Do you update your Driver's License/residency every time you PCS?

Mereou12 · August 2010

You'd think that after nearly 6 years of being a military wife, I'd have figured most of this crap out...Ugh!

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I've never updated my DL/residency after any of our PCSes, so we're currently living in GA and my license is from Ohio. And it's about to expire in a couple of weeks, and obviously I'm not able to renew it in person. The kicker -- I was JUST in Ohio visiting family but forgot to do it then. Talk about being p*ssed at myself for making a stupid mistake!

Anyway, I'm considering changing my residency to GA to avoid either a) an expired license or b) having to take a quick trip home for the sole purpose of visiting the BMV. Is this something that most spouses do with every PCS? I stayed an OH resident at first because we were OCONUS and had nowhere to change to. When we moved to GA, I just left it because the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act had just passed, and I preferred to remain an OH resident.

Oh, and I called the Ohio BMV and the renew-by-mail takes 6-8 weeks. My license expires in about 3 weeks. That's what I get for procrastinating.

Soooo....do you update your license/residency every time you move?

newguardwife · August 2010

I am curious to know this as well because we will be PCSing in Nov. and mine expires in Jan.

The_Spanish_Inquisition · August 2010

Most states let your drive on an expired license as long as you have a valid military ID, so you'll probably be fine until your new license arrives. Usually, you have within 6 months of your return to your state of issue to get it renewed.

Here's a link to the Ohio BMV FAQ, which has some info on military licenses:

https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/faq_driver_license.stm#tog

I'd absolutely avoid changing your state of residence if you can. There's no need, and it dramatically affects things like your taxes.

NavyPilotWife · August 2010

Nope. We are both FL residents. There's no state income tax and they are very military friendly. I can renew my license and vehicle registration all online. Very easy.

Spunkchin · August 2010

The state of your DL does not necessarily determine your state of residency. I would see what you can find on the government websites for the states you are moving between and see what they require of military family members. Every state is different and it's best to find out exactly what the state says about it.

Unknown · August 2010

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NSL · August 2010

I always have, but the last time we PCS'd was before the new legislation went into effect. I'll probably keep my Texas state residency in the future for tax purposes, but like a previous poster mentioned, a driver's license doesn't mean that you're a resident of the state for a number of purposes.

SARwifey · August 2010

I still have my GA license and we were in CA for a year and now Japan..lol.

LinnyAnne10 · August 2010

Just beware that if you do go and renew your license in Ohio. Do it BEFORE IT expires, 7 days after it expires they will charge you a 20 dollar late renewal fee.. (its crap, and I fight it every freak'n' time I have to go to Ohio BMV)

bootsie08 · August 2010

The_Spanish_Inquisition:
Most states let your drive on an expired license as long as you have a valid military ID, so you'll probably be fine until your new license arrives. Usually, you have within 6 months of your return to your state of issue to get it renewed.

Here's a link to the Ohio BMV FAQ, which has some info on military licenses:

https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/faq_driver_license.stm#tog

I'd absolutely avoid changing your state of residence if you can. There's no need, and it dramatically affects things like your taxes.

This is true, but ONLY for active duty, not spouses. Spouses are expected to either renew their licenses by mail (if possible) or acquire a license from their current state before expiration. There is no protection under the MSRRA. Spouses must always have a valid license.

krista613 · August 2010

its my understanding that you dont have to change your state of residency to get a license in a different state. in MA (where im from) to get my license i needed my birth certificate, a piece of mail addressed to me at my current address (in MA obvi) and a few other things like that.

and im pretty sure its similar out here (WA) i mean ive never had a "proof of residency" other than getting mail.

that being said ive never switched from a MA license to a WA one. ive been pulled over before and no one has said anything to me about having a MA license and at the time i had GA plates, so i was in WA, with GA plate and a MA license. no one cared. i dont think it matters if you change your license.

also a PP said something about spouses not being able to get military licenses, that is false, you can also have a military license. when i go to MA in october im getting mine changed to military. but ma might just be special. i just need my license changed from vertical (under 21) to horizontal... since im 22.

Renewing Your Massachusetts License While in the Military

While you are on active duty and stationed outside Massachusetts, you are not required to renew your Massachusetts driver's license. However, you, your spouse, and your dependents may wish to renew your licenses during your military service. In such cases, the RMV will issue special non-photo driver's licenses if you are stationed outside of Massachusetts.

Lissa832 · August 2010

I am from Illinois. In IL, AD military and their dependents can apply for a renewal by mail up to a year in advance. They will receive an card that says that their license is valid up to 90 days after the person returns to the state for permanent residency, or after their service has ended.

If you don't want to change your residency, I would fax over your application and information. See if you can get a printout from the DMV to show that the license is being renewed in order to hold you over. The DMV said it would take that long for DH to get his renewal card too, but he had it back within about 2 weeks.

Lissa832 · August 2010

bootsie08:
The_Spanish_Inquisition:

Most states let your drive on an expired license as long as you have a valid military ID, so you'll probably be fine until your new license arrives. Usually, you have within 6 months of your return to your state of issue to get it renewed.

