On a very extended trip. How to get a new US Drivers License
My NY Drivers license just expired and I'm not ready to return to the states. How can I get a drivers license that I could use for car rental. Most of my travel will be in Mexico, and I do have to leave here every 6 months or so.
I have no home or property in the US. I've essentially emigrated from the US to the world and I'm living on a boat that can move from country to country. I really only want the DL for car-rentals where Uber is not available or where the journey is excessively long.
My passport is still valid, but they won't let you rent a car with that even though the DL tests are lame at best.
Best Answer
South Dakota is a popular state for RVers and boat lifers who need a drivers license (and auto registration) but don’t have a fixed address anywhere. There are a number of companies who will do most of the paperwork for you as well as take care of your mailing address, for a fee of course. You do need to be physically present when you get the license and stay at least one night in the state when you renew. But that’s a pretty easy thing for most people.
This is all assuming you’re a US citizen.
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How long do you have to renew your drivers license after it expires?
Licences can only be renewed within three months of the expiry date.Can a tourist get a US drivers license?
In fact, tourists can obtain a US driver's license only in certain states, for example, in California or Florida, while in other states, like in Missouri, they are not allowed to apply for a local DL.How to Travel to the USA I What do you need? I Travel Restrictions I Personal Experience I May 2022
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Answer 2
Keep in mind that if you've had your license for the typical 4-6 years, something new has entered the scene: Real ID. This is a TSA requirement that states "Know their citizens", i.e. have better documentation for people to whom they issue licenses. So as a one-time thing, everybody has to renew in person and bring more paperwork than was required before. Even if they would normally be eligible to renew by mail.
I presume you know about PMBs and the ease of mail forwarding.
So you may need to make some of your "world traveling" happen in a US state. Some marinas are built for live-aboard boating, where the boat is the occupant's primary residence and mailing address. The good news is, the moment you start getting bills and whatnot at that address, you can go to the DMV and take that as proof of residency right away. Most states do not want some nonsense like "you must be here 90 days to establish residency"; they want you getting your in-state license pretty ASAP after you move.
Also, most states will honor your less-than-6-month-expired license as proof that you did, in fact, pass a driving test at one point in your life; so they won't hit you with the full standard of driver competency testing they give to new drivers. But don't put this off.
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