Clear Now Offers TSA PreCheck Enrollment

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a new partnership with Clear, making it the third TSA PreCheck enrollment provider.

TSA PreCheck is a program that gives members access to dedicated lines at airport security checkpoints. Members don’t have to remove shoes, belts, or light jackets when they go through the scanner. Plus, they can keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on luggage. More than 200 airports and 90 airlines provide TSA PreCheck.

Clear is a separate program that uses biometric data (like a fingerprint or eye scan) to speed travelers through airport security. Once Clear members use a kiosk to scan their biometrics, they skip the regular security and TSA PreCheck lines and proceed straight to the physical screening portion.

The new partnership between TSA and Clear will make it even easier for people to enroll in or renew TSA PreCheck since no appointments are required. It will also save applicants time and money if they enroll in both expedited security programs.

TSA PreCheck and Clear costs

TSA PreCheck costs vary depending on the enrollment provider. Registering for TSA PreCheck through Clear will cost $77.95 for a five-year membership. Online TSA PreCheck renewals through Clear will cost $68.95 for five years.

That’s a few cents cheaper than enrolling with Idemia and a few dollars cheaper than enrolling with Telos. Generally, it’s best to enroll with whichever enrollment provider has locations that are convenient for you.

You can often get your TSA PreCheck application costs covered with a travel credit card as well. These credit cards usually provide a statement credit that’ll reimburse you for the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Here are some popular cards that offer this benefit:

Here is a more comprehensive list:

Clear, on the other hand, has one-year memberships that go for $199. There is a smaller batch of travel cards that include Clear fees as a benefit. You can also get a discount on Clear through its partnerships with United and Delta.

One new option for getting both of these for less is applying for both through Clear. If you bundle TSA PreCheck and Clear, it’ll cost $199.95, which saves you about $66 off the full price of both programs.

Where to find Clear TSA PreCheck enrollment

Currently, Clear only offers enrollment for TSA PreCheck at three airports:

• Sacramento International Airport.

• Newark Liberty International Airport.

• Orlando International Airport.

Enrollment for TSA PreCheck at all three participating airports is available daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Except at Sacramento International Airport, where enrollment closes on Saturdays at 6 p.m.

Clear plans to expand to other airports in the future.

(Editor's note: Since initial publication of this piece, enrollment via Clear has been extended to 10 additional airports — New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, San Diego, Birmingham and Washington-National)

How to enroll at TSA PreCheck at the airport

You can’t exactly just show up to the airport to enroll in TSA PreCheck through Clear. If you want to enroll through one of the Clear airport locations, you’ll have to submit an application online first.

Then, the next time you’re at a participating airport, walk up to Clear’s enrollment pod (no appointment necessary). Clear will submit your TSA PreCheck application on your behalf, and you can expect to hear back within three to five days.

Information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available on NerdWallet.