How Do You Renew Your License?

I drove with an expired license not realizing that this state uses your birthdate as the date of license renewal.

Ooops. I kept waiting for a renewal form in the mail which never came because they don't renew drivers licenses through the mail, not at all.

Once I figured the above out, I went in person to the DMV, took my vision test and a new photo for a new four year license. There was no penalty since I was within the 30 day leniency for expired licenses.

I laughed at myself when I got my renewed license as I had been wearing the same coat for 12 years! Not anymore, I finally stopped wearing the coat (for more than 12 years)when I saw the frayed cuffs where I had folded them up since the sleeves were too long. I got my money's worth out of that coat, and wish I could find another similar.

Anyway, this state does not renew drivers license online. You may renew vehicle registrations/plates if you reside in a county where there are no inspections, which is here. Due to covid, I renewed the vehicle online the past few years.

I decided not to get the Real ID since I will just use my passport if and when I fly or sail again.
 
Last year when I went to the DMV for the license, I witnessed this:

A very elderly, frail looking woman pulled her car up to the sidewalk. She could not open her door to exit the car. A stranger, a man, opened the door for her and with great effort she stepped out of her car. A second man took her other arm and together these men assisted the woman onto the sidewalk.

She decided not to wait in line (no appts at the DMV) and went to the front of the line. I was second in line, the woman in front of me looked at me as if to say, "What am I going to do?" I said to her, to just let the old lady go, even though myself and others had been waiting under the chilly, sprinkly wet skies for close to half an hour already. Because of covid, no one was allowed in to sit and wait.

Anyway, it turns out she was over 90, everyone could hear her speaking. She couldn't walk well, she couldn't read the eye chart well, she couldn't hear well, and she didn't want a new photo.

I am not bashing the age. I felt sorry for her. We don't know if she is alone in the world and was desperate to keep her license irregardless of her ability to handle and maneuver the size of the car. At some point we may all have this decision to make.
 

Owlivia said:
I drove with an expired license not realizing that this state uses your birthdate as the date of license renewal.

Ooops. I kept waiting for a renewal form in the mail which never came because they don't renew drivers licenses through the mail, not at all.

Once I figured the above out, I went in person to the DMV, took my vision test and a new photo for a new four year license. There was no penalty since I was within the 30 day leniency for expired licenses.

I laughed at myself when I got my renewed license as I had been wearing the same coat for 12 years! Not anymore, I finally stopped wearing the coat (for more than 12 years)when I saw the frayed cuffs where I had folded them up since the sleeves were too long. I got my money's worth out of that coat, and wish I could find another similar.

Anyway, this state does not renew drivers license online. You may renew vehicle registrations/plates if you reside in a county where there are no inspections, which is here. Due to covid, I renewed the vehicle online the past few years.

I decided not to get the Real ID since I will just use my passport if and when I fly or sail again.
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Owlivia...cute screen name and your avatar is so cute. I was really into owls a few decades ago and collected owl items. All but the crystal one are gone now. What state do you live in?
 
I was too tired to renew last night so I just did it. It was a painless, efficient process. They encourage printing the "interim license", only good for a month. I downloaded it to serve as proof I submitted the renewal in case something gets screwed up and I don't get the new one in the mail. I don't have a lot of confidence in the postal system. There was a section to update my voter registration and this questionnaire. I wonder if deadbeat parents are ineligible to renew online. And I wonder if they have a way to tell if someone lies about it.

LICENSE QUESTIONS.jpg
 
Owlivia said:
I drove with an expired license not realizing that this state uses your birthdate as the date of license renewal.

Ooops. I kept waiting for a renewal form in the mail which never came because they don't renew drivers licenses through the mail, not at all.

Once I figured the above out, I went in person to the DMV, took my vision test and a new photo for a new four year license. There was no penalty since I was within the 30 day leniency for expired licenses.

I laughed at myself when I got my renewed license as I had been wearing the same coat for 12 years! Not anymore, I finally stopped wearing the coat (for more than 12 years)when I saw the frayed cuffs where I had folded them up since the sleeves were too long. I got my money's worth out of that coat, and wish I could find another similar.

Anyway, this state does not renew drivers license online. You may renew vehicle registrations/plates if you reside in a county where there are no inspections, which is here. Due to covid, I renewed the vehicle online the past few years.

I decided not to get the Real ID since I will just use my passport if and when I fly or sail again.
Click to expand...
This state usually does not renew drvers' licenses online, either, but state offices were closed down most of last year and the early part of this year, so they had to renew online or have lots of people going around unlicensed.
 
terry123 said:
I will get one for ID purposes. Another "grand" of mine has a rare eye condition and she got herself a State Issued ID as she is slowly going blind.
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I'm so sorry to read about your granddaughter's eye condition! I hope the process slows so much that she doesn't actually go blind.
 
Owlivia said:
Last year when I went to the DMV for the license, I witnessed this:

A very elderly, frail looking woman pulled her car up to the sidewalk. She could not open her door to exit the car. A stranger, a man, opened the door for her and with great effort she stepped out of her car. A second man took her other arm and together these men assisted the woman onto the sidewalk.

She decided not to wait in line (no appts at the DMV) and went to the front of the line. I was second in line, the woman in front of me looked at me as if to say, "What am I going to do?" I said to her, to just let the old lady go, even though myself and others had been waiting under the chilly, sprinkly wet skies for close to half an hour already. Because of covid, no one was allowed in to sit and wait.

Anyway, it turns out she was over 90, everyone could hear her speaking. She couldn't walk well, she couldn't read the eye chart well, she couldn't hear well, and she didn't want a new photo.

I am not bashing the age. I felt sorry for her. We don't know if she is alone in the world and was desperate to keep her license irregardless of her ability to handle and maneuver the size of the car. At some point we may all have this decision to make.
Click to expand...
I'm curious. Did they renew her license?
 
I got my license in the mail about a week ago. I'm so glad because sometimes the mail gets put in the wrong box around here and even might wind up in a mailbox on another street entirely. I've seen mail for people on another street and once in my box...for a man in another town! It was not the special ID license...I expect extra measures have to be taken to get that one.
 
Tom 86 said:
I have to renew my D.L. every 2 years now in person since I'm over 85. I still renew tags for vehicle online.
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Tom, here in Mass., I renewed my license last December just as I turned 87. I brought a slip from the eye doc stating that my eyesight was OK. They still had me read a line of letters but that was it. The new licence's good 'til 2024 and was one of the enhanced license's that doubles as an ID.
Somehow I think this will have been my last license and I probably won't use up all of the 5 years.:cry:
 
DaveA said:
Tom, here in Mass., I renewed my license last December just as I turned 87. I brought a slip from the eye doc stating that my eyesight was OK. They still had me read a line of letters but that was it. The new licence's good 'til 2024 and was one of the enhanced license's that doubles as an ID.
Somehow I think this will have been my last license and I probably won't use up all of the 5 years.:cry:
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Let's hope you use up those five years and more!
 
I (75) live in Pennsylvania, so of course, the state is the last of the 50 to do anything. We had to become a "Real ID" state, Our old licenses weren't acknowledged as true IDs. So, picture ID had to be retaken, in person, for that Real ID thing. To be honest, it wasn't like in the old days with lots of confused people in long lines, filling out Form #34A98_TD4. It took about 15 minutes.
I think, in PA., you can renew on line, but you have to come in for the pic????????????
 

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