Via D.C. DMV.

A clarification from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles means that a trip to one of their locations may not be in your near future.

While the DMV will still begin on May 1 to issue the REAL ID — a new federal credential requirement that puts a star on a license and will eventually be required to board planes and enter federal buildings — people with a D.C. license can keep theirs until it expires. Councilmember David Grosso’s office has some good info on the confusion.

Do I need to get a new ID before 2016 in order to board planes?

Only if your ID is due to expire. Contrary to initial reports, all IDs issued by D.C. DMV will remain valid beyond 2016 if their expiration date is after 2016. If your license is due to expire in 2018, for example, you do not need to worry, and you can continue to use it for all purposes until it expires.

Will DMV contact me about getting a new license?

DMV will be contacting D.C. residents whose IDs are set to expire to inform them of the documentation they will need to bring with them to get a new license. Due to REAL ID implementation, no one will be able to renew licenses online until they get a REAL ID compliant ID. To renew your license or ID you will need to bring: proof of identity such as birth certificate or passport, proof of social security number such as a card or W-2 form, a green card or other proof of lawful presence in the United States, and two documents proving current residence in the District of Columbia from this list.

So, the DMV says, the May 1 date only impacts “residents obtaining a D.C. license for the first time, renewing their licenses or who need to replace their license due to it being lost, stolen or an address change.”