Here's a link to the Ohio BMV FAQ, which has some info on military licenses:

https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/faq_driver_license.stm#tog

I'd absolutely avoid changing your state of residence if you can. There's no need, and it dramatically affects things like your taxes.

This is true, but ONLY for active duty, not spouses. Spouses are expected to either renew their licenses by mail (if possible) or acquire a license from their current state before expiration. There is no protection under the MSRRA. Spouses must always have a valid license.

I don't know your state laws, but this isn't true in every state. Illinois is very "military friendly" when it comes to this sort of thing. They give the same leniency to the dependents as they give to the military personnel.

MandaGail · August 2010

It all depends on what state you're living in. Last time I checked, for example, VA required dependents to get a VA license and register vehicle/vehicles in their name to VA. NC, where we live now, does not require any changes. I kept my TX license and residency in TX. You might have to do a little digging around the state's website, but typing "military" in the site's search box usually shows me what I need to know.

bootsie08 · August 2010

Lissa832:
I am from Illinois. In IL, AD military and their dependents can apply for a renewal by mail up to a year in advance. They will receive an card that says that their license is valid up to 90 days after the person returns to the state for permanent residency, or after their service has ended.

If you don't want to change your residency, I would fax over your application and information. See if you can get a printout from the DMV to show that the license is being renewed in order to hold you over. The DMV said it would take that long for DH to get his renewal card too, but he had it back within about 2 weeks.

ETA: Oops, meant to quote your above response.

You still have to get an official deferral, even in Illinois. Some states will offer dependents an extension that is a piece of paper that you attach to your license. You can't just drive around with an expired license and show your dependent ID card. There IS paperwork involved.

I do some contract work as a researcher and one of my recent assignments was researching driver license regulations for military and dependents on behalf of a national rental car agency.

BravoBravo · August 2010

No, we still have our same licenses. In Florida, there is a card they send you that states you are military or a dependent and they automatically renew your license each year.

Mereou12 · August 2010

Thanks for all of your responses!

Unfortunately, Ohio's military exceptions are for the active duty member only, not dependents. The only way to renew is in person or via mail. And to according to the info online for GA, you must become a GA resident to get a GA license.

I think I'm going to renew by mail and HOPE that it doesn't take as long as they said it would take. I think I'll call and ask for a faxed verification that my license is in the process of being renewed -- thanks to PP for that suggestion!

So let my laziness and procrastination be a lesson for you all...be sure to look up all the info for your state well before your license expiration!! :P

beth0930 · August 2010

I don't know how OH works, but in VA you can get a military extension that's good for 3 yrs, unless you move back to VA in which case you have 90 days to renew your license. I have kept my VA residency because I own a home there. When we were stationed in CA last yr I realized 3 days before my license expired that I only had 3 days and no way to get home to get it renewed. So I called and talked to the DMV and they said I had to fax a copy of DH's ID (blacked out the SSN though) as well as his orders for us to be in CA and they e-mailed and then snail mailed me a military extension for my license. DH has kept his residency in OK for tax purposes and although we're now in NC, we both have different state licenses. Hope this helps!

JLynne427 · August 2010

When I moved to NC to be with DH, I did. We are originally from upstate NY, and I had not planned to change everything, but when I went looking for a job... *saying with caution but seriousness*... I was not to well recepted here in NC with being from NY and considered a "Yankee" and all. And coupled with the fact DH and I were not married at the time, so I was just considered a "girlfriend" which we all know basically means you dont exist. I know that was all flame-worthy, but I am just being honest because people were blunt about their opinions to me. I ended up changing my cell phone # to an NC # for the same reason.

MrsTTaylor · August 2010

I don't just because California has pretty easy laws and lots of services online so to renew and handle things I don't need to go to Cali.

Junebug060609 · August 2010

Lurker peeking out for a minute...

As of this past Veterans Day, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act was signed into law by the President. Read up on it. Basically its states that as a spouse of an AD service member you can either change your state of residence to the new state as most of us had to do before, or you can keep it as your current one.

jlewis121186 · August 2010

uhm, dont be sending or allowing ANYONE to make a copy of your military id...thats illegal now...they can see it, but you cant copy it...just a little bit of info...

swtchik10 · August 2010

I haven't read the other posts so this might be repetative but you don't HAVE to change your DL or Legal State of Residency when you PCS. You are welcome to if you'd like but they can't force you to. There are ups and downs to either option so be sure to check those out. Your JAG office can help give you advice and even change your residency if you so choose. Use them, that's what they're there for. Also, check with your state to see if you can renew your license online. DH and I both were able to renew ours online and they mailed us an updated one.

violetvilla83 · August 2010

jlewis121186:
uhm, dont be sending or allowing ANYONE to make a copy of your military id...thats illegal now...they can see it, but you cant copy it...just a little bit of info...

It can be copied for insurance purposes.

Also, I wish were a way that spouses/dependants didn't have to go through this everytime we moved. I'm from WA and they put "MILITARY" in the experation date. Every state should be the same.

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Do you update your Driver's License/residency every time you PCS?

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