Living Car Free - Expired Driver's License

I just noticed that my driver's license has expired. I might want to rent a car sometime if I have to travel for work. Anyone have problems arise because you don't have a driver's license?

I've never had one. Can be a pain because its the most common photo ID, but I can't say not having one has ever been a problem. If you ever want to rent a car, however, you will obviously need one!

Yeah. I tried to go without one, but if you have an expired license, some stores won't let you write checks or use it as a form of identification. Banks won't let you use it as a form of identification. Mostly, my problems came from using it as a form of identification. I finally broke down and got a new one, but dang! It was a problem.

Koffee

When I got my new license a few years ago, it was a photo-less, little piece of paper, pretty much useless; I still had to keep my old, expired photo license which worked about 95% of the time. If they noticed it was expired, I'd just show them the useless piece of paper, and badda bing.

Use your passport as ID.

Or go get a non-driver's ID card at the DMV.

Using your passport as an ID is an idea except really, it's only supposed to be used at border points with entering and leaving the country. Read the fine print in the passport- it states that expressly.

Otherwise, a good alternative, but if you're someone who sometimes misplaces stuff, be very afraid, since the hassle of getting one replaced is almost not worth it.

Koffee

Driver's licenses are more portable than a passport since the passport is the size of a small paperback book and the driver's license is just a credit card size in probably all the 50 states.

I rather lug around the license.

I think most states will issue an identity card in lieu of a driver's license. I haven't driven in 14 months but I intend to keep my license current just in case. Now as to whether I should drive that is an open question.

The biggest problem I've ever had in not having one is running into one of these bean-counters behind a desk who cannot fathom not having one, and can't wrap their little minds around a passport or any other form of ID.

I just noticed that my driver's license has expired. I might want to rent a car sometime if I have to travel for work. Anyone have problems arise because you don't have a driver's license?

Keep it with you anyway.
Ive driven on expired liscences for almost 2 years sometimes and never
had a problem using it as ID.
"Yes Ma'am....I understand the license is expired, but I have not...I can assure
you the person you see there is still me"

I never noticed that my driver's license was expired for more than a year. Actually, an oficer at the credit union noticed it when I applied for a new account. They said the only reason they were accepting an expired license was because I've been a member for 20 years, and because they have noticed that I always ride a bike when I come there! :)

I think most states will issue an identity card in lieu of a driver's license. I haven't driven in 14 months but I intend to keep my license current just in case. Now as to whether I should drive that is an open question.

Exactly. Just make a visit to your DMV, and they'll issue you an ID card.

Exactly. Just make a visit to your DMV, and they'll issue you an ID card.
My state, and I think most others, also require that banks and merchants accept the ID card just as they would a driver's license.

I guess some unknown carfree pioneers won that struggle for us.

Thing is they have to accept a state issued ID card as identification.

A driver's license is just an approval to operate a motor vehicle on the public roads...if an establishment is discriminating by only catering to drivers, be sure to raise hell. I'm pretty sure that's not legal, unless it's a rent-a-car or some similar business.

I've been using an ID card for a while now. Once I decide it's time to get a car again, I'll go do the silly drive test and multiple guess paper, and get the silly thing. Until then, ID card.


Oh and for video rental, just present some recent utility bills along with state ID, or voter ID card along with state ID, etc...and all is well.

I hold a commercial class-A with tankers and HazMat to keep my job opportunities open.
Even though I haven't driven a rig in almost two years, I still keep up to date on the current Dept. of Transportation laws and DMV guides.
I'm also required to get a medical card every two years to keep it current.
Aside from that license class, I also still have my regular car(C) endorsement, and a recently added M1 motorcycle endorsement.
The way I see it, a bicycle is my all-purpose utility vehicle that is vital to everyday operations.
Cars are like a toy to me, keep at my stepdads under tight tarp until needed.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I found out that I could renew online this
time so went ahead with it. It is still interesting to read about your experience with or without this piece of car culture.

I owned a California State ID card and never had a single problem.

I hold a commercial class-A with tankers and HazMat to keep my job opportunities open.
Even though I haven't driven a rig in almost two years, I still keep up to date on the current Dept. of Transportation laws and DMV guides.
I'm also required to get a medical card every two years to keep it current.
Aside from that license class, I also still have my regular car(C) endorsement, and a recently added M1 motorcycle endorsement.
The way I see it, a bicycle is my all-purpose utility vehicle that is vital to everyday operations.
Cars are like a toy to me, keep at my stepdads under tight tarp until needed.


Dang, you can drive anything probably! :D

why would you want to not have a driver's license if you are capable of driving? seems like getting an id card instead of a dl only limits your possibilities.. there are always those "what if" situations that may arise in which case driving a car can be helpful verging on a safety necessity (being able to take the wheel in case of the normal driver's intoxication comes to mind, for one). of course if you don't drive, don't know how and don't want to that's one thing, but if you have had a dl in the past, why not just maintain it?

If anyone ever does realize your license has lapsed, go to the DMV quickly if you still want one. Mine lapsed this summer and I wasn't worried untill my mom wanted me to rent a car. I got to the DMV on the last day that I could before I would have had to retake my driver's test. Not a big deal, but given the tight amount of time I had, it could have been a major annoyance.

when you use your passport as an id, it's rather cumbersome, rather expensive if you lose it, and rather exceptional, so questions will be asked. those things don't hold up too well in the wash, and when you get your new one, the federal government, in all their irony, will say you have "mutilated" your old one and will only let the new one stay valid for half as long. get a card.

In Washington state (and Oregon too, iirc), you must show a current state-issued photo ID card to buy cold medicines containing psuedoephedrine and a few other similar chemicals. A passport, student ID, etc won't work... it has to be a driver's licence or state ID card.