TreeUnit

I would imagine that many of the car-free's out there do not have a driver's license. For those of you who do not have or carry a license, what do you use for a form of ID?

Roody

I have a driver's license.

Do you all realize that starting this month, Americans must have a passport to travel to Canada, Mexico and all other countries? This year it applies to sea travel, next year to land and air.

supcom

In Texas (and I suspect most, if not all other states), you can get an identification card at any divers license office. It serves the same purpose as the drivers license for anything except, of course, driving a car.

lima_bean

I have a Texas driver's license. But, they are extremely easy to get here if you are over 18, you don't even have to know how to drive a car. There is no driving test, just a short multiple choice test that is all common sense.

But if I didnt, here you can also get a State ID very easily, and I also have a passport.

Prime Directive

Are there any photo IDs not issued by the government?

Roody

School ID, work ID, bank ID....

brevig

That are recognized as legal identity? Not that I would be aware of...looking at new employment forms...any accepted identification is always issued by the government. Otherwise, you might as well just fabricate your own personal identification card.

wahoonc

Plenty but it most likely will not be considered a legal form of ID. NC issues ID cards. When I was bar tending the ONLY ID's that we would take had to be government issued. Military ID, State Issued Driver's license, State issued ID card or Passport. And in this day and age of fake ID's and illegal immigrants it is even more fun. On more than one occasion while flying I have been asked for an alternate form of ID.

Aaron

JudyO

I have an Ontario Driver's Licence which I use as photo ID.

Stupid ID story: I flew from Ottawa, Ontario to Vancouver, BC a few years ago with just my driver's licence. I didn't think I would need my passport since I was travelling within Canada only (and passports weren't required to fly then). No problem at the airport in Ottawa. On the way home the official checking IDs told me that my government issued Ontario Driver's licence wasn't valid ID in BC. ??? Apparently it was ok to drive with it, and to buy alcohol, etc., but not to use as photo ID to fly. I guess he just wanted to give me a hard time, because after saying that he let me on the plane anyway. Since then I always travel with my passport, whether or not I'm going out of the country.

pedex

ohio state ID, $12 and I dont get put on the jury duty list

Artkansas 

I use Driver's license and passport. Once however, pre 9/11, I did manage to board a flight using my Costco membership card.


Many states will offer a state-issued ID in lieu of a driver's license.

Jerseysbest

My girlfriend had a CO state ID for a few years. Worked the same as a drivers license.

c0urt

passport

but it does get funny looks sometimes

Roody

I used a passport in a previous carfree life. Like c0urt said, it got some puzzled looks, but I think everybody accepted it.

Pampusik

Bus pass.

I-Like-To-Bike

I suspect it will also get a request for another piece of ID with an address if you are trying to cash a check; if stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation you will probably be restrained from leaving until your current address can be established.

jamesdenver

I don't know why anyone (g'ment or business) would have a problem with a passport. It's a better and more universal and encompassing form of ID than a driver's license.

Especially with the new passport rules now I encourage everyone to get one. Even if you don't travel internationally should the opportunity ever come up you'll be ready, and, should you lose your driver's license, (perhaps the day before an important flight??), you can seamlessly use it as ID for flying, getting a new license, bank accounts, etc... A passport isn't just for travel, isn't an excellent alternative ID.

Eatadonut

I think having a driver's license is a good idea. It's less than $25 in Texas where I got mine (as mentioned above, by filling out a multiple choice test), and it means I can drive people home from bars, or if they get hurt, or whenever I need to drive a car.

cosmo starr

ive got a dl....it helps to be able to drive if i need to and work requires a DRIVERs license, not just an id.

I-Like-To-Bike

True if you are traveling overseas. Not necessarily true if you have to show that you have a permanent address in the US. I couldn't dump trash at the landfill or get a library card without some identification that I actually live in the area. Cashing/writing checks with only a passport for identification may be as simple as using traveler's checks at a 7-11 or supermarket; maybe it can be done, sometimes, but not easily; and don't count on it.

I-Like-To-Bike

I suspect that US adults who can't provide a Driver's License when requested for work purposes will be assumed by many employers to have lost it due to DUI, incompetence or jail time. Perhaps employer personnel department suspicions can be explained away, then perhaps not.

chephy

Driver's license. I have one.

There is a funny story with it though. I got Ontario DL as soon as I got here but they messed up my date of birth on it and also the picture didn't look anything like me. So I avoided using it because I figured people would ask for some other card to confirm my identity since the DL clearly has someone else's photo on it , and then they might notice different birth dates and I'd get in trouble... So since I was too lazy to do anything about this mix-up, I just used other things for ID: citizenship card once I got citizenship, and prior to that... I think my health card (and Russian passport with Canadian immigration papers when people were anal and did not accept health card as proof of identity - which happens sometimes even though the card's issued by the government and has a picture on it). But finally that DL expired and I got a new one with a correct birth date and better picture... so I use it.

Roody

Often they'll accept a passport + a utility bill with your name and address.

Chris L

More often they'll just accept the passport on it's own -- assuming they even bother to ask for ID in the first place, most places don't.

cerewa

Probably true. A couple months ago, I wanted to sign up for a Blockbuster video rental account and had misplaced my driver's license. They let me use my passport instead. (I think I found my DL an hour later.)

I agree with JamesDenver that having a passport is still well worth it. I also agree with the folks who say that having a driver's license is worth the trouble- mainly because it allows you to drive but also for the other reasons mentioned. In the USA the driver license services department in each state should give you a non-driver ID if you need it, but drivers licenses are good to have anyway.