The Transportation Security Administration has updated its policies and checkpoints over time. You can now keep your shoes on when you pass through security (where you also need a Real ID to fly) and some airports will soon roll out TSA Gold+, but some items, including certain cordless hair tools and batteries, are banned.
But some Real IDs have encountered issues being read by TSA. So, what do you do in that situation if it happens to you? Here's what we know.
TSA can't read some Real IDs in Tennessee
According to WBIR, some Real IDs issued by Tennessee are not able to be read at TSA checkpoints. However, TSA officers will try their best to speed up the process to verify a passenger's identity.
Passengers can also replace their IDs for free if this happens.
What to do if your Real ID doesn't work at TSA checkpoints
If you're worried TSA may have
trouble verifying your Real ID, you can take a few precautions beforehand.
You can` bring other forms of identification to avoid the headache. Other acceptable forms of identification include:
- U.S. passports
- U.S. passport cards
- Foreign passports
- Permanent resident cards
- Border crossing cards
A temporary driver’s license is not acceptable for traveling domestically.
TSA charges fee to get through security wihtout Real ID, passport
In November 2025, TSA revealed it would start requiring non-Real ID travelers to pay an $18 fee to get through security at the airport. The administration later increased the cost to pass without a valid ID, and it will officially take effect next year. This fee is $45, effective Feb. 1, 2026, according to the TSA website.
Under a the new rule proposed by the TSA, travelers without the required identification, such as a Real ID or passport, will have their identity verified at a new biometric kiosk system to pass a checkpoint. The fee would also cover the costs and resources used for the new technology, according to ABC News.
This fee and new technology will allow passengers to pass through a checkpoint without ID for 10 days if they travel again within that timeframe.
How to check TSA wait times at Ohio airports
If you're headed to an Ohio airport like John Glenn International or Rickenbacker in Columbus, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport or Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, you can monitor TSA wait times before you make your way to the airport.
The MyTSA App allows passengers to see TSA wait times at their airport, providing 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information on any mobile device, according to the TSA's website.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TSA can't read some Real IDs. What to do if it happens to you
