Is It Possible to Fly with an Expired Driver’s License?

After a thrilling white-water rafting adventure in Colorado, Amit Davé found himself at the Denver airport, only to discover he had left his driver’s license with the rafting company.

“The rafting company was quite a distance from the airport. Fortunately, I had my old, expired license with me. The TSA agent was understanding and assured me not to worry, allowing me to proceed,” Davé recalled, adding that the absence of long queues might have played in his favor. “I even managed to have the rafting company send my license back to me later!”

It appears that Davé's agent might not have just been being overly kind. In certain situations, it is permissible to fly domestically in the United States with an expired driver’s license. Here are some guidelines and tips to ensure your journey goes smoothly if you only have an expired license, allowing you to catch your flight.

Adhere to TSA regulations

As per the TSA website, travelers are currently permitted to fly domestically within the United States using an expired driver’s license or state-issued ID, provided it has been less than one year since its expiration.

Additionally, a TSA representative confirmed to Dinogo via email: “With regard to ID requirements, TSA accepts expired driver’s licenses or state-issued IDs up to a year past their expiration date. After one year, a different form of acceptable ID will be necessary.”

Therefore, if your ID has expired within the last year, you should have no issues boarding your flight.

Opt for your passport or another accepted form of ID

If your driver’s license has been expired for over a year, the simplest way to ensure a hassle-free check-in and security process is to present an alternative form of acceptable identification. Most individuals will likely have their passport on hand.

According to the TSA website, other acceptable forms of identification include a passport card, DHS trusted traveler cards (such as Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri, and Fast), U.S. Department of Defense ID, permanent resident card, border crossing card, photo ID from a federally recognized Tribal Nation or Indian Tribe, HSPD-12 PIV card, Canadian provincial driver’s license, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card, transportation worker identification credential, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766), U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential, and Veteran Health Identification Card.

Keep in mind that a temporary driver’s license is not recognized as an acceptable form of ID. Therefore, if you’ve applied for a new license but haven’t received it yet, you’ll need to present one of the other listed IDs instead of your temporary license.

Allow yourself ample time

If you're using an expired driver’s license, make sure to give yourself plenty of extra time, as you may face additional security checks. A TSA representative stated, “With the upcoming summer travel season anticipated to be the busiest ever, it’s crucial for passengers to allocate sufficient time to return rental cars, check in with their airlines, check baggage, and prepare for the TSA checkpoint. We recommend arriving a couple of hours early, particularly during peak times in the early morning from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and in the afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.”

What is the status of Real ID?

Although the deadline for obtaining a Real ID has been postponed multiple times in recent years, the TSA has confirmed that the deadline of May 7, 2025, will remain in place. After this date, if you intend to use a driver’s license for domestic flights, it must be a Real ID.

“Starting May 7, 2025, travelers who wish to use their state-issued ID or license for flights within the United States must ensure it is Real ID compliant,” stated a TSA representative. Furthermore, the FAQ page for Real ID notes, “Travelers failing to present a Real ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative from May 7, 2025, onwards will not be allowed past the security checkpoint.”

The TSA representative did not provide comments on whether the existing regulations regarding expired IDs would change once the Real ID rules are implemented next May. They advise checking the TSA acceptable ID page for the latest updates.