A STAR ID in Alabama costs $36.25, the same price as a standard Alabama driver’s license or non-driver identification card.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. One Month Away Until the STAR ID (REAL ID) Enforcement Begins: What You Need to Know If you add the STAR designation when you’re already renewing your license, you pay that $36.25 and nothing more. A handful of situations push the total higher, but for most Alabama residents the base fee is the whole bill.
What the $36.25 Covers
The state fee applies to both initial issuance and renewal of a STAR ID driver’s license or non-driver ID card. It’s a flat rate, not tiered by age or license class. Renewals handled at a county-operated license office may carry a small local processing charge on top of the state amount, so the number at the counter can be a dollar or two higher depending on where you go.
Extra Charges That Can Apply
A few situations add to the base price:
- If you have never held an Alabama driver’s license before, there is a separate $5 examination fee on top of the $36.25.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees
- Replacing a lost or stolen STAR ID before it expires requires a duplicate fee. ALEA confirms the replacement is not free; the current duplicate amount is posted on the fee schedule at the examining office.
- Adding the STAR designation to a license that hasn’t expired yet is treated as a duplicate, not a renewal, so you pay the duplicate fee rather than the full $36.25.
None of these are common surprises. The $5 test fee only hits brand-new Alabama drivers, and the duplicate fees only apply when you’re not on your normal renewal cycle.
Do You Actually Need to Pay for One?
STAR ID is Alabama’s version of a federally compliant ID under the REAL ID Act of 2005.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Star ID Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025, and a standard Alabama license without the star no longer works at TSA checkpoints or certain federal facilities.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
A regular Alabama license still lets you drive. The STAR ID only matters when you need federally accepted identification. If you already carry a valid U.S. passport, a military ID, a permanent resident card, or a DHS trusted traveler card, you don’t technically need a STAR ID to fly domestically.5Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint For most Alabamians who don’t already carry one of those, $36.25 for a STAR ID is considerably cheaper than the $165 for a passport book.
Documents That Keep the Cost at $36.25
The biggest way to spend more than you planned is to make a second trip. First-time STAR ID applicants have to appear in person at an ALEA Driver License examining office; county-operated license offices cannot process initial applications.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Star ID There is no partial processing. If you’re missing a document, you come back.
ALEA requires four documents across three categories, and every one must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies are rejected.6Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. STAR ID Document List
Proof of Identity and Date of Birth
One document. The two most common are a certified birth certificate from a state office of vital statistics or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. ALEA’s full list has other options, but those two cover almost everyone.
Proof of Social Security Number
One document showing your full number. An original Social Security card is easiest. A W-2 from the current or prior year also works. The official document list does not include 1099 forms, so don’t rely on one.
Proof of Alabama Residency
Two documents showing your current physical Alabama address. A voter registration card, a residential mortgage contract, or a utility bill for water, gas, or electric dated within the past 90 days will each qualify.
Name Change Documents
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, bring certified paperwork connecting the two: a marriage certificate, court-ordered name change, or adoption decree. This is where applications most often stall. If you’ve been married more than once and your birth certificate still shows your maiden name, you need every document in the chain. Pull them together before the visit rather than hoping the examiner will improvise.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Lawful permanent residents and other non-citizens with authorized presence can get a STAR ID, but the identity document is different. Instead of a birth certificate, you’ll typically present a permanent resident card or an employment authorization card. The federal REAL ID regulations at 6 CFR Part 37 govern what qualifies, and ALEA follows those rules. Call your nearest examining office before the trip to confirm exactly which immigration documents they’ll accept.
Renewals Are Easier Than the First Time
Once you already hold a STAR ID, county-operated license offices can process renewals and duplicates. You won’t need to go back to an ALEA examining office unless something about your identity or status has changed in a way that requires re-verification.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Star ID The price stays $36.25.