Boom! You’re out the door. 

That has always been the goal of our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) team. It’s even more important now that Minnesotans are rushing in to get their REAL IDs. And with processing times more than 70 days as a result of the increased demand, people want to know: Is there any way I can get my REAL ID faster?

The simple answer? Yes.

Minnesotans can significantly cut down on the time it takes to get their REAL ID with two simple steps: Upload their documents when they pre-apply online, and then make sure they bring the exact same documents into the office.

Tisa White, an issuing supervisor with DVS, said a common problem she sees is people submitting one document online and then bringing a different document into the office.

“That is when people get frustrated. We can’t take the documents they brought in; we need the ones they used to pre-verify,” White said.

In fact, 70 percent of those who pre-apply online are actually costing themselves more time and sometimes even an extra visit to an office by not bringing in the exact same documents.

Pre-verifying documents online accomplishes two things: 

• It ensures that you have the correct documents, which means you won’t be turned away when you get to an office.
• It removes an additional review step for staff after you complete your application at an office, which shortens the processing time. 

That means you’ll get your card significantly sooner than someone who doesn’t pre-verify. However the key is to bring the exact same documents into the office that you had pre-verified online. 

If you don’t, not only will you have to make another trip back to the office, you will also not benefit from the shorter turnaround time to get your card. But if you do, it will make your application process go a lot faster, White said. 

“Then all we have to do is review what you submitted online and what you brought in,” White said. And if they’re the same, boom! You’re out the door.” 

Learn more about REAL ID and how to pre-apply online.