Get a REAL ID in West Virginia

Get a West Virginia REAL ID: bring your documents to a DMV Regional Office, leave with a 60-day temporary card and get your gold-star card by mail.

Your situation

Do you have a West Virginia driver's license or ID card?

A West Virginia REAL ID has a gold star in the top right corner. A card marked "Not for Federal Identification" or "NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES" can't be used for air travel.

Yes, a card without the gold starNo, this is my first West Virginia cardAlso choose this if you're moving from another state or your West Virginia license expired more than 3 years ago.Yes, and it already has the gold star

Are you a U.S. citizen?

YesNo

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

For example, your birth certificate shows your name before marriage. If you already have a West Virginia REAL ID, answer Yes only if you're changing the name on that card.

No, it's the sameYes

Update my plan

Your plan

1. Gather your documents

   • Proof of identity
     Original or certified copy. Your documents are scanned and returned to you.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • U.S.-issued birth certificate (original or certified copy; U.S. Department of State and U.S. Military birth certificates are accepted, hospital birth certificates and Bureau of Census records are not)
     • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
     • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
     • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
     • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)
   • Proof of Social Security number
     The DMV checks every number with Social Security, and your name there must match your other documents. If you aren't eligible for a number, bring a denial letter from the Social Security Administration. (The DMV's 2023 brochure says a document is no longer required if your number verifies, but its REAL ID requirements page still lists one.)
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Social Security card
     • Original W-2 or payroll stub (with your employer's name and ID number and your name, address and Social Security number; a photocopied W-2 is not accepted)
     • 1099 form (with your full Social Security number and name)
   • Two proofs of West Virginia residency · 2 different documents
     Both must show your name and physical address. No P.O. boxes, no more than one document from the same company, and recurring documents (bills, statements) no more than 60 days old.
     Accepted documents (bring 2)

     • West Virginia utility bill (not more than 60 days old)
     • Tax records with a West Virginia street address
     • West Virginia mortgage documents, homeowner insurance documents or proof of home ownership
     • West Virginia W-2 (not more than 18 months old; the same W-2 can also be your Social Security proof)
     • West Virginia weapons permit
     • Valid West Virginia vehicle registration card
     • West Virginia voter registration card
     • Driver's Eligibility Certificate (only with a West Virginia street address)
     • West Virginia Homestead Tax exemption
     • Proof of West Virginia public assistance
     • Residential rental or lease agreement
     • WV DMV Affidavit of West Virginia Residency
     • College admissions letter showing in-state residency
     • Pay stub from a West Virginia employer (showing your current physical address; not handwritten)
     • Social Security benefits letter
     • West Virginia professional license
     • West Virginia bank statement
     • West Virginia auto insurance card
     • West Virginia hunting license
     • 911 letter
     • Affidavit of WV Facility Residency (for people living in a shelter, hotel, nursing home or similar facility)

2. Pre-enroll with Real ID Headstart (optional)

   Enter your information and upload your documents online, then book your appointment once they're approved. West Virginia says this can cut your time at the office by up to 50%.

   Real ID Headstart ↗

3. Book an appointment or walk in

   Regional Offices welcome walk-ins and also take appointments, including same-day ones, online or by phone at 1-800-642-9066 (in West Virginia) or 304-558-3900. Arrive 10 minutes early for an appointment.

   Schedule an appointment ↗

4. Visit a DMV Regional Office

   Ask for the "For Federal Identification" (REAL ID) card and show your documents; they're scanned and returned to you. You leave with a temporary card valid for 60 days.

   DMV locations ↗

5. Watch your mail

   All cards are printed centrally and mailed by USPS. The DMV gives 30-45 days on its REAL ID page and about 15 business days in its FAQ. Questions: 1-800-642-9066.

   REAL ID card requirements ↗

Common reasons people get turned away

• A hospital birth certificate or Bureau of Census record as proof of identity.
• Residency proofs with a P.O. box, two from the same company, or bills older than 60 days.
• A souvenir or minister's copy of a marriage certificate, or missing a document for one of several marriages.
• A photocopied W-2 or a handwritten pay stub.

Offices that issue REAL ID

The WV DMV says all types of instruction permits and driver's licenses can be obtained at most of its Regional Offices. Agency source.

26 offices in West Virginia

• Keyser ✓ Office type issues it
• Beckley Beckley ✓ Office type issues it
• Berkeley Springs Berkeley Springs ✓ Office type issues it
• Kanawha City (Charleston) Charleston ✓ Office type issues it
• Clarksburg Clarksburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Elkins Elkins ✓ Office type issues it
• Franklin Franklin ✓ Office type issues it
• Huntington Huntington ✓ Office type issues it
• Winfield Hurricane ✓ Office type issues it
• Charles Town Kearneysville ✓ Office type issues it
• Lewisburg Lewisburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Logan Logan ✓ Office type issues it
• Martinsburg Martinsburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Moorefield Moorefield ✓ Office type issues it
• Morgantown Morgantown ✓ Office type issues it
• Moundsville Moundsville ✓ Office type issues it
• Parkersburg Parkersburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Point Pleasant Point Pleasant ✓ Office type issues it
• Princeton Princeton ✓ Office type issues it
• Spencer Spencer ✓ Office type issues it
• Summersville Summersville ✓ Office type issues it
• Flatwoods Sutton ✓ Office type issues it
• Weirton Weirton ✓ Office type issues it
• Welch Welch ✓ Office type issues it
• Fairmont White Hall ✓ Office type issues it
• Williamson Williamson ✓ Office type issues it

Find a nearby office by city or ZIP

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

Read more

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

Did it work on your first visit?

Tell us after you've been. One anonymous answer, no account, nothing else saved.

Yes, first visitNo

If not, what went wrong?
Choose one (optional)I was missing a documentA document was not acceptedI went to an office that does not issue itI needed an appointmentSomething else

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Sources · checked October 30, 2026

• Driver's Licenses and ID Cards (WV DMV)
• "For Federal Identification" (REAL ID) Card Requirements (WV DMV)
• Acceptable Proof Documents (WV DMV)
• Secure Licensing FAQ (WV DMV)
• License and Renewal Fees (WV DMV)
• Applicants who are Immigrants, Non-Immigrants, or Refugees (WV DMV)
• Procedures on Driver's Licenses (WV DMV)
• Locations (WV DMV)
• Make An Appointment (WV DMV)
• Renew Your Driver's License or State ID (WV DMV Online Services)
• Driver's Licenses & ID Cards brochure (WV DMV, PDF)

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.