Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and soon after the holiday season will be in full swing. Last year, around 3 million New Jersey residents were estimated to be driving 50+ miles away for the holiday season. As people make plans to travel over the holidays, REAL ID appointments are widely available in the Garden State.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and her administration have remained committed to making the government work better for the state’s residents. At the start of 2026, the average wait time for a REAL ID appointment at a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) location was 73 days. Now, that time has dropped to just three days.
Targeted operational changes have led to these reduced wait times, while still keeping high levels of service. Through 2026 so far, the NJMVC has issued approximately 750,000 REAL IDs, a number that is expected to continue growing.
“Government should make people’s lives easier,” said Governor Sherrill. “New Jerseyans were waiting an average of 73 days for a REAL ID appointment, and that was unacceptable. We made operational improvements at the MVC, and now residents can get an appointment in just three days as they prepare for holiday travel.”
As of May 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has required REAL ID-compliant driver licenses or identification cards to board domestic flights. Standard New Jersey licenses that do not feature the REAL ID star symbol are no longer accepted at airport checkpoints, which is important to note for the many New Jerseyans who plan to travel for the holiday season.
Residents can use a valid U.S. passport, passport card, military ID or any other TSA-approved identification for air travel instead of a REAL ID. Though, many find REAL ID convenient as a primary form of identification. New Jerseyans who want a REAL ID are encouraged to schedule an appointment now, as there are many slots available at NJMVC locations across the state.
New Jersey was able to make the process more efficient for residents, not through an increase in spending, but through informed operational reforms. Some of the most significant changes that have led to the reduction in wait times are accepting certain digital items as proof of residency, streamlined document verification and increasing the number of appointments that can be made.
“We solved capacity challenges by working smarter, not spending more,” said Acting Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson. “These targeted changes are proof government can deliver better results through creative thinking and improved operations.”
As many New Jerseyans prepare to travel for the holiday season, the changes that have made it significantly easier to schedule a REAL ID appointment will be visualized. The significant reduction in wait time has made REAL ID appointments more accessible and convenient for New Jerseyans, when compared to the beginning of the year.