- Tennessee REAL IDs are failing to scan at TSA checkpoints due to image contrast and barcode issues.
- Affected travelers can obtain a replacement at no cost by visiting a state Driver Services Center.
- Manual identity verification or using a passport are recommended to avoid delays at airport security.
Tennessee REAL IDs are failing to scan at TSA checkpoints, sending some travelers to manual identity checks or state offices before they can proceed. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security said it knows of a “small number” of affected licenses and is reviewing the cards with the vendor that produces them.
Travelers whose cards fail can visit a Driver Services Center for a replacement at no cost. A valid passport can also be used at airport security.
The problem surfaced in a report dated August 12, 2026, and the report received an update on August 13, 2026. The department said it is working to correct the issue.
“We are aware that a small number of driver licenses are not being read by TSA. As soon as we learned of the issue, we contacted the vendor that produces these documents to determine the cause. Anyone who experiences this problem can visit a Driver Services Center and receive a replacement license at no cost. We are actively working to correct the issue. Even though this is only affecting a small number of Tennesseans, we don't want anyone inconvenienced.”
Leyna Holt, who lives near Nashville International Airport and travels frequently, said the problem has occurred on every flight since she received her card early last year. A TSA employee told her the issue involved the license rather than Holt’s identity.
“She said it's not you — it's the Tennessee IDs, and a lot of the Kentucky too. She said the picture is too light for the reader to scan it.”
Unreadable cards can send travelers to a supervisor
A failed scan can produce a “fake” or “unreadable” result and prompt a supervisor to conduct a manual identity check. Travelers may have to wait while officers examine the credential and verify the passenger.
Reports have centered on Nashville International Airport and Memphis International Airport. Travelers have also described failures in Orlando, Denver, Dallas and Boston.
The reports therefore extend beyond Tennessee airports. The cards have caused problems at BNA and MEM, as well as MCO, DEN, DFW and BOS.
Steve Wood, the federal security director for Tennessee, has said TSA’s goal is “seamless” travel. Travelers with credentials that cannot be read may still receive additional screening.
Mark Howell, a regional spokesperson, advised passengers to check that their identification is in good condition. He also recommended arriving three hours early when a credential may require manual verification.
One Tennessee traveler wrote on social media that the facial-recognition system failed to recognize the person at every airport visited. The traveler said the license was a month old and that a supervisor had to intervene each time.
The redesigned license uses a lighter photograph
The reported failures primarily involve the state’s newer license design, which uses a grayscale, or black-and-white, photograph. Tennessee began issuing the redesigned cards in late 2024/early 2025.
Checkpoint personnel have told travelers that some images appear “too light” or “washed out.” That lack of contrast can make it harder for equipment to distinguish facial features during the identity check.
A second issue involves the card’s back. Two barcodes sit close together, and some travelers and experts have raised concerns that readers could select the wrong data or fail to parse the two-dimensional barcode correctly.
The state has contacted the document vendor while it reviews affected cards. Official figures do not quantify a failure rate.
Millions of Tennessee drivers already have compliant cards
Tennessee has approximately 5.8 million licensed drivers. As of February 2026, roughly 60%, or about 3.5 million people, had obtained a REAL ID.
| Measure | Figure or date |
|---|---|
| Licensed drivers in Tennessee | 5.8 million |
| Share with a REAL ID as of February 2026 | 60% |
| Approximate REAL IDs issued by February 2026 | 3.5 million |
| Federal airport enforcement began | May 7, 2025 |
Commissioner Jeff Long previously marked the issuance of 3 million REAL IDs. Russell Shoop, assistant commissioner for Driver Services, told the Transportation Committee in February 2026 that the state had “recently passed a Transportation Security Administration review with no findings” concerning its identification issuance process.
That review covered the state’s issuance process, while the current investigation concerns cards that some airport readers cannot process. Full federal enforcement of REAL ID requirements at airports began on May 7, 2025.
The state has described the current issue as limited. Individual travelers, however, have reported repeated failures at multiple airports.
A replacement costs nothing, while another verification option may cost $45
Travelers who have already experienced a failed scan can request a replacement at a local office without paying a replacement fee. The department says the replacement option is available for affected credentials that do not scan properly.
Passengers may instead present a valid passport at airport security. Keeping one available can provide another identity document if the license produces an unreadable result.
Since February 1, 2026, travelers without a compliant or scannable identification document may be subject to TSA’s ConfirmID identity-verification process. That process carries a $45 fee and can take 30 minutes or longer.
State legislators were reviewing House Bill 2609 as of August 10, 2026. The proposal seeks additional safeguards for Tennesseans facing federal identification mandates and was partly prompted by technical problems during the license rollout.
The department’s review remains tied to the card vendor and the affected credentials. Travelers can avoid relying on a suspect card by obtaining the free replacement before departure or carrying a valid passport for the checkpoint.
