In New Jersey, it’s notoriously difficult to make a simple left turn — and now, frustrated residents say it’s just as maddening trying to secure a REAL ID appointment before the looming federal deadline.
Lawmakers from both parties are slamming the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), saying the agency had years to prepare but still fell short.
“There’s no excuse for the MVC to be this unprepared,” Assemblymember Nancy Muñoz, R-Union, told Fox News Digital.
“Constituents are waking up early, refreshing their screens, only to watch appointments vanish in seconds. Some are driving over an hour just to find an available slot. It’s outrageous.”
REAL ID — the federal standard requiring additional documentation for domestic air travel — goes into full effect soon. New Jersey, despite being legally compliant, ranks dead last among states surveyed by CBS News for the percentage of residents who have actually obtained a REAL ID.
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, D-Cherry Hill, agreed the state’s rollout has been disastrous.
“Now we’re heading into summer, people have travel plans, and they’re being told they’ll have to wait months just for an appointment,” Greenwald said.
A System Stuck in the Past
Critics are blasting New Jersey for sticking to outdated in-person appointment systems, while neighboring states like Pennsylvania now allow residents to apply for REAL IDs online.
“There’s no reason we should be relying solely on in-person appointments in the 21st century,” Greenwald said. “It’s common sense to move the process online.”
Greenwald announced he plans to introduce a bill to force the MVC to modernize and allow online applications, helping clear the backlog before the deadline strikes.
Why New Jersey’s REAL ID Rates Are So Low
A source familiar with the process told Fox News Digital that New Jersey’s numbers are complicated by the fact that the state allows undocumented immigrants to obtain standard driver’s licenses — meaning a portion of licensed drivers aren’t eligible for REAL IDs at all.
Currently, only U.S. citizens and green-card holders can obtain a REAL ID. Travelers without a REAL ID will need to present a valid passport to fly domestically.
MVC Responds
An MVC spokesperson defended the agency, saying it has been working “nonstop” to meet demand.
“Our challenges are not unique to New Jersey — every state is facing pressure as the deadline approaches,” the spokesperson said.
“We are currently issuing approximately 23,000 REAL IDs per week and are committed to helping every eligible New Jerseyan secure one.”
The MVC pointed to initiatives like “REAL ID Thursdays,” where offices exclusively handle REAL ID appointments, and requiring employees to work two weekends a month to increase capacity.
Still, lawmakers say the steps are too little, too late.
“We’ve known for years that this deadline was coming,” Muñoz said. “New Jerseyans deserve better than this.”