Get a REAL ID in Iowa

Get an Iowa REAL ID (gold star) license or ID: bring one identity document, one proof of Social Security number and two proofs of Iowa address to an Iowa DMV location, pay the regular fee, and get your card by mail.

Your situation

Are you a U.S. citizen?

YesNo

Is your current legal name different from the name on your identity document (birth certificate, passport or immigration document)?

No, it's the sameYes

Update my plan

Your plan

1. Gather your documents

   • Proof of identity, date of birth and lawful status
     Originals or certified copies. Your Iowa or out-of-state license is not proof of identity.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
     • U.S. birth certificate (certified copy issued by a state; hospital certificates are not accepted; Puerto Rico certificates must be issued on or after July 1, 2010)
     • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)
     • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570 or N-578)
     • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561 or N-645)
   • Proof of Social Security number
     Must show your name and your full number, not just the last four digits. If you have no document, you can give your number in person; if it verifies with the SSA, no further proof is needed. Not authorized for employment? You don't need to document an SSN; Iowa DOT verifies your USCIS number instead. If you can work but have no SSN, you must get one first.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Social Security card
     • W-2 form
     • SSA or non-SSA 1099 form
     • Pay stub
     • IRS form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C
     • Bank statement
     • Military document
     • Any other document with your name and full Social Security number
   • Two proofs of Iowa residential address · 2 different documents
     Printed documents with your current name and current Iowa residential address. No post office boxes. Under 18: bring a Parent's/Guardian's Written Consent form instead; Iowa DOT's checklist tool lists what else to bring.
     Accepted documents (bring 2)

     • Iowa voter registration card
     • Valid Iowa vehicle registration certificate
     • Valid insurance card or certificate of coverage (life, health, auto, homeowner's or renter's)
     • Utility hookup or bill (water, gas, electric or garbage)
     • Telephone hookup, service agreement or bill
     • Bank, credit union or credit card statement
     • Iowa mortgage, lease or rental agreement (leases must include the landlord's name and contact information)
     • Iowa real estate tax statement, or homestead or military tax credit application
     • Pay stub from your employer
     • School enrollment papers for a dependent child in an Iowa school
     • Federal, State of Iowa or local government document
     • Envelope, box, postcard or magazine with a postmark or stamped date
     • Iowa license or ID (expired no more than one year)

2. Build your document checklist

   Answer a few questions in Iowa DOT's online tool to get a list of the documents you need to bring.

   What documents do I need? ↗

3. Make an appointment

   Book a driver's license/ID appointment at an Iowa DOT driver's license service center. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. For a county treasurer's office, check with that office.

   Schedule an appointment ↗

4. Visit an Iowa DMV location

   Bring your documents and your current license or ID, which you must surrender. No tests are needed just to add the gold star if you already have a license, unless staff have driver fitness concerns.

   All DMV locations ↗

5. Watch your mail

   It can take up to 30 days to receive your REAL ID in the mail. You only go through the REAL ID process once; later renewals keep the gold star. If you have temporary lawful status, you prove your status again at each renewal.

Common reasons people get turned away

• Trying to add REAL ID through online renewal: it isn't available online.
• Bringing a post office box address or only one proof of Iowa address.
• A hospital-issued or uncertified birth certificate, or a church marriage certificate.
• Moving from another state with a gold star license: you still need all the documents.

Offices that issue REAL ID

Iowa DOT says you may apply for a REAL ID at any Iowa DMV location, a list that covers its driver's license service centers and county treasurer offices that serve as county driver's license offices. Agency source.

