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How to Renew Your Driver’s License

Most state department of motor vehicles (DMVs) now offer you in-person, by mail, or online options for renewing your driver’s license as well as extensions and other alternatives for residents located out of the state.

Exactly what steps you must take to renew your driver’s license depends on your state’s motor vehicle rules and regulations.

  • Renewing a regular non-commercial driver’s license
  • Renewing a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
  • Renewing a driver’s license online

Renewing a Driver’s License

Few people can bear the thought of standing in long lines at their local DMV, so in many cases you can renew your driver’s license by mail or via the internet. Here are some tips:

  • Renew as soon as you can prior to your license expiration (usually your birthday).
  • Driving with an expired license is illegal and you’ll get a ticket, at best, if you’re stopped.
  • Some state DMVs do and some do not charge fees for late renewals. Check with your local DMV for details, but the safest bet is to renew your license promptly.
  • For in-person driver’s license renewals you’ll typically need: proof of identification (birth certificate, passport, official ID card, etc.), proof of residence (utility bill, rent/mortgage statement/bill, etc.), and your social security number.

If you must appear in person to renew your license, find out if your state provides local driver’s license offices. Where used, these satellite locations are dedicated exclusively to handling driver’s license business—new licenses, driver’s tests, and renewals—and can significantly reduce your time spent in long lines.

Renewing a Commercial Driver’s License

If you’re renewing a CDL, the steps for renewing are the same as those for non-commercial driver’s licenses. Most states offer you the convenience of renewing by mail or online. If you have changed residence, changed your address or are trying to change or upgrade the class of your license, you may be required to appear in person at your local DMV or a driver’s license office and complete the paperwork necessary for processing the changes to your license.

Online Driver’s License Renewal

Good news is that in some situations you may be able to avoid the lines at the DMV or save the postage for a mail-in renewal, by renewing online. DMVs that do offer online driver’s license renewals usually do so only under the following conditions:

  • No changes to your personal information, including no change of address
  • No class of license changes: if you currently hold a non-commercial license you can renew the same class of license and vice versa for CDL holders.
  • Depending on your DMV’s requirements, you may also be required to register as an online DMV user.

If you are located out-of-state at the time your driver’s license is due for renewal and renewing online is not an option, your state likely has one or more alternatives, such as short- or long-term license extensions.

For more information, visit http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Motor_Vehicles.shtml
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How to Get Your Driver’s License

New driver? Moving to a new state? Getting a driver’s license can be an exciting rite of passage or an aggravating moving task. Your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) administers drivers’ licenses in accord with established state laws and requirements.

New Driver’s License

Every state requires drivers to have a license and each administers its own driver’s license requirements. Technology has made it convenient for DMVs to make many resources available on the web where you can quickly look up new license requirements, download forms and drivers manuals, take sample drivers license tests, and more. To find your state’s DMV website simply enter the following into a search engine: your state dmv (for example: ny dmv).

If you’re a first time driver, here are the basic steps you’ll likely follow to get your drivers license:

  • Take a driver’s education course in school or through a private commercial driving academy. Many high schools offer driver education classes as part of an elective curriculum.
  • Apply for a driver’s permit, sometimes called a learner’s permit or temporary permit. Check with your state DMV for the eligible age of new drivers. If you are eligible for a permanent driver’s license at age 16, then it’s likely you will be able to get a learner’s permit sometime during your 15th year. Most teen driving permits come bundled with restrictions, such as curfews, limit on number of passengers, limit on number of miles away from home, etc.
  • Log practice driving hours you spend with a parent or guardian. Your DMV will be able to tell you how many practice hours you could be required to have before you are eligible to apply for your real license. The car you’re driving must be registered and, in most states, properly insured.
  • When you are ready and have all the required paperwork and training, take and pass your driving skills and knowledge tests.
  • Qualify for a provisional driver’s license. Many states have graduate driver’s programs designed for young adults under age 25. Teens may have to drive with varying restrictions under the provisional license.
  • Get your permanent license. Pay any license and/or administrative fees required by DMV.

Adults (18+), disabled drivers, and foreign (non-American) drivers may have specific instructions to follow and tests to take, so check with your local DMV office.

Out of State Drivers

As if moving from one state to another was not stressful enough, once there you’ll be legally required to get a drivers license issued by that state, usually within 30 days of residence.

Common documents you’ll need to present to qualify for a new resident driver’s license:

  • Proof of residence: usually a utility bill satisfies the requirement.
  • Proof of identification: birth certificate, Social Security Card, legal identification card
  • Non-expired drivers license from another state
  • Pay any license and/or administrative fees to the DMV.

