Travel dilemmas: Before you drive off, here are a few tips

You and nearly 37 million of your closest friends are getting in the car and driving to some well-deserved respite on Memorial Day weekend, AAA tells us. Here are things you may want to do (Real ID driver's licenses) and things you must do (renting a car to get out of town).

Real ID, an update: By now, you're aware that you'll need a federally compliant form of identification to board a domestic flight starting Oct. 1, 2020. For domestic flights, you can still use your California driver's license until that date.

After that, you need to carry a different form of ID or have a federally compliant driver's license, which California began issuing Jan. 22.

Most important: You do not need to have federally compliant license to continue to drive legally. Second most important: You may want to have one if you want to get on an airplane without carrying another form of ID.

_How long does it take to get the license? Since the license became available, about 466,000 have been issued as of May 4, and the DMV said you'll get yours in four to six weeks. I got mine in 10 business days; one reader reported he got his in a week.

_Do I need a new photo? Alas, yes. I was fond of my old one, and so was another reader who had the same question. But no dice, DMV said.

_Do I need additional identification to get the license? Yes. Here's the DMV checklist of what you'll need: lat.ms/RealIDchecklist.

_Do I have to go in person? Yes. Make an appointment.

_Do these licenses look different? Slightly. If you have a Real ID, you'll have a bear and a star in the upper righthand corner. If you don't, it will say "Federal Limits Apply."

_Why do I have to do this? Added security. And you don't have to do this. You can still drive with a "Federal Limits Apply" license, but you won't be able to use it to get on a domestic flight (here's what you can use, lat.ms/DHSapprovedID) or to enter some federal facilities such as military bases.

_My license is up for renewal before Oct. 1, 2020. Should I get a Real ID before then? You can, but it makes more sense to wait until its actual renewal date, assuming it will be returned in time before you get on a plane.