RELEASE: Gottheimer Calls For New Jersey to Make REAL ID Appointments More Accessible as New Fees Go Into Effect

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) sent a letter to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) calling for immediate action to expand access to REAL ID appointments across the state, as a new $45 fee goes into effect for travelers without REAL ID and New Jersey continues to lag the nation in REAL ID compliance.

In the letter to MVC Acting Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson, Gottheimer highlighted that New Jersey currently has the lowest REAL ID compliance rate in the country, with only 17% of residents holding a REAL ID. Governor Sherrill has appointed Johnson as Chief Administrator of the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) because of her past success. In her previous role in Colorado, Johnson implemented solutions that reduced DMV wait times and led the state to a 97% REAL ID compliance rate. The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) recently announced that travelers who arrive at airports without a REAL ID will face a $45 fee, placing an added financial burden on New Jersey residents who are already struggling to secure appointments.

“New Jersey residents deserve timely access to REAL ID appointments, especially now that Jersey families will get charged if they don’t have it,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) wrote in the letter to NJ MVC. “I recognize that Johnson just inherited this issue, but way too many residents still cannot get an appointment, with many MVC locations booked months in advance.”

Gottheimer underscored that appointment availability remains severely limited statewide. As of February 2025, 21 of the state’s 28 MVC locations list April 2026 as the earliest available appointment date, leaving residents with few options to comply before enforcement ramps up.

Gottheimer urged the MVC to take an immediate, all-hands-on-deck approach to address the backlog, including expanding appointment capacity statewide, extending evening and weekend hours, deploying mobile and pop-up REAL ID services, and pursuing other creative solutions to increase access quickly.

The full letter can be found here and below.

Acting Chief Administrator Johnson:

As you likely know, New Jersey has the lowest REAL ID compliance rate in the country, with only seventeen percent of residents in possession of a REAL ID, according to a number released last spring. Now, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has announced that passengers who arrive at the airport without a REAL ID will be charged a $45 fee. A passport is acceptable, but those, too, are expensive and take several weeks to process.

Now facing a costly penalty, far too many residents still cannot secure appointments to get a REAL ID in New Jersey. I have heard from my constituents across North Jersey about this problem. Appointment availability remains scarce, with many Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) locations booked months in advance. This month alone, twenty-one of the twenty-eight MVC locations statewide list April 2026 as the earliest available appointment date. I’m sure you will agree that New Jersey residents deserve timely access to REAL ID appointments, especially given the new penalty.

I recognize that you just inherited this issue, but I kindly ask that you direct the MVC to take immediate, all-hands-on-deck action, including: expanding appointment capacity statewide, extending evening and weekend hours, deploying mobile and pop-up REAL ID services, and pursuing other creative solutions that can quickly increase access. Other states have demonstrated that far higher compliance rates are achievable, and New Jersey should not lag behind.

REAL ID is now a federal requirement, and the state had years to prepare for it. New Jersey residents should not face added fees, missed trips for business or to see loved ones, or unnecessary stress because the system failed to keep pace. The state must act decisively to fix this issue. I am happy to work with you and your team to remedy this situation.

Sincerely,

Josh Gottheimer

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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