Suspended License and Flying: What are Your Options?

The TSA accepts many forms of identification to fly, but does this include a suspended license?

Do things change depending on if you want to fly domestically or internationally?

Let’s take a look.

Can You Fly With a Suspended License?

Domestic Flights

If you have a suspended license and want to fly domestically within the U.S., you will have no problem doing so.

A suspended license can be used as a valid form of identification to fly.

International Flights

Regardless if your license is suspended or not, you are not able to show it as a valid form of identification to fly internationally.

To fly internationally, a passport is always required, except for Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa if you are a U.S. citizen.

Depending on the country you are traveling to, a visa may also be required.

Why You Are Able to Fly With a Suspended License

You can fly with a suspended license because the suspension only applies to driving a vehicle and not to flying.

A suspended license is still a valid form of identification that the TSA accepts.

What Can’t You Do With a Suspended License?

A suspended license simply means that you are unable to legally drive a car.

While this may easily affect your travel plans when getting to the airport and at your destination, you are still able to fly.

Can You Fly With an Expired License?

You can fly with an expired license as long as you meet certain conditions.

According to the TSA:

“If your driver’s license or state-issued ID expired on or after March 1, 2020, and you are unable to renew at your state driver’s license agency, you may still use it as acceptable identification at the checkpoint.

TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses or state-issued ID a year after expiration.”

Can You Fly With a Picture of Your ID?

Just having a picture of your ID is not enough to fly with.

However, a picture of your ID can be useful to help prove your identity to the TSA.

Can You Fly With a Paper ID?

According to the TSA, you cannot fly with a paper ID.

Again, it can be useful to bring to the airport to help verify your identity, though.

Other Forms of ID You Can Use to Fly

The TSA state that the following forms of ID are acceptable to fly with:

• Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Permanent resident card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Canadian provincial driver’s license or 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
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Ella Dunham

Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.

Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.

Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).