Does the TSA accept foreign driver licences?
Jan 22, 2008 | 8:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 808
Does the TSA accept foreign driver licences?
I am not sure if anyone knows whether I can use my Australian licence to pass through the TSA check point or not.
The reason is that my passport is deteriorating from being over handled (both by immigration officials and by TSA) and also I don't like the way the id checkers like to flick through the passport to see where you have been - for me it is always a problem because some of the visas invariably mean I get a secondary.
I'd be grateful for any insight or experiences.
The reason is that my passport is deteriorating from being over handled (both by immigration officials and by TSA) and also I don't like the way the id checkers like to flick through the passport to see where you have been - for me it is always a problem because some of the visas invariably mean I get a secondary.
I'd be grateful for any insight or experiences.
Jan 22, 2008 | 9:07 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: USA
Programs: UA/CO(1K-PLT), AA(PLT), QR, EK, Marriott(PLT), Hilton(DMND)
Posts: 9,538
I have used driver licenses/permanent residency/origin cards from other countries to access the security checkpoint. Once in a while, a TSO will ask for a passport, but not very often.
Jan 23, 2008 | 12:20 am
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Doha, Qatar
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Posts: 1,894
I am not sure if anyone knows whether I can use my Australian licence to pass through the TSA check point or not.
The reason is that my passport is deteriorating from being over handled (both by immigration officials and by TSA) and also I don't like the way the id checkers like to flick through the passport to see where you have been - for me it is always a problem because some of the visas invariably mean I get a secondary.
I'd be grateful for any insight or experiences.
The reason is that my passport is deteriorating from being over handled (both by immigration officials and by TSA) and also I don't like the way the id checkers like to flick through the passport to see where you have been - for me it is always a problem because some of the visas invariably mean I get a secondary.
I'd be grateful for any insight or experiences.
Jan 23, 2008 | 3:18 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*S, AS, CX, Marriott Platinum, Nexus, Specialized AWOL Touring Bicycle
Posts: 167
I often used my driver's license issued by British Columbia, Canada. Once I was asked for a passport however the TSA ID checker couldn't justify why I should show a passport for domestic U.S. travel.
Jan 23, 2008 | 4:12 am
#6
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Bronze, LH FTL, KL/AF Ivory
Posts: 1,941
National ID card
I've often been tempted to present my national ID card - for much the same reasons expressed here - overthumbing of my passports, examination of visas, entry/exit stamps which are none of TSA's business - but I haven't had sufficient time on my hands to try this yet.
My national ID card is good for travel in most of Europe, contains sufficient information, including a printed on the card photo and holograms, to identify me and is issued by a government authority
My national ID card is good for travel in most of Europe, contains sufficient information, including a printed on the card photo and holograms, to identify me and is issued by a government authority
Jan 23, 2008 | 6:23 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
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Jan 23, 2008 | 7:29 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PMI
Programs: BA,LH,CX,EK SPG,IC mainly and a few others
Posts: 1,865
Some TSA folks have accepted my EU driving licence, some haven't. Depends on which airport and mood of the person checking the ID (at IAH they even accepted my Citibank photocard once instead of my foreign DL as "This licence is no good. Citi is a US bank so it is OK")
Jan 26, 2008 | 1:40 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,465
will give it a try next time I am on a US domestic, the UK (European) driving licence has plenty of little holograms and marks for them to look at and not one but two photos for their amusement. The valid from date is 13-07-03 so that should give me a few laughs while they figure out if we have 13 months to the year in Europe
Jan 26, 2008 | 1:57 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
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Posts: 9,583
Here's a switch. A few years ago our luggage received extra attention at DRO AFAIK, possibly because Mrs. Fredd had used a hand cream containing glycerine (don't know if that's an urban legend or not).
At that time we resided in Canada and our US passports were deemed inadequate because they wanted something with an address on it in case we blew something up later - whatever - so we grudgingly satisfied them with our British Columbia drivers' licenses.
At that time we resided in Canada and our US passports were deemed inadequate because they wanted something with an address on it in case we blew something up later - whatever - so we grudgingly satisfied them with our British Columbia drivers' licenses.
Jan 26, 2008 | 3:07 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: TXL
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 240
will give it a try next time I am on a US domestic, the UK (European) driving licence has plenty of little holograms and marks for them to look at and not one but two photos for their amusement. The valid from date is 13-07-03 so that should give me a few laughs while they figure out if we have 13 months to the year in Europe
I'll have to try using that one next time.
Jan 26, 2008 | 3:37 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,335
Jan 26, 2008 | 4:29 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
There actually is such a law. It's sort of silly, though--citizens aren't required to carry around proof of citizenship, so who's to say an individual is subject to the law?