Life With an Expired Driver's License

Mine (Florida) is due to expire on my birthday (69). The last time it needed to be renewed, I was able to do so online; but now it requires an in-person visit. I've been car-free (this time) since returning to Florida, late-May 2012. I've had to rent a car twice, the last time was May 2016, and haven't driven since then (hell, I haven't even ridden in a car!). So, here's my question:

Q: Given that places tend to request photo-ID in order to do many things, do you find it easy, difficult, or impossible to do so with an expired driver's license?

It's not that I can't afford the $52 fee, or the $32 fee for a "walking-around" photo-ID card; it's that even if the DL is expired, I'm still me, and that's still my photo and my address -- nothing's changed. I'm not going to buy a car (can't afford one, even if I wanted to), and nobody's going to give me one; and, even if I had one, I couldn't afford the registration, insurance, and "care-and-feeding".

Should I bite the bullet, or let it expire in peace?

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Originally Posted by JBHoren

Mine (Florida) is due to expire on my birthday (69). The last time it needed to be renewed, I was able to do so online; but now it requires an in-person visit. I've been car-free (this time) since returning to Florida, late-May 2012. I've had to rent a car twice, the last time was May 2016, and haven't driven since then (hell, I haven't even ridden in a car!). So, here's my question:

Q: Given that places tend to request photo-ID in order to do many things, do you find it easy, difficult, or impossible to do so with an expired driver's license?

It's not that I can't afford the $52 fee, or the $32 fee for a "walking-around" photo-ID card; it's that even if the DL is expired, I'm still me, and that's still my photo and my address -- nothing's changed. I'm not going to buy a car (can't afford one, even if I wanted to), and nobody's going to give me one; and, even if I had one, I couldn't afford the registration, insurance, and "care-and-feeding".

Should I bite the bullet, or let it expire in peace?

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I would go ahead and do the full renewal. You never know when you might need it.

Id go and get a photo ID in your case. No need for a DL. If you try to use an expired ID you may find that some people actually look at them. Expired means its no good! It would suck to be somewhere and to be asked for an ID and to be told no becuase its expired when you and the other person knows its not a big deal. But no service still.

Its worth the effort in my opinion. But, with the Covid going on I bet some folks might let it slide for another few months.

Do you have a 'Carry Concealed' pistol permit or a passport? They are both Government issued forms of ID.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

Do you have a 'Carry Concealed' pistol permit or a passport? They are both Government issued forms of ID.

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Good point, there are other forms of Id,

I would do whatever is needed to have and carry a current, non expired, valid form of I.D.
Do what works for you. At least you have options.

Pete <:-}

You might check on that, mine was about to expire and here in California because of Covid they renewed it on line, without a new pic or having to go in.

Here in Ontario, we can renew online.

A driver’s license is the easiest to obtain and most useful form of government issued ID. It’s amazing how many store employees, bank tellers, etc. have no idea what the other forms of valid ID look like. I’d get one if I were you.

Fun factoid on the Ontario driving licenses, may be similar in other jurisdictions.
Ours is a 15 digit number. First five is your last name file number, last 6 are your date of birth. Mid four are the numbers that are actually ‘you’ in the database.
Once I figured that out it became very easy to memorize the number, just in case..
Also comes in handy when interviewing folks and not being able to ask their age,,hehe..
:p

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Originally Posted by DZEC

Here in Ontario, we can renew online.

A driver’s license is the easiest to obtain and most useful form of government issued ID. It’s amazing how many store employees, bank tellers, etc. have no idea what the other forms of valid ID look like. I’d get one if I were you.

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My father in law is in long term care so obviously his driving license was never renewed, consequently he cannot use it as valid ID because only valid Driving licenses are allowed as ID (in Ontario at least).

If you don't need a drivers' licence you may want to have a passport: it is an ID and allows you to travel to other countries.

So, while there is other acceptable forms of ID, have you tried to write a check lately? “What is that? We don’t take money orders.”

Remember who you are dealing with. Want a laugh, give them exact change and see what happens? These people are or will be parents.


Make your life easy-er, renew your license.

Lol
I remember watching one use a calculator to multiply 10 x $0.25.

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Lol
I remember watching one use a calculator to multiply 10 x $0.25.

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Wow. And I thought the metric whackos wanted to force us to use metric so the math would be easy. Silly me.

I was camping in Gettysburg and stopped in to a large chain food store. Spotted an aisle of beer and bought 1 can of Guinness to go with dinner.

I did not realize there was a specific cash line for liquor purchases and had to go back to that line to check out. Then I had to produce my driver’s license so they could check that I was of legal age.

I suppose I could have been happy that at 70 with a mostly white beard and balding head, the young cashier thought I looked so young that carding was necessary. I understand it is a state law requirement for any booze purchase.

The problem was that my date of birth on my Ontario license was in the form YYYY/MM/DD and that totally flummoxed the poor young woman at the cash register. I had to give her a quick lesson in the logic of having dates in that form for filing and sorting purposes.

