S2’s driver’s license expires in Feb. 2019 and our state says he must appear in person with docs to get his new license (with the new REAL ID bells and whistles). Problem is, he’s working overseas and will not be back before it expires.
We want him to have a valid license so he can rent a car (he’s in a hot spot country), but are also concerned about getting a new one from scratch upon his return (will require even more docs and possibly taking the tests again). His passport is fine for ID; he just wants to make sure he can drive.
Has anyone’s S/D who’s been a long-term-ish expat had to deal with this?
BTW, this was not a matter of procrastination. He tried to get this squared away before he went overseas almost a year ago, but one can only renew six months in advance.
Don’t know your state but an expired DL can be renewed in our state up to two years after expiration without retaking the tests. My D just renewed her expired license about two months after the fact but she did have to go in person to get the “enhanced” license. She could have renewed her “regular” license for the short term in our state, but she decided to deal with the enhanced license requirements now. Can your S get an international driver’s license to use abroad until he can get back to the States?
@ucbalumnus I think usually you are required to after some time. Isn’t an international license tied to an existing national one? That’s how I remember it being but I also only fleetingly thought of it.
Does your state require getting the REAL ID compliant license? California allows a choice of compliant or not (partly because undocumented immigrants can get a license too). You have to appear in person for the compliant license but can renew and get the non-compliant one by mail. The only constraint is that you’ll need another form of ID (a passport) to fly (and perhaps access some government facilities) in a couple of years’ time if the license is non-compliant. So if this option is available, probably best to take it now and then switch to the compliant license once back in the US if desired. I got the non-compliant one because I didn’t have time to visit the DMV and I always carry my passport when flying. No issues with that so far.
In PA, they can check if your documents on file already qualify you for REALId. If so there is no need to appear in person but that might not be for renewal, just for a replacement card so it’s REALId compliant.
My D was in the same situation; her wallet was stolen with her DL inside. Our state also requires that she appear in person to get a new one. She lives abroad (temporarily) and also wanted to be able to rent a car. There was nothing she could do about it. Very frustrating.
MD requires RealID compliance. He has an international license, but it’s tied to his US license. None of S’s friends in his current city owns a car that he could borrow for a driver’s test overseas. He would drive only in case of emergency, but he’s in a country that is politically volatile, so we would all feel more comfortable with as many travel options as possible.
Glad that CT doesn’t require it. When I moved here, they put the wrong middle initial on my driver’s license. And my married name is on my license and passport but my maiden name is on my social security card. It would be a huge hassle to change that stuff to bring it into perfect agreement ( I try to avoid DMV like the plague) — easier to get a passport card. What a hassle for international residents, though!
VH, the nice pile of paperwork they sent didn’t include a phone number! (I’m sure that’s intentional.) I wanted to see if any other CCers had gone through this and to pick their brains before I have to start dealing with DMV folks who probably are not familiar with this scenario.
@momofsenior1, no, he can’t get home at this point. He’s on a teaching contract.
An “international driver’s license” is only a translation of the US license. Some countries purportedly require it to drive on their turf with a US license. However, I’ve never had a problem renting a car with just my US license, even when the official rules say you need the international. I haven’t ever been stopped by the police when driving abroad, maybe that’s when I’d want the “international”.
We had this situation. The US license eventually expired as adult kid is living permanently (?) overseas. Getting a license in the new country will require many hoops to be jumped if the kid goes that route.
I suggest you call your DMV. As others note, different states, different rules. Maybe they have a solution.
I got a local license in Germany just by driving six months without an accident and proving that I’d been driving since we owned a car. It was much easier than it was for Germans!
Countingdown, I just saw your response posted after I “helpfully” suggested calling DMV. I fully sympathize with you wanting to avoid that call if other CCers have solutions! Just a word of encouragement, I did call our DMV (major metro area, number from internet). I was stunned that the people I spoke with were familiar with the question and helpful. No solution for us as it turned out due to various details and specifics, but the investigation may not be onerous for you. I hope not! Good luck.
I think DMV people will be knowledgeable. I doubt there are exceptions but they will know if he has to appear in person and if there are alternatives if he’s living overseas. I don’t agree that it’s that hard to get a local one necessarily.
It looks like if the MD license is one year expired, you would have to take all the tests. So, presumably if it is less than one year expired, you would not need to do so.
"How do I renew my license if it has been expired for one (1) year or more?
To have your license reissued, you will need to pass the applicable vision screening, knowledge and driving skills road test; You may be required to present your age, identity and residency documents. Please start your application online.
Notes:
You may be able to take the knowledge and skills tests on the same day. (Subject to MDOT MVA branch availability)
Click here for how to prepare for your driving skills test (Put in Link)
Please click here to prepare your document list and schedule an appointment. (Links to ODG)"
Out-of-State Maryland Residents
If you are out of state when your MD driver’s license expires, but you will return to Maryland within 45 days, you can request a temporary driver’s license that is valid for 45 days.
You’ll need to write a letter that includes:
Your full name.
Your date of birth.
Your MD drivers license number.
Your MD address.
Your out-of-state address.
Your phone number.
The reason for your temporary driver’s license request.
Your signature.
The date of your request.
Fax the letter to (410) 424-3050, or mail it to:
MVA
Absent from State Unit
Driver Services Division
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
If you will be out-of-state for more than 45 days, you must contact the Maryland MVA Absent from State Unit to obtain the necessary renewal forms and instructions.
Contact them by:
E-mail: MVACS@mdot.state.md.us.
Phone: (410) 768-7000.
TTY/hearing impaired: (301) 729-4563.
Fax: (410) 424-3050.
Mail:
MVA
Absent from State Unit
Driver Services Division
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
You really must change that. At some point, when least convenient, the IRS will reject your taxes. My friend applied for medicare at age 64 and the SSA would not confirm her SSN because it didn’t match her name on file. She’s worked under her married name for all those years, never had an issue, but it wouldn’t go through.
In a previous life, I used to do name changes for a county here. Sometimes the reason for the ‘name change’ (and I say that in quotes because often it was an initial or spelling change) was that the SSA had rejected the name on the SS card, they couldn’t get a passport because the birth certificate spelling or DL wasn’t the same as at the SSA and no one would budge to change Jeffery to Jeffrey or the SSA wouldn’t allow a change back to a maiden name. Mind you, all this was in the 1980’s, long before the tighter security we have now.
