license/ID problems

[whitak24]

ok, so my (michigan) drivers' license expired (back in august). of course, this isn't an issue in day-to-day life, because i never drive anywhere. but when i go home, it would be nice to be able to drive.

so i want to trade in my MI license for an NY license.

Problem: the NYS DMV website says that in order to get an NY license, you have to surrender your old license. which sort of makes sense. the problem is, you don't get your new license for up to 4 weeks.

that means that since i'm supposed to fly home on dec. 22, if i surrendered my license right now, i might not have a replacement license in time to get through the airport.

this is in fact why i haven't previously taken care of renewing my license -- because i've had flights, tests, etc for which i needed my license as ID.

so my question is: will i have to surrender my old license on the spot when i apply for a NY license, or will they let me keep it? it just doesn't seem reasonable that they could confiscate your government-issued photo ID and leave you without it for a month, especially in these times of increased security when you have to show it to get into a lot of buildings, etc.

[ray]

so my question is: will i have to surrender my old license on the spot when i apply for a NY license, or will they let me keep it? it just doesn't seem reasonable that they could confiscate your government-issued photo ID and leave you without it for a month, especially in these times of increased security when you have to show it to get into a lot of buildings, etc.

Unless the person isn't doing their job, you will be forced to surrender your MI license on the spot. While you wait for the NY license to be delivered, I suggest you use your passport (if you have one) as your photo identification.

[Gothic Girl]

Tell them you lost it. When I moved to New Mexico, I really did lose my ID and they just wanted my birth cert and ss card. However in retrospect, that's a good way for someone to steal your identity too! Also, you might have problems getting through airport security with an expired ID so you might want to get the paper ID to go with it, that way you have a photo ID (even though it's expired) and a newly issued paper ID to back it up.

[ShawnLee]

Oh, I thought that you were talking about something else. I know someone whose DL says that he's a female.

[Grubbie]

But if they are giving you a NY license won't they give you the good old paper guy while your liscence is being printed? I might be off on what you mean by surrender, but I just think they mean give up your MI liscence and then you have 4 weeks till you get your liscence(plastic version) cause it has to be made. But they should give you a paper copy of your liscence and probably your old one with a punch in it meaning it is invalid.

I could be way off but that is what happens when all my friends and I got new liscences around our 21st bday.

[kei2]

It's possible to have dual valid ID's... at least for a short period of time. I got a CA state ID before I got my CA Driver's License, and the latter didn't nullify the former. They didn't ask for it back or anything. But yeah in your time-sensitive situation I don't know what they'd do whitak. Good luck with that.

[blueindian]

wait til you go home and get you M. license renewed without giving up your old one. Then go to NY and surrneder you old one for a valid one there and you'll be set.

[kimchicowboy]

do you have a passport you can use as valid ID?

[Merlin]

Be careful. At some point the fools at airport security will notice that it is expired and will give you some grief about it. Be prepared for that to happen.

As for the surrendering....last time I changed licenses from one state to another (from New Jersey to Arizona) they simply took my old license and punched a hole in it. Then returned it to me on the spot. Makes sense since the DL was issued by someone else and therefore not their property. But of course New York may be different. If you get the old expired one and a paper/temp new one you should be fine at the airport.

Oh and I still have my AZ license as it does not expire until the year 2035! Just get one of those and you'll never have these problems.

And like the others have said, if you have a passport bring it.

[ialsohaveadream]

I don't know about NY, but in FL you can get an ID card instead of a license. Maybe you could get one of those while you turn your license in?

Also, a 4 week wait is crazy. Here, you wait in the DMV all day, but at least they give you your license right on the spot.

[welfareloser]

they should be able to give you either a temporary ID (like using a traffic ticket as your license when they take it) or maybe you could get a state ID on the spot - let them know that's what you want, tho, before you surrender your MI license. i think you can get state id's at the dmv, but maybe you have to go to a courthouse...

but with a SS card, credit cards, library card, and either a student id or passport, (for the photo) you should be able to get where you want to go (the big thing with the license is that it has your photo and your address... that's why i included library card on the list, becasue those are often accepted as proof of address.)

then again, you could just make your brother or mom chauffeur you around. nothin wrong with the big bad law student treatin his fambly like hired help :heh:

[whitak24]

Be careful. At some point the fools at airport security will notice that it is expired and will give you some grief about it. Be prepared for that to happen.

As for the surrendering....last time I changed licenses from one state to another (from New Jersey to Arizona) they simply took my old license and punched a hole in it. Then returned it to me on the spot. Makes sense since the DL was issued by someone else and therefore not their property. But of course New York may be different. If you get the old expired one and a paper/temp new one you should be fine at the airport.

Oh and I still have my AZ license as it does not expire until the year 2035! Just get one of those and you'll never have these problems.

And like the others have said, if you have a passport bring it.
yeah, i've flown 3 or 4 times since my license expired (which is why i haven't wanted to surrender it -- i always knew there were flights coming up) and i've been majorly freaked out that they would see that it's expired and throw a fit. fortunately, i've dodged the bullet so far.

but if they will in fact punch my old license, give me a paper temp license, and let me go on my way, then that would be ideal. then i'd still have the photo ID plus a valid license.

btw, i don't have a passport....which i've been meaning to get, but cannot get until i get my license renewed.

also, getting a NYS Photo ID card takes just as long as getting a license -- they're not particularly quick around here. :rolleyes: i am not looking forward to dealing with the bureaucracy at the DMV.

[blueindian]

e.

btw, i don't have a passport....which i've been meaning to get, but cannot get until i get my license renewed.


i don't reacall needing my license to get a passport. i did have to go through my represenative to get it expidited though, cause it was gonna take months.

[whitak24]

according to the Department of State's web page, you need either a current drivers license, or a passport that has been expired for less than 2 years.

[ray]

i don't reacall needing my license to get a passport. i did have to go through my represenative to get it expidited though, cause it was gonna take months.

You either need your driver's license or your birth certificate to get your passport for the first time.

I know in NJ, you now need either your birth certificate or your passport to get your driver's license.

[Jeffbx]

If you don't have a driver's license, there are a number (http://www.passportsandvisas.com/forms/identity.html) of different documents you can use. However, unless you pay for expidited service, it'll take about 6 weeks or so to get a passport.

[Yossarian]

just drive like a lil old lady and don't get pulled over