Warren County residents – along with nearly all Kentuckians – will have to wait a while longer to get the new driver’s licenses that are fully compliant with the federal Real ID Act.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released in January a tentative schedule for implementing Real ID, with Warren County slated for the week of March 25-29, but now that has changed.

According to an email sent Wednesday by KYTC Public Affairs Director Naitore Djigbenou, the KYTC will begin the pilot rollout of new driver’s licenses in early April in Woodford and Franklin counties and will monitor progress before expanding to additional counties two to three weeks later. The county-by-county phased implementation is still expected to end within two months, Djigbenou said.

“A system of this magnitude requires extensive testing to identify issues and correct them before implementation,” Djigbenou said in the email. “Our testing revealed the need to re-evaluate key areas of the system critical to a smooth rollout. This phase is doing what it should: revealing unique programming scenarios that need to be corrected and updated before the rollout. We only get to launch once, and it is worth taking the time on the front-end to ensure we present a quality system.”

Warren Circuit Court Clerk Brandi Duvall said current Kentucky driver’s licenses are good under federal law until Oct. 1, 2020, after which one of the new travel IDs will be required to board a domestic flight, enter a military base or enter a federal facility.

The travel ID, which will have enhanced security features, requires you to present an original or certified copy of your birth certificate or a passport, your non-laminated Social Security card and two proofs of Warren County residency (deed, lease, utility bill, piece of mail, etc.).

An option to avoid having to round up the various documents is a “standard” license which doesn’t require additional documentation if you have a current license or ID. But, in order to fly domestically, standard card holders will need to have a valid passport or check with the Transportation Security Administration to determine what other forms of identification are acceptable.

Standard or travel ID isn’t the only choice people will have when they renew their driver’s licenses.

Duvall said everyone age 21 and over will have the option of choosing a travel ID with either a four-year or an eight-year life span. Eight-year cards will cost $48, and four-year cards will cost $24, Duvall said. The standard license will cost $43 and is good for eight years.

People holding a commercial driver’s license will be required to take the eight-year option and, beginning in 2023, all cards issued will have a mandatory eight-year life span.

Duvall said more information about the transition to Real ID compliance can be found at drivewarrenky.com.