards. You leave with a 30-day temporary document valid for driving and identification.

    Find an Office ↗

  5. Watch your mail

    Your card is mailed within 10-15 business days. If it hasn't arrived after 30 days, call the Division of Driver Licensing at (502) 564-1257.

    REAL ID FAQ ↗

Common reasons people get turned away

  • A hospital-issued birth certificate or a photocopy as proof of identity.
  • A handwritten W-2 or pay stub, or a document that doesn't show your full Social Security number.
  • A marriage license instead of a certified marriage certificate; it's needed even if your Kentucky card already shows your married name.
  • Forwarded mail or a P.O. box address as proof of Kentucky residency.

Offices that issue REAL ID

KYTC says you must bring all required documents in person to any Driver Licensing Regional Office to apply for a REAL ID. Agency source.

35 offices where you can get a REAL IDSee them on a map, search by county or show the ones open now

Largest cities with them: Louisville (5) · Lexington (2)

Results show offices where you can get a REAL ID or may be able to, nearest first, each labelled.

Read more

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Sources · checked October 30, 2026

We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMV Decoded is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.