105 offices in Iowa

• Monroe County Treasurer's Office Albia ✓ Office type issues it
• Kossuth County Treasurer's Office Algona ✓ Office type issues it
• Butler County Treasurer's Office Allison ✓ Office type issues it
• Ames (West Hy-Vee Plaza) Driver's License Station Ames ✓ Office type issues it
• Jones County Treasurer's Office Anamosa ✓ Office type issues it
• Ankeny Iowa Motor Vehicle Division Building Driver's License Station Ankeny ✓ Office type issues it
• Cass County Treasurer's Office Atlantic ✓ Office type issues it
• Audubon County Treasurer's Office Audubon ✓ Office type issues it
• Taylor County Treasurer's Office Bedford ✓ Office type issues it
• Benton County Treasurer's Office Belle Plaine ✓ Office type issues it
• Davis County Treasurer's Office Bloomfield ✓ Office type issues it
• Boone County Treasurer's Office Boone ✓ Office type issues it
• Burlington Driver's License Station Burlington ✓ Office type issues it
• Carroll County Treasurer’s Office Carroll ✓ Office type issues it
• Cedar Rapids Driver's License Station Cedar Rapids ✓ Office type issues it
• Appanoose County Treasurer's Office Centerville ✓ Office type issues it
• Lucas County Treasurer's Office Chariton ✓ Office type issues it
• Floyd County Treasurer's Office Charles City ✓ Office type issues it
• Cherokee County Treasurer's Office Cherokee ✓ Office type issues it
• Page County Treasurer's Office Clarinda ✓ Office type issues it
• Wright County Treasurer's Office Clarion ✓ Office type issues it
• Clinton Driver's License Station Clinton ✓ Office type issues it
• Coralville Driver's License Station Coralville ✓ Office type issues it
• Adams County Treasurer's Office Corning ✓ Office type issues it
• Wayne County Treasurer's Office Corydon ✓ Office type issues it
• Council Bluffs Driver's License Station Council Bluffs ✓ Office type issues it
• Howard County Treasurer's Office Cresco ✓ Office type issues it
• Union County Treasurer's Office Creston ✓ Office type issues it
• Humboldt County Treasurer's Office Dakota City ✓ Office type issues it
• Davenport (Village Shopping Center) Driver's License Station Davenport ✓ Office type issues it
• Winneshiek County Treasurer's Office Decorah ✓ Office type issues it
• Crawford County Treasurer's Office Denison ✓ Office type issues it
• Des Moines (River Place) Driver's License Station Des Moines ✓ Office type issues it
• Dubuque Driver's License Station Dubuque ✓ Office type issues it
• Hardin County Treasurer's Office Eldora ✓ Office type issues it
• Clayton County Driver's License Office Elkader ✓ Office type issues it
• Palo Alto County Treasurer's Office Emmetsburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Emmet County Treasurer's Office Estherville ✓ Office type issues it
• Jefferson County Treasurer's Office Fairfield ✓ Office type issues it
• Winnebago County Treasurer's Office Forest City ✓ Office type issues it
• Fort Dodge Driver's License Station Fort Dodge ✓ Office type issues it
• Lee County Treasurer's Office Fort Madison ✓ Office type issues it
• Hancock County Treasurer's Office Garner ✓ Office type issues it
• Mills County Treasurer's Office Glenwood ✓ Office type issues it
• Adair County Treasurer's Office Greenfield ✓ Office type issues it
• Grundy County Treasurer's Office Grundy Center ✓ Office type issues it
• Guthrie County Treasurer's Office Guthrie Center ✓ Office type issues it
• Franklin County Treasurer's Office Hampton ✓ Office type issues it
• Shelby County Treasurer's Office Harlan ✓ Office type issues it
• Ida County Treasurer's Office Ida Grove ✓ Office type issues it
• Buchanan County Treasurer's Office Independence ✓ Office type issues it
• Warren County Treasurer's Office Indianola ✓ Office type issues it
• Greene County Treasurer's Office Jefferson ✓ Office type issues it
• Van Buren County Treasurer's Office Keosauqua ✓ Office type issues it
• Marion County Treasurer's Office Knoxville ✓ Office type issues it
• Plymouth County Treasurer's Office Le Mars ✓ Office type issues it
