Changes to WA Driver's Licenses & ID July 1, 2018

According to KOMO 4 News (June 26, 2018) major changes are coming to Washington state driver's licenses and ID cards starting on July 1. On that date and thereafter, all standard driver's licenses will be marked with "Federal Limits Apply" to indicate it isn't valid for federal identification purposes, under the Real ID law. However, a federal waiver will allow you to continue using your standard license for boarding airplanes and accessing secure federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2020.

Starting on Sept. 4, 2018, all driver's license and ID cards issued will receive new driver license numbers. Under the new numbering system, all licenses will have WDL as the first three letters, and will be followed by nine randomly chosen alphabetical characters and numbers.

Those who already have a driver's license or ID card will get the new number when they renew or replace it after Sept. 4. The new driver license format will help protect customers' personal information because the randomly generated number will not relate to an individual's name or birthdate like the current ones.

After Oct. 1, 2020, it will become important for Washington state travelers to ensure they have acceptable identification, which could include a Washington state enhanced driver license or enhanced ID card, a U.S. or foreign passport, a U.S. passport card, or one of several other types of federally approved forms of identification, including a military ID.

That means all Washington residents will have to make a choice about their identity documents by Oct. 1, 2020. After that date, standard driver licenses and ID cards will no longer be an acceptable form of identification for boarding domestic flights and entering some secure federal facilities, like military bases and nuclear power plants.
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According to the Electronic Privacy Information Center "the REAL ID Act of 2005 creates a de facto national identification card. Ostensibly voluntary, it would become mandatory as those without the card would face suspicion and increased scrutiny. It is a law imposing federal technological standards and verification procedures on state driver's licenses."

Much like the Social Security Number (SSN) which was never intended to by a national identification number, but has now become one; the need to have and carry a REAL ID Act approved identification card is becoming a necessity for many people.