I'm curious to know what all of the seasoned and more experienced touring folks do about their ID on tour. I plan to keep all my important stuff like wallet, cell phone and such with me and close at hand at all times, but is it advisable to keep a copy of ID, maybe a credit card copy and such in a separate place in case all is lost or stolen?

I tried to search the forums for the answer and was having no luck.

Yes, it is very advisable to leave a copy of your ID, credit card numbers, phone numbers, and other real important stuff with a trusted friend or family member who can fax you the information. Don't carry a ton of cash. You only need ONE credit card and/or debit card in your person. However, having a 2nd credit/debit card left at home can be a real asset if you got to cancel the one you current have on tour in case of emergency. Have your family/friend send it overnight delivery if needed.

Good luck.

I take a separate small "touring" wallet that holds my cash, driver's license, debit card, credit card, health card (Kaiser), touring information cards (that I hand out enroute), and AAA card (for hotel discounts). I keep this wallet in the zipped pocket of my camelback when I am on the bike. Since I always have the camelback on when I am riding, I find that I always know where my ID and cash are.

I don't take any extra credit cards but last tour I slipped a copy of my passport in one of my panniers, just in case. I like the idea of keeping an extra credit card at home in case I need it.

I've never had any problem with ID, cash or credit.

Ray

We have photocopies of all our important documents with us and we've scanned things as well and put them online (you can email them to yourself, for example, as attachments or Google has a documents archive). This has been really helpful recently since we are applying for visas for places like Iran and using agencies to help us. All of them request scanned copies of your passport.

I have read stories as well of people handing over photocopies of their passports when asked to see ID by an official in some far flung country. The idea of handing over the photocopy is that it gives them the info they might need but then they can't bribe you for any money. An expired passport is good for this too.

For in-home-country touring I take my debit card and credit card. We are not required to have ID for any other purpose, so far. I put that, and any cash and bike key, in my wallet, which is one of those tiny draw string net bags.

One person I know carries photocopies of his identification but refuses to carry the originals. A year or two ago, when he was going into the United States for a weekend, this caused him all sorts of headaches from the U.S. customs people. I wouldn't be surprised if it were just as much of a headache for him to get back into Canada.

Some states issue an ID card that looks exactly like a the drivers licience except that it is not useable as a drivers licience. Often used as official ID for cashing checks/etc by people who do not drive. I live in Oklahoma and I got one to carry exclusively on my bike. I also carry about $20 and a credit card with me in a small wallet at all times in my seat bag.

aside from a drivers license and credit card, i have a plastic stick-on on carrier inside my helmet that contains a folded up form that has all ID, emergency contact info and medical info. there is a red sticker affixed to the left rear portion of the helmet that alerts medical personnel to look in the helmet for the detail info. this is handy as it is always with me (since i always wear the helmet) and covers ID and the medical issues, and covers ME in case i have forgotten or lost my ID.

Brilliant!

Met a guy a while back who wrote his name, blood type and emergency details on the outside of his panniers in marker. Above is a much better solution.

I have my Social Security Number and blood type tattooed under my left arm (a holdover from my time in service). In fact, I've had to use it as ID to write a check once, long ago. Not much practical use these days, I'm afraid.

I like the idea of a carrier in the helmet. I can't imagine anyone wanting to steal my sweaty-nasty brain bucket.

I recently ordered one of these: https://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

Should be along any day, now.

On my Italy and Scotland tours I had laminated copies of my passport photo page in the seat tube and tucked out of sight in a pannier. I also had a second credit card hidden in a pannier pocket. Cash, travelers check numbers, passport, driver's license and credit/ATM cards stayed on my person in separate pockets, travelers checks were stashed in panniers.

When I worked for the bike tour company in Austria & France, my passport and money got stolen. I was able to replace the passport at a US consulate in one morning using my driver's license as ID.

On my world tour, I carried ATM cards for two accounts, and alot of other cards that had expired, had been disabled, or were invalid for some reason (for example I had destroyed the magnetic strip with a magnet etc). I figured if they were all stolen from me, the guys would waste so much time trying to identify the proper card that it wouldn't be worth their time. ONE of my 'valid' cards was easy to find, the other one was not so easy..i was hoping in a quick robbery (if it came to that) once they 'found' my easy pile of cards they would be on their way. I never was robbed, anyway.

It helps to set a very low daily maximum for your card.

I always figured it would be great to be able to pre-program your card to withdraw only a PRE SPECIFIED AMOUNT of cash at an ATM..(for example, $80 dollars ONLY). Then if some buffoon steals your card and tries to withdraw $100 in cash, the ATM gobbles the card. I suggested this to the companies but they pointed out that if you ask for foreign exchange the $$'s taken would always vary. Woulld work Ok in the USA though.

And yes, I had spare copies of important documents back at home, prepackaged and ready to be sent at a moments notice.


roughstuff