Check your ID!!

[leebee]

This is a little off-topic and might need to be moved, but...
DH is currently on a trip. As he was checking through for his connecting flight (different airline, had to go thru security again), the agent mentioned that his license would be expiring in 2 days! It never dawned on him that he needs to renew his license this year and consequently will not have a valid ID for his return trip!!! I have express mailed him his passport, which should arrive in the morning of the day of his return (afternoon flight). Not loving mailing the passport, either. USAir said he *might* be OK with his expired license, social security card, and faculty ID from UMaine (picture/signature but no DOB or personal info), but I sent the passport just in case. I am pretty frustrated by this. Thought I'd post is as a heads-up for all trip planners: CHECK AND MAKE SURE YOUR ID WILL BE VALID FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR TRIP!!!

 

[bdcp]

VA mails you a renewal notice so it's not an issue. I think a lot of states do that also.

 

[xDressedinlove]

VA mails you a renewal notice so it's not an issue. I think a lot of states do that also.

Indiana doesn't

 

[sueh]

VA mails you a renewal notice so it's not an issue. I think a lot of states do that also.

While this may be true but sometimes as we know that the mail ends up somewhere unknown. LOL

While traveling with my ex his ID expired while we were there. He did go right before we left to renew his ID but now here in MA they no longer hand you a liscense, they mail it to you. Takes up to 2 weeks.
He did have his temp id, passport & expired liscense when we were leaving Florida. He didn't have any problems. The TSA agent commented on the craziness of the DMV. LOL

 

[ms_missy66]

Good tip! It never occurred to me to look at the expiration date on my license.

 

[rosiep]

Thanks for posting. I think it's an important thing to have pointed out.
Last year the guy at security looked at my license and said it expired

I believed him until I realized it wasn't 2008 yet!
It was an awful feeling. This year I'm up for renewal and you can bet I'll have it done well in advance of my trip.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

It surprises me that people don't check the expiration date on their IDs. I know mine off by heart. I also live in a border town. Maybe that's why? I can see forgetting to renew it but I would just assume that most people would know that an expired ID is no longer valid.

 

[wickywinn]

Yes, good tip. I lost my license at the airport at Xmas- or somewhere in between - while in a rush to get to my sister in Kansas City, who had just found out at her last ob sonogram 3 days before she was to have her baby boy, that he had died sometime Xmas day from moving around so much that he tied a knot in his umblicial cord. It was a nightmare at security when I realized right before getting to the security guard that I only had my expired license (I always keep my most recent expired when I get my renewal, just in case). I had already been bawling all night and morning and to add this to the mix, it was an experience I never want to repeat. They flagged my boarding pass to be searched but the lady was very understanding considering the situation (5am 2 days after Xmas and my sob story and all). They were very understanding on the return trip as well. Much better than having to trudge up to the good ol'd DMV at the crack of dawn on my return to wait for an hour and a half for a replacement.

 

[pednurse]

Well, according to the officials at the Indy airport and the Orlando airport last week (DH had to fly there last week for work....sadly we didn't get to go along as it was the kids' first week of school) a driver's license will be accepted as valid ID up until 1 year past its expiration date. DH found this out because his license expired August 31 of LAST year, and he found out when he flew last week. Talk about cutting it close..... And yes, he immediately headed out to get it renewed the day after he returned home.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

This is a little off-topic and might need to be moved, but...
DH is currently on a trip. As he was checking through for his connecting flight (different airline, had to go thru security again), the agent mentioned that his license would be expiring in 2 days! It never dawned on him that he needs to renew his license this year and consequently will not have a valid ID for his return trip!!! I have express mailed him his passport, which should arrive in the morning of the day of his return (afternoon flight). Not loving mailing the passport, either. USAir said he *might* be OK with his expired license, social security card, and faculty ID from UMaine (picture/signature but no DOB or personal info), but I sent the passport just in case. I am pretty frustrated by this. Thought I'd post is as a heads-up for all trip planners: CHECK AND MAKE SURE YOUR ID WILL BE VALID FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR TRIP!!!