All in all, it took more than 20 minutes from the time I selected my solitary can of Guinness to getting back in my car to return to our RV.

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Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors

Wow. And I thought the metric whackos wanted to force us to use metric so the math would be easy. Silly me.

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I learned the old money in England until I was 8 years old, I still understand pounds, shillings and pence, I have very little idea about grams or centimetres even today but I have noticed one thing.

Even with younger people that do grams and kilometres, ask them how tall they are and they will invariably say something like 5' 8".

Canada is metric but the new car we bought recently can tow 3500 lbs according to the book, no idea what it can do in kilograms because it doesn't say (I don't actually care, just saying).

I'd get the Drivers License, you never know when you may need or want to rent a car.

Cashed some checks using the drive through.
Had to send my drivers license through the tube. A passport would not have fit in the thing.

Get a drivers license

Another point

In Wisconsin your license can have an emblem that can of serves as a in state passport.
To get the emblem you have to present a birth certificate and a utility bill sent to your address.

I think most states are going to this type of ID.

I just renewed my license online. There was a place you could check to surrender your drivers license and get a state id.
I opted to renew and retain my license. :mace: Never surrender!

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Cashed some checks using the drive through.
Had to send my drivers license through the tube. A passport would not have fit in the thing.

Get a drivers license

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I hope you had your drivers license at the drive through!

Did the drive through have braille?

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Another point

In Wisconsin your license can have an emblem that can of serves as a in state passport.
To get the emblem you have to present a birth certificate and a utility bill sent to your address.

I think most states are going to this type of ID.

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In Massachusetts it is called a Real ID.
The only way you can tell is there is a gold star in the upper corner of your license.
I got one when I renewed my license over the summer. Had to produce all the documents to get it.
After October 2021 you won't be able to fly anywhere without one.

I guess that I am also for you renewing your driver's license.
It's a lot harder to get back if you let it expire.

Pete <:-}

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Another point

In Wisconsin your license can have an emblem that can of serves as a in state passport.
To get the emblem you have to present a birth certificate and a utility bill sent to your address.

I think most states are going to this type of ID.

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What's a state passport, do I need my Canadian passport to go from state to state now?

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Originally Posted by 32t

I hope you had your drivers license at the drive through!

Did the drive through have braille?

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In the drive through lane?������

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Another point

In Wisconsin your license can have an emblem that can of serves as a in state passport.
To get the emblem you have to present a birth certificate and a utility bill sent to your address.

I think most states are going to this type of ID.

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The Wisconsin star

Attachment 328313

When I renewed my drivers license in August of 2019 I was encouraged to get the 'Enhances License' as it would allow me to fly with less hassles. While I don't fly that often on occasion I would need the special license.

It's my understanding that this new license has a chip in it and if I were to cross into Canada or Mexico they would scan my license when I entered and when I left. I do know that I was given a special sleeve to keep the license in to prevent it being scanned by crooks and such.

I was very disappointed that I didn't get to keep the same number as I'd had that number for 50 years and I knew it by heart.

I was surprised that at the age of 66 I didn't have to take an eye test or have a new photo taken. The next time I need to renew will be in 2025.

Anyway, I'd get the drivers license as you never know when you might need to be able to drive. :tu

My bill fold prevents scanners from reading any of the cards.

A crook can walk up behind you and scan your cards.

No, no chip in the drivers license. It just means they went through the added procedure of requiring additional verifiable Ids.

Chip, Scan Bar,Reader Bar---Whatever it is, I was told to ALWAYS keep my license in the protective card.

Attachment 328317

And yes, I had to provide a Birth Certificate AND Proof of Residence. I took in a copy of my birth certificate and a copy of a canceled check for my rent.

Anyway, I won't have to deal with that BS for another 4 years.

Colorado star...Attachment 328329
BTW, I have to show proof of address too.

I hope all this BS HELPS JB make a decision about renewing his license

.
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You never know when you might need to drive someone's car.
When I had my first heart attack my elderly mother drove me to the hospital.
Get a DL.

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Originally Posted by randydance062449

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You never know when you might need to drive someone's car.
When I had my first heart attack my elderly mother drove me to the hospital.
Get a DL.

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If someone was having a heart attack do you think having a license would matter if no one else was around?

Also driving someone having a heart attack is not a recommended thing to do even though we all do it. When I had mine my wife drove me.

If something went south on the way what would your mother have done? It's best to call an ambulance.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No, no chip in the drivers license. It just means they went through the added procedure of requiring additional verifiable Ids.

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https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/520434.pdf

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/520434.pdf

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Well, good golly, you got me.

Not all states have a chip. Mine doesn't.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well, good golly, you got me.

Not all states have a chip. Mine doesn't.

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I believe that if you have the New Mexico's (Real ID/Driver's License) you have a chip--

https://www.uspassporthelpguide.com/real-id-act/

Attachment 328430

Seems some states use a Gold Star in the upper right hand corner. Washington State seems to use a Gold Fir Tree in the bottom middle.

Attachment 328429