April 18th, 2025
NEWS RELEASE
If you haven’t updated your Drivers License or ID card to the REAL ID STAR Card, the deadline is quickly approaching. Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies are reminding everyone the deadline for updating to the REAL ID STAR card is May 7th. More importantly, it takes several days for the actual cards to process and arrive in the mail which could affect your travel plans.
After May 7th, federal regulations will require those who travel by airplane through a TSA checkpoint to have an identification meeting REAL ID standards. Access to some federal building and facilities will also require the REAL ID, and updating to Idaho’s STAR Card meets those requirements.
Aside from having the proper information before you show up to the Driver’s License Office, the actual processing of your new STAR Card can take up to two weeks to physically arrive in your mailbox. ITD no longer issues a temporary paper Drivers License or ID card as they have done in the past, and only the actual physical STAR Card is considered valid.
Sheriff’s Deputies highly recommend utilizing the STAR TOOL on the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) website BEFORE you come to our offices or make an appointment. Going through the STAR TOOL link will identify exactly which documents and paperwork you will need to bring with you so you can update your license in one trip to our offices. People whose names have changed through marriage or otherwise may be required to provide more documentation to complete the renewal. Drivers License Deputies are required to verify the required documents before a STAR Card ID or License per ITD and Federal Regulations, and there are no exceptions. This process is important to make sure people are properly and accurately identified to prevent fraudulent activities. Being prepared on the first visit saves you and our staff time.
Because the deadline is quickly approaching, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies are asking people to be patient as we are expecting an influx of others trying to update their cards. The Drivers License office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm at 254 E. St. in Idaho Falls, excluding holidays. Appointments for STAR Card updates can be made through the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Website or Mobile App on the Drivers License Link. Appointment slots are filling up, and Deputies can’t stress enough to utilize the STAR Tool on the ITD Website BEFORE you make your appointment, so you can ensure your update is done in one visit. And again, understand it takes several days for the physical STAR Card License or ID to arrive in your mail and only the physical STAR Card is valid at TSA or other required places.
A link to the ITD STAR TOOL can be found here: https://itd.idaho.gov/StarCard/add-the-star-tool-01.html
To make an appointment or find other information about our Drivers License Offices go to: https://bonnevillesheriff.com/teams/drivers-license/