When we got to the airport last September for our trip to WDW I was informed by the ticket agent that my license had expired three days before. I just had to get in a separate security line from my family and be frisked and asked a lot of weird questions like, "Do you have a gun, knife or any other weapon on your person?" I had to get in a different security line on the flight back and were asked the same questions again. It was a bit strange, but everything worked out fine.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'm surprised they accept expired licenses at all. It would be so easy for someone to sell their expired license once they renewed theirs. Seems like a pretty big loophole as far as security goes.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm surprised they accept expired licenses at all. It would be so easy for someone to sell their expired license once they renewed theirs. Seems like a pretty big loophole as far as security goes.

Like Al Queda can't make a fake I.D. anytime they want to? I think current driver's license's are the least of our terrorist worries. Just my opinion though.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

I had this happen while I was on an unexpected two-week business trip last winter. The folks at Logan airport were very nice about it. I just had to go through the extra security line (got patted down, carry-on bag searched -- it was just books, no big deal) and made my flight no problem. Not recommending it as a course of action, just saying that the TSA folks have seen it before and know how to deal with it.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this over to our transportation board, as it's more applicable there.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm going to move this over to our transportation board, as it's more applicable there.

I completely understand your reason for moving this over to the transportation board, but it is also a planning issue and or tip so I think it could also belong on the planning board. Checking your license expiration is a great and important planning tip, especially if you are flying. The transportation board has great tips, but it does not have nearly the traffic as the theme parks planning boards. A lot more people would have seen the info over there. Not wanting to start a debate, just making an observation.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Like Al Queda can't make a fake I.D. anytime they want to? I think current driver's license's are the least of our terrorist worries. Just my opinion though.

I'm not talking about Al Queda. I'm talking about Bubba down the road whose on probation and isn't supposed to leave the state. Or Suzie whose on a no-fly list for whatever reason. Or Little Timmy whose in his first year of university and wants to go out to the bars with the rest of the kids even though he's underage. I think there's lots of uses for expired photo ID and I'm just surprised with how strict airports have gotten about security that they are accepting them as valid proofs of identification when technically they are not.

 

[goofy4tink]

I completely understand your reason for moving this over to the transportation board, but it is also a planning issue and or tip so I think it could also belong on the planning board. Checking your license expiration is a great and important planning tip, especially if you are flying. The transportation board has great tips, but it does not have nearly the traffic as the theme parks planning boards. A lot more people would have seen the info over there. Not wanting to start a debate, just making an observation.

Because it deals with your 'transportation' to WDW, as well as other destinations, this is the exact right place for it....many more people will notice it here because they are looking for this type of information.
A very timely post...thanks for the heads up OP!!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I don't see what the big deal is over an expired license is,,,,it still has your stinking photo on it no???? geesh TSA,,,get over it and get a life. I'd love to ask them to see their ID's,,,bet they wouldn't let you see their license. And FWIW,,,I just flew to NY for 12 days and returned on the 12th,,,when they asked for my ID I produced my NY license,,,my FL license and,,,,my old USAIRWAYS ID that I never returned (I flew USAIR) and they never batted an eye and looked at all 3 ID's and I proceeded right on through.ºOº

 

[tkldisney]

OH doesn't either. I have a huge note on my calendar because DH license expires in Sept. We can renew anytime now. Thinking this week sometime just to be on the safe side. He flies a lot for work too so definitely don't want them to expire.

 

[leebee]

OP here...it's good to hear that folks in a similar situation actually were allowed to fly. Doesn't make me feel good about the validity of airport security- how hard is it to make a fake ID?- but at least I have some confidence that DH will get home on Monday!!

FWIW, Maine sends renewal papers for your license. It's a weird system. License is good for 6 years. First renewal MUST be done in person. After that, renewals can be done online or by mail on alternating renewals (as in year 12, 24, etc). Also, change of address can be done online or by mail. DH changed his address the first time we moved, but forgot to the 2nd- so the renewal papers went some place where WE don't live!! I had to renew my license last month so we knew his was coming up this month, but just plain forgot.