REAL ID in Alabama: documents, fee and how to apply

What Alabama REAL ID costs

ALEA: if you want a STAR ID before your current license or ID expires you must pay for a duplicate. This page did not read a published STAR ID fee amount; see the ALEA document requirements and fees page.

How to apply in Alabama

STAR IDs are issued originally only at ALEA Driver License exam offices. County-operated license offices continue to provide renewals and duplicates of licenses, ID cards and STAR IDs, but the FAQ says STAR ID is available only at ALEA examining offices.

Each person can hold a STAR ID driver license or a STAR ID identification card, not both; if you hold both, one is cancelled at your next issuance. A gold star appears in the upper left corner.

Is your current card already a REAL ID?

In Alabama, a compliant card shows a gold star in the upper left corner (Alabama calls its REAL ID a STAR ID; non-compliant cards issued since April 25, 2022 say "Not for Federal Identification"). Check the front of your card before booking anything.

If your name changed

If your name has changed from the name on the document used to prove identity and date of birth, ALEA requires certified documents verifying the change, for example a marriage certificate, adoption papers or a court order. If utility bills are in your spouse's name you must bring your marriage certificate; if in a parent's name, you may use your birth certificate. Photocopies are not accepted.

Worked example

Hypothetical: you tick the documents you own above. The checklist lists each category still short, so you can fix it before the visit. A complete checklist with a matching name means you should bring the originals and confirm against the official list.

Useful details

• ALEA lists the TSA alternatives and says some military installations require a STAR ID depending on the facility.

If you do not have a REAL ID

Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025. Adults need a REAL ID-compliant card or another acceptable ID, such as a U.S. passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. TSA ConfirmID lets a traveler without an acceptable ID pay a $45 fee, valid for 10 days from the travel start date you enter; TSA then attempts to verify identity, with no guarantee it can. Using it is optional, and you pay only through Pay.gov. Each adult must complete it separately.

Who this is for and what it leaves out

Residents of Alabama deciding what to bring to the licensing office. It does not read any agency system, cannot confirm that a particular document will be accepted, and is not legal advice. Agencies change fees and document lists; confirm on the official page before you go.

Sources

• ALEA: STAR ID — Program overview, card look, where issued.
• ALEA: STAR ID document list — Accepted identity, SSN and address documents.
• ALEA: STAR ID FAQ — Duplicate fee, offices, one-card rule.
• TSA: REAL ID — Enforcement date, acceptable alternatives.
• TSA: ConfirmID — The $45 fee, how to pay, 10-day validity.

Retrieved November 1, 2026. Fees and processes can change; confirm on the agency page.