@rockvillemom, thanks for the info! His license expires in Feb 2019, which is a couple weeks short of his one-year anniversary overseas. He’s planning to stay a second year, politics in that country permitting. By that time his license will be over a year out of date. If he can’t renew by mail, he probably will have to retest when he returns home.
Will see what MVA has to say, if they’ll even talk to me. Don’t know why they couldn’t bother to include contact info on the mailing they sent.
Looked up info about getting a license in the country where he’s living; lots of bureaucracy, needs a non-resident visa (check), mandated written test in that language, required driver’s education, and bribes expected. I find it interesting that law firms in that country offer to handle this sort of thing.
As expected, @CountingDown… if he needs to escape by car (god forbid!!), he would be so much better off with a local driver who knows the language and especially how much the bribe to pay… sigh.
@BunsenBurner, he’s fairly fluent in both relevant languages and has been stashing USD and Euros as emergency funds. He’s also made a number of friends, so he doesn’t feel isolated at all.
Can he contact the US Consulate/Embassy in the country he’s in for assistance? Alternatively, your senator/congressman may be able to help. Or your state rep.
He likely isn’t the first person to face this issue, and he won’t be the last.
How about asking AAA? In my state, they run as much interference for DMV as they can. Eg, renewing various documents. But you’ve got to call some authority. Ask all the questions.
Did he get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before he went? In some countries, can’t rent a car without one. (AAA can issue one by mail.)
Not sure an extension would work in the circumstances you describe. Is this hot spot country English speaking?
Having to retake the tests is really not that big a deal. I’ve taken the written test MANY times, and the driving test at least 4-5 because I’ve moved a lot. I often have to take the written test, and when I was younger had to take the driving test until I was like 21.
He has an IDP, but it is tied to having a valid US license.
The country isn’t English-speaking.
I have a friend from synagogue who works at AAA, so she might have ideas. At this point I need to deal with MVA and see what they do in these situations.
I have my married name on my driver’s license and Social Security card, but Social Security used the first letter of my original middle name as my middle initial, and my driver’s license uses my maiden name. This has repeatedly caused me trouble, especially when I needed to get a National Institutes of Health ID for my job.
Three weeks ago, I went to get a Real ID license in Maryland. It took five minutes, and the discrepancy in initials wasn’t even questioned. I did have to show my marriage certificate, though, along with my birth certificate, Social Security card, and two proofs of residence.