Military Families
TheLovingWife
member
Talk to me about Driver's License and Registration
TheLovingWife
member
I am currently staying with my parents while waiting for my DH to leave for Basic next month. My parents live in a different state than we did before my DH enlisted. My driver's license expires next month, right after DH leaves for basic. I am in a different state, but will only be here for about three months before we go Monterey.
Can I keep my current license and renew it somehow? Do I have to get a new one and then another new one when we move to CA? What about my registration? I feel like it would be a big pain to get a new one if I am only going to be here for a few months, and I would hate to pay to change my vechile registration if I don't have to.
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Re: Talk to me about Driver's License and Registration
DH and I are both residents of Illinois. IL has a clause that military members and their families can drive, legally, on their expired license for 6 months following either returning to the state, or leaving the military. It was somethingi had to apply for, and I received a card to carry with my license. You need to look into the laws in your state of residency.
As far as registration goes, do it by mail/Internet. Some states require emissions or state inspections to renew plates. Most states have agreements with other states to accept their inspections/emissions tests if they are required to renew. In which case, you get the required tests done in your current state, fax the paperwork, and renew your registration.
Go to the DMV website and try to renew by mail. I have a VA license and was able to do so. It was super easy. Avoid letting your license expire because it can cause a big mess in some states.
In 2009 Congress passed the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act to give us the same benefits as our active duty spouses. You can read a brief summary here: https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_blogs/Community?action=communitypost&comm=milspouse&blogkey=milspousepcs&postkey=military_spouse_residency_relief_act1
You can google it too and get the whole thing (it is written in legalese so is a bit complicated).
Married 6/28/03
Kate ~ 7/3/09 *** Connor ~ 11/11/10
4 miscarriages: 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014
*~*~*~*~*
No more TTC for us. We are done, and at peace, as a family of 4.
"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” — Charles Dickens
Some states also let you renew online, so check for that, too.
I didn't change my DL when we were in Monterey. If you bring a car from out of state, you don't have to change to CA registration, but you DO have to pass a CA smog inspection.
Since you mentioned Monterey, will he be at DLI? If so, I'm assuming you won't be in CA very long (we were there just over a year), so I wouldn't bother changing everything to CA.
We will be at DLI, no idea what language yet so I am not sure on the time-frame. That is the main reason that I was wondering, I really think it would be a pain to switch everything for a year or so.
Any info that you want to share about Monterey? I am nervous/excited about the transition to military life and would love to hear about your experience there.