Should we get the passport card?

Well, you can't use it for international air travel so I don't really see the point of it. I know people who have it who use it to cross the borders to the north and south, but my enhanced driver's license lets me do that.

If you haven’t yet gotten a ” real ID” driver’s license, it could be useful for domestic flights once that begins in 2025.

The last I read it can serve as Real ID for those who haven’t or don’t want to go through the process of updating their driver’s license or state issued ID.

I never used my last one but I still got one when I renewed this year. It is good for travel to Canada (which is close for us) and will serve as Real ID when required for domestic flights as we don’t have those enhanced drivers’ licenses yet.

Having it will not free you from having to read endless posts here about whether or not you should carry your original passport (or a photocopy) when you leave the hotel. It is NOT a national identity card to the EU or elsewhere.

An enhanced driver's license and regular passport works well. Covers us easily for land and see international, and more stringent ID situations when you don't have a passport. The only person in our family who has the passport card is our kid, who is not old enough for an enhanced driver's license yet.

The card is okay, but for international air travel you are going to need your passport.

Not all states issue enhanced driver's licenses. Only Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington state do.

If you live in a state that doesn't issue EDLs -- which presumably includes the OP, living in South Dakota -- and plan to cross the Canadian or Mexican border by land often, a passport card would be handy.

At least here in WA., it is easier( and cheaper) to get a Passport Card than to go through the process to get an 'Enhanced' driver license.

IF the deadline ever comes on "REAL ID", it will be easier to use/pack than a passport for domestic flying.

Andrew, I am a bit confused about the law. Texas claims theirs complys but does not have the chip. But I am not sure the chip is a requirment.

My Missouri Real ID compliant license does not have a chip.