Maddening new laws when you renew your driver's license

[Logan]

Gosh Pam, just last night, I heard a news report that NC is going to start renewing driver's licenses through the mail or online! I know that SC doesn't ask for that kind of information to renew, either. In fact, I think you just take your existing driver's license and your social security card in and they just do it. How strange!

Logan

[Lizzie]

Gosh Pam, just last night, I heard a news report that NC is going to start renewing driver's licenses through the mail or online! I know that SC doesn't ask for that kind of information to renew, either. In fact, I think you just take your existing driver's license and your social security card in and they just do it. How strange!

Logan

They've had that available in Washington State for a few years now, and it's great, but ours only last for one year when you do it through the mail.

Perhaps it is only state laws that are hindering Pam?

[Logan]

could be, Lizzie. The new NC law will renew them for 8 years!!!! I think we have a 10 year renewal in SC now, actually, but we still have to go to the DMV.

Logan

[CathyBogart]

I just had to renew my license - and they wouldn't let me renew it while I had a motorcycle permit!! So I lost my motorcycle permit.

[Pam]

I am totally amazed that no one else has to go through this! Yes, it is a Homeland Security-inspired thing. The thing that bothers me about this is that I went with the adequate number of *points* (see link below if interested) and was turned away because my Marriage License was not the official state one. I had LOTS of other info along (SS card, bank statement, photo driver's ID) which added up to six points but was told that since I had presented my Marriage License that became my *secondary* ID and the other items were not even considered after that. (I am imagining it is because my name on my birth certificate is different from my name on every other document I have and the marriage license would explain the reason for that). What a mess! This is just another endearing thing about NJ I guess, along with our ridiculously high property taxes, car insurance rates and the recent hike to a 7% sales tax. NJ - - ya gotta love it.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/HowToRenew.htm

[Edwina's Secretary]

7% sales tax???????....you could be here in the Land Beyond.......where it is...7.75%!!!!!

[Soapets]

I just renewed my driver's license in March. I have a CDL so I can drive our church bus sometimes. They had mailed me some paperwork to complete and bring along, stating that I meet all of the health requirements, etc. Otherwise all I needed was my old driver's license, a check for the renewal amount, and I had to take a vision test, and that was it. My license is good for another five years now. I think Nebraska's driver's license "testing" is a lot more lax than some other states.

Deb

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I got my Colorado license a few weeks after we moved here- *whew* it was a hassle!! I looked online before hand, so I knew since I was out of state I needed my Iowa license PLUS another "offcial" ID. Luckily I have my passport. But the waiting in line!

I went on a horribly hot day and ended up in line for over an hour. They snapped my photo really quickly and gave me a piece of paper as my temp. license! In Iowa, they give you your license right away; it felt terribly unofficial carrying around a slip of paper for a week and a half. Luckily I wasn't pulled over!

[Uabassoon]

7% sales tax???????....you could be here in the Land Beyond.......where it is...7.75%!!!!!

That's nothing, it's now 8.1 in Tucson!

The silliest thing about Arizona, your license is good until your 65! That's right, at 16 you go and take your picture and you can keep it until your a grandmother! Mine is good until 2046.

[Lizzie]

That's nothing, it's now 8.1 in Tucson!

The silliest thing about Arizona, your license is good until your 65! That's right, at 16 you go and take your picture and you can keep it until your a grandmother! Mine is good until 2046.

Perhaps it might have been for life if all the retirees hadn't decided to make Arizona their home.

And Washington State has 8.8% sales tax, at least in King County (Seattle).

[Pembroke_Corgi]

7% sales tax???????....you could be here in the Land Beyond.......where it is...7.75%!!!!!

In the city of Denver it is over 8%. I always think I'm being over-charged until I figure in the ridiculous sales tax.

[lbaker]

I just renewed mine a few weeks ago and had much the same experience as Phred. Took the old one in, quick eye test and new picture (the lady even took 3 pictures because she didn't like the first two - it's not bad actually - amazing). In and out with new license in 5 minutes. Good until 2011. I love the new MD license, it has a blue crab as well as the state flag as little icons