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Last updated 6/18/2026
We work with more than 500 convenience stores, and some of the countryโs largest vape shop chains. Here are our recommendations for the best ID scanners for vape shops.
Vaping has swept the world as a replacement for traditional cigarette and tobacco products.ย There are now more than 10,000 vape shops in the US.
While purchase of e-cigarettes and vapes by anyone under 18 or 21 is illegal, the products are still very popular with high school students and young people. At both the state and federal level, legislation has been pushed to restrict access to e-cigarettes and tobacco products by minors, and as a result many vape shops and tobacco stores have been motivated to add ID scanning as an additional compliance measure.
What features to look for in an ID scanner for vape shops
Many vape shops come to us after using free apps for age verification, but failing to catch a fake ID. It is extremely important that whatever ID scanning software you select have more robust capabilities than just reading todayโs date and comparing it to the date-of-birth on the ID.
- Detect fake IDs by verifying the barcode
- Check for expired IDs
- Verify the age of your customers
- Allow for anonymization or tokenization of customer data
- Configurable PII settings to ensure state compliance
- Exportable records for compliance checks
All of these needs and more can be met using our VeriScan age verification software. While vape shops donโt typically need the most robust layer of ID authentication, our ID scanners still detect fake IDs and create the compliance trail needed for security.
Best affordable ID scanner for vape shops โ Unitech TS200
Affordable and rapid scanning of both IDs and passports
The most affordable scanner in our arsenal, the Unitech TS200 is a lightweight and compact ID and passport scanner that is perfect for vape shops with limited counter space and a limited budget. While the device itself is small, the scanning window is large, allowing your vape shop to scan a variety of ID types, including passports, accurately.ย
This plug and play ID scanner for vape shops allows stores to simply plug the USB into the computer and start scanning. No driver download required. It is also lightning fast, processing IDs in under 1 second.
Best handheld ID scanner for vape shops โ Unitech EA660
Flexible mobile ID scanning
The Unitech EA660 handheld ID scanner is lightweight and powerful. It is ideal for high-volume vape shops, or businesses which simply want to keep an ID scanner behind the counter for spot checks.
It runs on Android 12 and is compatible with VeriScan for Android. The benefit of running VeriScan on a dedicated handheld ID scanner is the auto-focus laser attached to the front of the device. The laser easily focuses on the 2D barcode (PDF417) or MRZ for rapid scanning.
It features all day battery life with the ability to swap batteries quickly.
Best digital ID/mDL reader for vape shops โ Credence Tap2ID
If your vape shop wants to read mobile IDs, youโll need specialty hardware for the counter
The Tap2iD mobile ID reader is able to scan any ISO-27001-5 compliant mobile ID from participating states. Regardless of whether the mobile ID is verified via QR code or NFC, the Tap2iD can read it and verify the age of the presenting party.ย Data is then sent into VeriScan software the exact same way as though a physical ID was scanned.
Conclusion
With legislation being continually passed surrounding age verification for vape products both online and in store, it is imperative that businesses employ the use of ID scanning for vape shops. They can improve existing workflows while helping to mitigate risk of compliance failures. To learn more, contact a member of our team.
