Under the PACT Act, age verification happens twice for every online vape order — once at checkout and once at delivery.
Step 1: Checkout Age Verification
When you place an order on a compliant website, you'll go through an age verification process. This typically involves:
- Entering your full name, date of birth, and address
- The retailer's age verification software cross-references this info with public databases (like driver's license records, credit bureaus, and voter registration)
- If you pass, you can complete checkout normally
- If you fail (common with recent moves, name changes, or thin credit files), you may need to upload a photo of your government-issued ID
Step 2: Delivery Age Verification
Even after you've passed checkout verification, you still need to prove your age when the package arrives. The delivery driver will:
- Ask for a government-issued photo ID
- Verify that the name on the ID matches the recipient
- Confirm you're at least 21 years old
- Get your signature (digital or physical)
If no adult is home to sign for the package, the carrier will typically:
- Leave a delivery attempt notice
- Try redelivery 1-2 more times
- Hold the package at a pickup location (like a UPS Store or Walgreens)
- Return the package to the sender after ~5-7 business days if unclaimed
💡 Pro tip: If you're not going to be home, many carriers let you redirect the package to a pickup location where you can show ID and collect it on your schedule. Check the carrier's website or app for "hold for pickup" options.