Avoid needless waiting in long lines at the DMV by using the driver’s license resources available to you on your state’s DMV website.

For more information, visit http://dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl.htm
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Speeding Tickets And Moving Violations

Sure, you may have read so many articles about how to avoid speeding tickets and moving violations, but the question is, were they all effective? Are you still looking for fool-proof ways on how to avoid them once and for all? Then you have come to the right place. Allow me to introduce to you the simple steps and guidelines on how to avoid these road violations.

1. Speed Limits will keep you safe.

Speed limits were created for a reason–to keep you driving at a safe rate when on the road. When you are in your town or city you may be very well familiar with the imposed speed limits. But if you are just new to a certain place, it is best to get to know the driving area first as well as the speed limits. Also get to know their rules and regulations as they may have specific rules to be followed at specific times.

2. The night is not a good time to drive.

When night time comes, we all know it is best to drive where the roads are lit and you know the way very well. But when you need to travel far, you may want to postpone it until daylight. You never know what could be waiting for you down that dark and lonely road. It is better to be safe than sorry, as cliche as it may sound.

3. Avoid driving too slow, either.

If you think speeding is bad, so is driving too slowly. This could be a cause of traffic, and other drivers could get mad at your driving skills. It is best to go with how most drivers are reacting to the traffic flow. You don’t want to get lugged around.

4. Driving defensively is always your best bet against drunk drivers.

When you know how to drive defensively and know the warning signs of reckless drivers around you, you can prevent dangers and accidents along the road. If you want to learn how, there are so many courses that offer lessons on defensive driving. Enrolling yourself in one of these courses will surely give you an additional experience in driving as well as hone your skills to become a better and a more responsible driver. Remember, if they can’t be responsible, you still can.

5. It is true what they say–never text and drive.

Cell phones should not be used when driving. You probably have seen these many times over the television, in the radio, and in newspaper ads. And this warning does not only apply to texting, taking calls while driving should not be allowed too. You could easily be distracted, and instead of paying attention to everything on the road, your attention is diverted to the conversation.

If you have followed all these tips and you are still pulled over by the officer down the road, don’t despair, as sometimes these things really happen and there is now way we can tell for certain. But you can do your part and prevent it if you can.

Also keep in mind the defensive driving lessons mentioned earlier, as they can really help your driving skills. Don’t forget, speeding tickets and moving violations are avoidable if you know the techniques.

For more information, visit http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/faqs/violations.html

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How To Get A Vehicle Title And What Its Used For

A vehicle title is very important especially if you have just purchased the car. If it is a new car without a previous owner, then it is your responsibility to get a car title for it. If there was a previous owner, the title or what is also known as the “pink slip” will be handed on to you by the seller. Whether or not it is a brand new car that you are about to purchase, it is still necessary to learn the basics of getting a car title because you never know when you are going to need this knowledge in the future.

The auto title contains such valuable information that is necessary to pass onto the next owner of the car. It contains the car owner’s name, the address, the name and model of the vehicle, and the year that it was sold. It is usually kept in much secured places in order to ensure its safety. It is what is otherwise known as a proof of ownership.

If you are buying the vehicle from a previous owner, there are certain steps to take in order for the ownership of the vehicle to be passed on to you. For an easy and successful grant of the pink slip, follow these steps to ensure that the vehicle is now legally yours.

The Department of Motor Vehicles in the US is responsible for any actions towards the ownership of any kind of vehicle. You need to know this because when it comes to getting a pink slip for the car you are about to purchase, you will be doing business with them in order to complete the process.

Locate the office of the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state. Some states may not have this, or in cases wherein you cannot seem to find their office, you may go to the local tax department.

The night before you decide to go to the office of that department, you may want to prepare the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin which will be used by the representatives of the department to process your file. Don’t have any ideas where to get this? Ask your dealer and he or she will be the one to provide it to you.

You might want to bring along some information about the previous owner, or what is referred to as the “lien information”. Also make sure that the all signatures of the previous owners are already in the required documents if there are ever documents that need to be signed.

This process does not come free, of course. You are going to have to pay some standard fees for the entire process. When all is completed and you have paid for the services, you may have to wait for up to a month in order for the new pink slip to be given to you, or in most cases, mailed to you and the previous owner. Congratulations, you are now the legal owner of a new car, thanks to the vehicle title.

For more information, visit http://www.vehiclehistory.gov/

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