If your driver's license isn't REAL ID-compliant and you don't have another accepted ID like a passport, flying got a specific new consequence in 2026. TSA has accepted only REAL ID-compliant licenses or other approved documents at security checkpoints since May 7, 2025 — that part of the rule was already in force. * What changed on February 1, 2026: TSA introduced a formal paid workaround called TSA ConfirmID. If you show up without an acceptable ID, you can now pay a $45 fee to go through additional identity verification instead of being turned away outright. * The catch is real. TSA warns travelers to expect delays of 30 minutes or more while ConfirmID verifies your identity, and the $45 fee is non-refundable whether or not you're ultimately allowed to fly. If the verification fails, you don't get your money back and you don't get on the plane. * Even if you pass, the clearance is temporary: it's valid for just 10 days, so this isn't a real substitute for getting compliant identification — it's an emergency option for one trip, not a long-term fix. * The straightforward alternative is simpler and free: bring a valid U.S. passport, or visit your state DMV to upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card before your next flight.