Do you really need to spend the money for a Real ID?

As passengers wait in line for security at Pittsburgh International Airport, they can see Real ID reminders.

"I don't use my passport unless I am traveling out of the country, and you will need that to go state to state," Cindi Hoffman, of McCandless, said.

Pennsylvania is encouraging people to get the Real ID. Postcards have been sent, and you can find information on the Real ID section of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's website (CLICK HERE).

But do you need to spend the $60 to get one?

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"Your driver's license you have with you everywhere you go, so that makes sense to me," Pam Rozmand, of Sewickley, said.

You'll have to have a Real ID to board an airplane by October 2020, but you can also use a passport or a military ID.

AAA East Central Spokesman Jim Garrity said people should ask themselves two main questions: "You may think to yourself, am I a frequent flyer? Do I want to be carrying my passport with me everywhere I go?"

Garrity said it's a personal preference if you want to get the Real ID.

If you have a passport and don't mind taking it with you when you travel, you may want to put it off. Either way, he's encouraging people to not wait until the last minute to apply for one.

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"One of the biggest challenges for people will be finding the documents," Garrity said.

To apply for a Real ID driver's license, you will need an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a passport, Social Security card, two proofs of current address and proof of all legal name changes.

"That is something to keep in mind, especially for anyone that has been through a divorce," Garrity said.  "They will need to make the connection between the maiden name, married name, back to maiden name."

Cox Media Group