IDs that are accepted
- State driver license or state ID card.
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. military ID.
- Other government-issued photo IDs, depending on the state. Texas law lists the matrícula consular and federal immigration documents; Louisiana lists international driver licenses; Tennessee lists border crossing cards.
The ID must be current. Virginia requires an ID with your current address or an extra document that shows it.
Minimum age
Most states set 18 as the minimum age. Alabama sets 19. If you are under the minimum age, the shop cannot make the loan even with a parent present.
What the shop records
- Your name, address and ID number, and in many states a photo or fingerprint.
- A description of the item with serial numbers.
- The loan amount, charges and dates.
Most states require shops to report pawn transactions to local police, which helps recover stolen goods. That is why shops refuse items with removed serial numbers.
Getting the item back
Bring the pawn ticket and the same ID. If someone else picks up the item, they usually need your written authorization and their own ID. For firearms, the person redeeming must pass a federal background check.
See each state's rules on the state pages, for example Texas, Florida or Ohio, and read how pawn loans work.
Questions
Can I pawn without an ID?
No. State laws require the shop to record a government-issued ID for every pawn or purchase.
Is a photo of my ID on my phone enough?
Usually not. Florida accepts an electronic image of a government-issued photo ID, but most shops ask for the physical card.