How to Cancel TSA PreCheck 2026 — Is the $78 Renewal Worth It Anymore?

Updated March 2026 • 6 min read

Here's the thing about TSA PreCheck: at $78 for 5 years ($15.60/year), it's one of the few subscriptions that's actually worth keeping. But many travelers get upsold to CLEAR Plus at $189/year on top of PreCheck — and THAT's the subscription worth questioning. Let's break down what to keep, what to cancel, and how the whole system works.

TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR — The Real Comparison

• TSA PreCheck: $78/5 years ($15.60/yr) — skip shoe removal, keep laptop in bag, shorter security line
• Global Entry: $100/5 years ($20/yr) — includes TSA PreCheck PLUS customs fast-track for international flights
• CLEAR Plus: $189/year — biometric identity verification to skip the ID check line (but you still go through security)

Global Entry is the best deal — for $22 more than PreCheck over 5 years, you get everything PreCheck offers plus expedited customs. And many premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum) reimburse the $100 fee.

How to Not Renew TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck does NOT auto-renew. When your 5-year membership expires, it simply stops working. No cancellation needed — just don't renew.

If you want to renew (and you probably should if you fly at all):

1. Go to tsa.gov/precheck
2. Click Renew
3. Renew online (no appointment needed) for $78
4. Renew up to 6 months before expiration

How to Cancel CLEAR Plus (The Real Subscription)

CLEAR Plus at $189/year IS a recurring subscription and DOES auto-renew. Here's how to cancel:

1. Log in at clearme.com
2. Go to My Account → Membership
3. Click Cancel Membership
4. Navigate through retention offers
5. Confirm cancellation

Alternatively, call 1-855-253-2763 to cancel by phone.

Why CLEAR Plus Usually Isn't Worth $189/Year

• Only skips the ID check: You still go through security screening — CLEAR just skips the line to show your boarding pass/ID
• PreCheck already shortens the security line: The ID check is rarely the bottleneck
• Not available at all airports: Only ~50 airports have CLEAR lanes
• $189/year vs $15.60/year: 12x the cost of PreCheck for marginal time savings
• TSA PreCheck alone saves 90% of wait time: Adding CLEAR saves maybe 5 more minutes on top

When CLEAR IS Worth It

• You fly 50+ times per year: Business travelers save 5+ hours annually
• Your home airport has chronic TSA lines: LAX, JFK, ATL during peak hours
• Your credit card reimburses it: Some premium cards cover CLEAR (check your benefits)
• You got the Delta/United discount: Airline partners sometimes offer CLEAR at $119-149/year

Free Ways to Speed Up Airport Security

• TSA PreCheck alone: $15.60/year is enough for most travelers
• Check your credit card: Many cards reimburse Global Entry/PreCheck fees
• Fly at off-peak times: Tuesday/Wednesday, early morning or late evening
• Use the airline app: Mobile boarding pass = faster ID check
• MyTSA app: Free app showing real-time wait times at every airport