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Normally to get past the security checkpoint you need to show the TSA agent your boarding pass and a valid picture ID. But what happens if your wallet was stolen a week before your scheduled flight? You might be able to get a temporary ID (eg. a black and white printout) but would that be an acceptable picture ID?

Maybe you could file a police report about the stolen wallet but would that even make a difference in this scenario?

edit: let's assume the US state is Texas since I guess not all US states issue temporary ID's.

Call the airline to see if they have any suggestions.

TSA does not require you to have ID:

In the event you arrive at the airport without valid identification,
because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. The
TSA officer may ask you to complete a form to include your name and
current address, and may ask additional questions to confirm your
identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter
the screening checkpoint. You may be subject to additional screening.

You will not be allowed to fly if your identity cannot be confirmed,
you chose to not provide proper identification or you decline to
cooperate with the identity verification process.

There are many other ways to provide ID to security, depending on how many of those were also stolen with your wallet, you have quite a few options.

According to the TSA's website, you can use any of the following (besides your driver's license and passport):

• U.S. passport card


• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)


• U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DoD civilians)


• Permanent resident card


• Border crossing card


• DHS-designated enhanced driver's license


• Airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)


• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID


• HSPD-12 PIV card


• Foreign government-issued passport


• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card


• Transportation worker identification credential


• Immigration and Naturalization Service Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

Note however that weapon permits and temporary driver's license are not an acceptable form of identification.

Of course, as this answer mentions, you can still travel if you have no ID.

Why not just go to the local Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent in your state) office and get a replacement. They are aware that these things happen and have forms for just this case.

I recently misplaced my license and followed this course. I waited in line for 10 minutes and the process took about 5. I think there may have been a small replacement fee.

Not only will this help with your travel plans, but you're going to need a new copy anyway.

Harry Vervet's answer is correct, as someone that flies quite a bit, I can tell you 100% your don't need a state issued ID to fly.

What you should do is allow your self more time to get through the process. 9/10 times they just send you through the perv scanner and ask a few extra questions. Some airports are setup in a way that the boarding pass check and the security check point are very far apart, in those cases you don't even (usually) need to show your ID at the security check point, just the boarding pass check.

Now there are two important things that you should know. (and it's why I made this a separate answer)

1. If you bought your ticket with a credit card, and intend to pick it up at the desk at the airport, this usually requires an ID or the credit card used to make the purchase. This has nothing to do with TSA though and every airline will have different rules about this.




2. When you get your boarding pass from the airline counter, if you tell them you don't have your ID, then can (at least at some airports) provide you with a "pass" to get you past the boarding checkpoint. It's a little piece of paper that they staple to your boarding pass. This tells TSA that you don't have an ID and that the airline verified your identity some how. Usually TSA will ask you extra questions, and may flag you as needing more then just the metal detector. Some airline can even issue you a temporary ID, that works just fine for TSA. It's worth asking the airline, and working with them.