• Decatur County Treasurer's Office Leon ✓ Office type issues it
• Harrison County Treasurer's Office Logan ✓ Office type issues it
• Delaware County Treasurer's Office Manchester ✓ Office type issues it
• Jackson County Treasurer's Office Maquoketa ✓ Office type issues it
• Iowa County Treasurer's Office Marengo ✓ Office type issues it
• Marshalltown (Marshalltown Mall) Driver's License Station Marshalltown ✓ Office type issues it
• Mason City Driver's License Station Mason City ✓ Office type issues it
• Poweshiek County Treasurer's Office Montezuma ✓ Office type issues it
• Ringgold County Treasurer's Office Mount Ayr ✓ Office type issues it
• Henry County Treasurer's Office Mount Pleasant ✓ Office type issues it
• Muscatine Driver's License Station Muscatine ✓ Office type issues it
• Chickasaw County Treasurer's Office New Hampton ✓ Office type issues it
• Jasper County Treasurer's Office Newton ✓ Office type issues it
• Worth County Treasurer's Office Northwood ✓ Office type issues it
• Fayette County Treasurer's Office Oelwein ✓ Office type issues it
• Monona County Treasurer's Office Onawa ✓ Office type issues it
• Sioux County Treasurer's Office Orange City ✓ Office type issues it
• Mitchell County Treasurer's Office Osage ✓ Office type issues it
• Clarke County Treasurer's Office Osceola ✓ Office type issues it
• Mahaska County Treasurer's Office Oskaloosa ✓ Office type issues it
• Ottumwa Driver's License Station Ottumwa ✓ Office type issues it
• Marion County Treasurer's Office Pella ✓ Office type issues it
• Pocahontas County Treasurer's Office Pocahontas ✓ Office type issues it
• O'Brien County Treasurer's Office Primghar ✓ Office type issues it
• Montgomery County Treasurer's Office Red Oak ✓ Office type issues it
• Lyon County Treasurer's Office Rock Rapids ✓ Office type issues it
• Calhoun County Treasurer's Office Rockwell City ✓ Office type issues it
• Sac County Treasurer's Office Sac City ✓ Office type issues it
• Page County Treasurer's Office Shenandoah ✓ Office type issues it
• Osceola County Treasurer's Office Sibley ✓ Office type issues it
• Fremont County Treasurer's Office Sidney ✓ Office type issues it
• Keokuk County Treasurer's Office Sigourney ✓ Office type issues it
• Sioux County Treasurer's Office Sioux Center ✓ Office type issues it
• Sioux City (Market Place Mall) Driver's License Station Sioux City ✓ Office type issues it
• Clay County Treasurer’s Office Spencer ✓ Office type issues it
• Dickinson County Treasurer's Office Spirit Lake ✓ Office type issues it
• Buena Vista County Treasurer's Office Storm Lake ✓ Office type issues it
• Cedar County Treasurer's Office Tipton ✓ Office type issues it
• Tama County Treasurer's Office Toledo ✓ Office type issues it
• Benton County Treasurer's Office Vinton ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisa County Treasurer's Office Wapello ✓ Office type issues it
• Washington County Treasurer's Office Washington ✓ Office type issues it
• Waterloo Driver's License Station Waterloo ✓ Office type issues it
• Waukee Driver's License Station Waukee ✓ Office type issues it
• Allamakee County Treasurer's Office Waukon ✓ Office type issues it
• Bremer County Treasurer's Office Waverly ✓ Office type issues it
• Hamilton County Treasurer's Office Webster City ✓ Office type issues it
• Fayette County Treasurer's Office West Union ✓ Office type issues it
• Madison County Treasurer's Office Winterset ✓ Office type issues it

Find a nearby office by city or ZIP

Search

Results show offices that issue REAL ID or may, nearest first, each labelled.

Read more

• Iowa driver license and ID card: first license, renewal, replacement and REAL ID
• REAL ID explained: what changed and which ID you need to fly

Sources · checked October 30, 2026

• Get a REAL ID (Iowa DOT)
• Real ID FAQs (Iowa DOT)
• REAL ID: What documents do I need? (Iowa DOT checklist)
• Driver's License Fees (Iowa DOT)
• Schedule an Appointment (Iowa DOT)
• All DMV Locations (Iowa DOT)

We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.