How To Cash A Check Without Id: Check All The Easy Way To Do That

By Joe King On Feb 24, 2024

To cash a check, you need to show a legal ID. Even so, some people might not have a good way to prove who they are. It’s possible that someone stole your main ID card.

Or your ID has run out and you haven’t gotten a new one yet. You may be wondering how to cash a check without ID if you have gotten one. You can cash a check without an ID. Keep reading to find out what kinds of IDs are accepted.

What Kind Of ID Do We Need To Cash A Check?

At most banks and check cashing stores, you will need to show a government-issued ID in order to cash a check. You may also need to give your Social Security Number (SSN) to some cash checking shops.

On the other hand, you might not need to show your card. It’s possible that official IDs with photos will help financial companies stop identity theft, which happens to millions of Americans every year.

Most banks let you use both your main and secondary IDs. Still, some places that cash checks will only accept a main ID. Luckily, there are a number of forms of ID that banks will accept in order to cash your checks.

Here is a short list of the most common forms of ID that you can use to cash a check near you.

Driver’s License

A driver’s license is a government-issued paper that shows you can legally drive a car. In the United States, a driver’s license is one of the most popular ways to prove who you are.

This kind of ID is useful because it shows your picture, legal name, age, and home. Any Secretary of State office can help you get a driver’s license.

State Issued ID

A state-issued ID is one of the most important forms of main identification. You should have a driver’s license or a state ID card at the very least. You can get a state ID at any office of the Secretary of State or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Need to cash a check while you’re away? You might be shocked to learn that most banks don’t accept IDs from other states. You might need to show more forms of ID, like a utility bill or credit card account if you have an ID from another state.

Military Identification Card

The Department of Defense gives military IDs to people who are currently serving, have retired, or have relatives who are currently serving. This kind of ID card is given out by RAPIDS ID Card Offices.

A military ID has a lot of useful information on it, like a recent picture and information that can be used to identify the person.

Military ID cards come in three different types:

Common Access Card: This is a standard ID card for people who are in the military, in the National Guard, working for the Defense Department, or working as a contractor.
Uniformed Services ID Card: This is a form of identification that is given to eligible members of the military population. This list has retired service members, their spouses, their children who depend on them, and other authorized people.
The Department of Defense Civilian Retiree Card: it is a form of ID given to civilians who have retired from a Defense Department office.

The Passport Book

You can cash a check at most banks with a passport book or passport card, which is a legal travel document. A passport is a valid government-issued ID if you don’t have a driver’s license or a state ID card.

Also Read: Cash App’s Role in Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gap for the Unbanked

Can We Cash A Check With A Second ID?

Most banks need a main ID in order to cash a check, but some will let you use a secondary ID instead. You can call the bank ahead of time or check their website to find out what forms of identification you need to cash a check.

Here are some examples of extra IDs that you could use to cash checks:

Employment ID
U.S. Birth Certificate
Social Security Card
Welfare photo ID
Health Insurance Card
Firearms Permit Photo ID
Government Employee ID
Auto Insurance Card

How To Cash A Check Without ID?

You might still be able to cash a check even if you don’t have any of the above government-issued IDs. Fear not, because you can cash certified checks and cashier’s checks even if you don’t have a picture ID.

Use a Third-Party Check

If you don’t have a legal ID or bank account, you can still sign a check for someone else. Someone writes a third-party check for them and gives it to someone else. When someone doesn’t have a bank account, they use third-party checks to avoid having to pay fees to cash a check.

Get in touch with the bank of a friend or family member you trust who is ready to cash a check for you. You can sign the back of the check once you’re sure the bank will accept it.

Write “Pay to the order of” under the line that says “Endorse Check Here.” Then write down the name of the person you are sending the check to and sign it. After the check clears, the third party can cash it at their bank and give you the money.

Use An ATM To Cash Checks

Is it possible to cash a check at an ATM? Yes! Checks can be cashed at ATMs even if you don’t have a legal ID. You might get a cash loan and get a check for the amount of the loan. That check can be cashed at an ATM close!

Anyone with a bank account can use the ATM search page on their bank’s website to find an ATM near them. You can choose “Cash Back” or “Deposit Check” when you put your prepaid debit card into the bank’s ATM.

Once you’ve put your check into the machine, double-check the amount, and get your cash! There are some ATMs that don’t charge fees to cash checks, so you can get the full amount of the check. Keep in mind that there may be limits on the size of the check and that the bank will probably hold on to some of it for a short time.

Use Your Bank’s Mobile App

You can put money through your bank’s mobile app if you want to cash a check without showing ID. Through their official app, most banks let you deposit checks for free. Because you don’t have to go to an ATM, mobile app deposits are easier to use than ATM payments.

Before you can use online banking, you need to get the bank’s app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. Then you can pick “Deposit Checks” after logging in.

You will need to show pictures of both the front and back of your business or personal checks. As soon as the bank clears your check, you can either use your debit card or get cash!

Use Mobile Apps

It’s possible to cash a check through a phone app even if you don’t have a bank account. Some apps, like PayPal and Venmo, let you get money without a photo ID. You only need to show a legal form of ID if you want to make a payment.

Apps for your phone let you quickly cash tax refund checks, personal checks, and other types of checks. You need to get the payment app you want and make an account with either Venmo or PayPal.

You will have to share pictures of your checks online, just like with a bank’s app. Once the app accepts your deposit, you’ll be able to see how much cash you have in your account.

With A Check Cashing App, You Can Use A pre-paid Card

If you want to cash a check but don’t have a picture ID, you can get a prepaid card. It might take some time to find a prepaid card choice that doesn’t need ID, but it is possible. You might have to pay a check-cashing fee and the card provider might ask for a deposit.

The company that gives out credit cards might have an app for online banking. You will need to use a third-party app like Ingo Money if they don’t. You will need to connect your pre-paid card to the app on your phone. You can spend your money as soon as the bank clears it.

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