Help Harvey: Drivers License Expired

May 12, 2007 on 3:05 pm | In About | | Email This Post

Hey guys, my US drivers license expired some time ago, but I need to go back to the US in June, and actually need to drive… What can be done in this case?

My drivers license was from Iowa, and I’ll be going to Georgia actually.

Anyone have any ideas?

I need to be able to travel to the Japanese Embassy to attend the Monbusho Scholarship interview and exam!

- Harvey

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15 Comments »

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  1. Gravatar

    BTW, I hear that Atlanta has a public transportation network called the MARTA.

    It seems it’s possible to access the Consulate building by MARTA according to the website.
    http://www.japanatlanta.org/

    Still though, it would be great to find out about the drivers license renewal thing if anyone knows!

    Comment by harvey — May 12, 2007 #

  2. Gravatar

    Isn’t the US driver’s license test like a multiple choice test and driving around the block/traffic cones?
    I’d say, do the test again if you get back for holiday or something.
    My European driver’s license was really expensive(something like ~ 1600€) and I haven’t even a car I could drive :(

    Comment by Tadashi — May 12, 2007 #

  3. Gravatar

    My state’s driver’s license manual (KY) implies that you are screwed. You need residence; you must be present to take the test; etc. but the manual will be a simplification of the law.

    If you have parents in the U.S., visit them, claim their residence, and apply at their county’s DMV. More creepy might be to visit a friend and claim their residence.

    Call the Iowa and/or Georgia Depts of Transportation. They should know what your options are.

    I suppose you don’t have a Japanese license.

    Comment by Mike Wilson — May 13, 2007 #

  4. Gravatar

    I can’t tell from Iowa’s terrible Office of Driver Services website what the procedure is for an expired license. If you’re still a US citizen, then you probably have an address you’re using as your US residence? You’ll need to get a license from that location.

    If you’re not a US citizen, Georgia requires that you present immigration documents to get a drivers license.

    Comment by Heather Meadows — May 13, 2007 #

  5. Gravatar

    If you’re not a US citizen, you can use an out-of-country license in Georgia as long as it’s up to date.

    Comment by Heather Meadows — May 13, 2007 #

  6. Gravatar

    After all of the “security”, most of the time when your license expires, you have to go through 5 times the BS than when you got it the first time.

    If you’ll have a “residence” in GA, you should be able to register through them, as long as you prove you have residency there… if it’s in IA, then I don’t know what to tell you.

    Comment by Jess — May 13, 2007 #

  7. Gravatar

    I’m a US citizen! And I don’t have an international license.

    My family is in North Carolina, and I do have plans to visit them, but not until after the exam in Atlanta is over. Hrm. I guess I should get a new license though while I’m there.

    Thanks for the advice everyone! めんどくさいね。

    Comment by harvey — May 13, 2007 #

  8. Gravatar

    Your best option would have been to get a Japanese drivers license while your current one was still valid, then use an International license. But now you’re basically screwed. Save money for taxi fare, I guess.

    Comment by godzilla — May 13, 2007 #

  9. Gravatar

    JapanNewbie.com, now taking taxi donations!

    Comment by harvey — May 13, 2007 #

  10. Gravatar

    Hahaha on the taxi donations… where is your family in NC?

    Comment by Jess — May 14, 2007 #

  11. Gravatar

    How honest are you, Harvey? If you stop in NC first, you can probably renew your expired license by simply paying the fee for a new card, if you pretend that you’re still an NC resident and leave out the fact you’ve been in Japan all this time. You may have to provide some sort of 1st class mail from either a utility or a government agency to “prove” that you still live in NC; if so, and if you don’t already have qualifying mail, order another copy of your birth certificate and have it sent to your parents’ house — you’ll have your mail requirement met, plus an extra copy of your BC to boot. Then you shouldn’t have any problem renewing your license. And if you think you may ever apply for Japanese citizenship, even many years from now, I highly recommend getting your Japanese license. Having a clean driving record is a big plus, because it shows you to be a law-abiding individual. And the best way to have a clean driving record is to have a license but never drive. ^_^

    Comment by Michael — May 17, 2007 #

  12. Gravatar

    Oops, sorry, didn’t notice that you wrote that your old license was from Iowa. Even so, renewing your Iowa license in NC shouldn’t be that big of a deal. In Georgia would probably be more difficult if they have residency documentation requirements, unless you know someone there who can receive mail for you.
    …
    Erm, and if you get arrested for lying to a government official, you didn’t get any of this advice from me. （笑）

    Comment by Michael — May 17, 2007 #

  13. Gravatar

    Thanks for the advice. I’m gonna get a new one in NC! Not much else to do there anyway :-)

    Comment by harvey — May 17, 2007 #

  14. Gravatar

    How did you make out in NC Harvey ? I am in a similar situation .

    Comment by John — June 20, 2007 #

  15. Gravatar

    The short story, I got my license. I’ll email you regarding details!

    Comment by harvey — June 20, 2007 #

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