Can I Fly With An Expired ID?

Suppose you are getting ready to fly the next day when you discover that your ID has expired. You’ve got to do something! If you’re in this situation, the first thing you might think is, “Can I fly with an expired ID?” 

So, if you’re curious, here’s the piece to read!

In some cases, you may be able to fly even if your license has expired.

The Transportation Security Administration says:

You may still use your expired driver’s license or state-issued ID at the checkpoint if its expiration date is on or beyond March 1, 2020, and you are not able to renew it at your state driver’s license agency.

Driver’s licenses and other forms of state-issued ID are still valid for travel with TSA for up to one year after their expiration date.

Continue reading to find out how pilots can fly when their ID has expired. We have scoured the internet for hours to bring you this level of detail.

Okay, so let’s get started!

Can I Fly With An Expired ID

Can I Fly With an Expired ID?

So, is it possible to fly with an expired ID? In a word, yes. If you can still prove your identity to the TSA, you can fly with an expired license.

Even if a TSA officer notices that your license has expired, they may still let you go through security without checking any other documents. Nonetheless, it is prudent to carry an additional form of identification at all times.

Make sure your license is up-to-date by doing so online before you take to the skies.

Even though an expired license can sometimes be used as ID at airports, you should still renew it as soon as possible. If you need to renew your license but don’t have time to stop by the DMV before your flight, you can have a temporary license—or another document that verifies your renewal—printed from home.

Bring your expired license together with the temporary license you printed online when you head to the airport.

Forms of identification accepted by airport security:

You can get through airport security with more than just your driver’s license. Because some people don’t bother to get a driver’s license, this is understandable. On their website, the TSA lists the following forms of ID that can be used to board a flight:

  • Trusted Traveler Cards from the Department of Homeland Security
  • Licenses to drive recognized “enhanced” by the Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Department of Defense IDs, including IDs issued to dependents U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card Passports issued by foreign governments PIV cards for HSPD-12 Permanent resident cards transportation worker identification credentials. US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Cards
  • – Valid Certificate of Qualification as a Merchant Mariner in the United States
  • Travel Documents: – Passport Book / – Passport Card

Always have your passport on you at all times when traveling, even if you only plan on flying within your own country. Furthermore, in case you leave your driver’s license at home or lose it, you should have one of the other forms of identification available.

At the airport, you’ll need to show some identification.

In case you don’t have any of the aforementioned IDs and your license has expired, you should bring as many documents as possible that bear your name. If you want to fly with an expired driver’s license, you’ll need to convince the TSA agent that you are who you say you are. The following are examples of acceptable proof to bring with you:

  • Utilities (gas, water, electricity, etc.)
  • Evidence of your legitimacy to work in this country: a copy of your birth certificate and a business card
  • Card Payments (Debit and Credit)
  • Registration of Marriage
  • Insurance documentation must be provided.
  • Uniforms and Photo IDs for Schools

Remember that the TSA agent checking your ID has the final say on whether or not you can get on the plane, even though the above forms of ID are considered to be fine.

Get to the airport early in case you need to go through further screening since your driver’s license has expired and you don’t have any other forms of ID to present. The Transportation Security Administration says that you should get to the airport two hours before your flight.

Problems that could arise as a result of a lapsed driver’s licence:

Your license may still be good for flying, but you won’t be able to drive or rent a car with it. The vast majority of car rental agencies will accept a current driver’s license. Using a car service like Uber or Lyft is your best bet here.

Hotels are another possible identifier-requesting venue. Bring an additional form of identification with you just in case, as they may not check the expiration date on your driver’s license. Get through airport security and you can use the same type of ID at the hotel.

Does an Expired License Prevent Me from Flying Internationally?

You cannot board an international flight if your licence has expired.

This is because a passport is the sole form of identification that may be used on an overseas flight.

A visa may also be necessary, depending on the destination country.

Because of the wide spread of the COVID virus, a temporary mechanism was put into place allowing U.S. residents already living overseas whose passports will expire on or even after January 1, 2020, to come home.

Laws Regarding Travelers With Expired Licenses Issued by the TSA

Forgive the pun, but things are in a bit of a lurch right now because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The TSA says that a valid state driver’s license is still enough proof of identity even if it has expired and can’t be renewed. Your license’s expiration date may be up to one year in the future.

They also announced that expired licenses will be accepted for another 60 days when the emergency is over.

For the time being, you can drive with a revoked license. When you need to renew your driver’s license but your current one has expired, you can do it at the Transportation Security Administration. A driver’s license that has expired for less than a year is still a valid way to prove who you are.

You may still use your expired driver’s license or state-issued ID at the checkpoint if its expiration date is on or after March 1, 2020, and you are not able to renew it at your state driver’s license agency. TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses and other forms of state-issued ID after one year.

Solution to the Problem of Real ID Delays:

The implementation of the Real ID Act was undoubtedly impacted by the pandemic.

A proper driver’s license expiration date isn’t the only thing you’ll have to keep an eye on shortly.

Soon, only driver’s licenses that comply with Real ID standards will be accepted.

It was previously set for October 1, 2021, for REAL ID enforcement to begin. A new date of May 3, 2023, has been set for that.

That means you’ll have to get a new license if you want to use your current one to board a plane.

You can double-check with your local DMV if you’re unsure if your license meets Real ID standards.

Possible Travel Without Identification

The FAA may still let you fly even if your license has expired for more than a year, as long as you have another valid form of identification.

Many arriving passengers discover they’ve lost their identification.

A TSA officer will next request that the traveler undergo identity verification procedures.

Passengers are asked to give their full names, current addresses, and social security numbers to prove who they are.

Any form of identification is preferable. Your identification can be anything from a student ID to a credit card to a birth certificate to a social security card to a utility bill to an insurance card.

If the passenger’s identity can be verified, they will be allowed to pass through the security checkpoint and go on to their final destination.

Arriving at the airport without proper identification is, of course, a risky proposition. If everything else fails, though, it could be worthwhile to give it a shot.

Conclusion:

It’s natural to feel a little bit of fear when you realize your driver’s licence has expired just a few days before an important trip. Don’t worry, though; everything will be OK. Even if you only have the chance to do it online, you should always consider renewing it if you have time to print off some additional documents.

If you were wondering “Can I fly with an expired ID?”, we hope to have answered your question. Let us know if you have any further inquiries, and we will do our best to respond. However, if you’ve got any advice that you think other people could use, please feel free to leave it in the comments!

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