Your license is close to expiration and you are asking yourself if your license is expired what happens? Well, if this is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover when it comes to expired licenses, and what are the possible repercussions when it comes to not having these documents renewed.
- What Is Driver’s License?
- Why So Important?
- License Types
- Expiration
- Why There Is Renewal?
- What Happens After Expiration?
- Ways To Renew It
- Cost
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
As you probably know, personal documents should be regularly renewed. On each of these documents like your ID, or driver’s license, you have an expiring date. And you need to make sure that you follow these expiration dates carefully.
Because if you forget to renew one of them and a cop stops you on the highway, you risk facing some repercussions. And these repercussions can be significant in some instances. This is why we strongly recommend you renew your license on time. But what if your license is expired, what happens? Well, more on that, we are going to cover in this article.
First, we are going to learn what is driver’s license and why it is so important. Then, we will take a look at the types of driver’s licenses and their expiration. We will also learn why is renewal essential and then we will cover the question of if your license is expired what happens. We will cover all the important aspects of this problem. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
What Is A Driver’s License
Now before we dive into more complex topics, such as if your license is expired what happens, let’s first take a look a the basics when it comes to driver’s licenses and learn more about them. Knowing the basics will help understand what is a driver’s license and also where to look for your expiration date. So, let’s get to it.
So, what is a driver’s license? Well, this is a really important legal document that gives you the authorization to maneuver a certain type of vehicle. So, as you can see, not all licenses are the same. But more on the types, we are going to elaborate on in a moment.
What is important for now is to understand the concept. This is especially important for people who do not have a driver’s license and want to take driving lessons.
A driver’s license even though it is a legal document comes in a plastic form. Back in the day, driver’s licenses were made out of paper. And this made these documents too easy for counterfeiting. So, new ways of designing them had to be introduced. This is why all modern driver’s licenses are made out of plastic.
For a good purpose, they are produced in the same size as your credit card and are able to fit any wallet that supports credit cards. Which is good for storing it and making sure that you never lose it. But what if your license is expired what happens? Well, more about that, we are going to cover it in a bit. Now let’s take a look at why this document is so important.
Why Driver’s License Is So Important
So, we learned the basics of what is a driver’s license and we learned that this is a really important legal document. But why it is important? Well, that’s what we are going to cover in this chapter before we dive into what if your license is expired what happens.
Why the driver’s license is such an important document that you need to always have by your hand whenever a cop decides to pull you over? Why if you don’t have one, you can even end up in jail or get heavily fined?
Well, the reason is simple, cars are methods of transportation that carry a lot of liability. Whenever you get behind the driver’s seat, you are liable for anything you do on the road. If you hit a pedestrian you will go to jail, if you make a collision, you need to have insurance and also documents to sort things out.
Without a driver’s license, you are basically a ghost. Not that you are not liable for anything. But the repercussions without having this document are going to be a lot greater and you will have a difficult time sorting things out if you potentially cause an incident.
And the chances for doing so are really high, especially if you haven’t passed a driver’s test and you don’t know how to read signs.
I can get in a helicopter and learn how to fly it after a couple of hours in a simulator. But will I be a good helicopter pilot without a license (for more context, check out our guide on can you buy a car without a license) and the hours invested into learning everything about this machine? Well, probably not, and I risk crashing it once an unpredictable situation occurs. And that’s the same case with cars. So, now you know why you need it.
Types Of Driver’s Licenses
Now let’s cover another interesting topic before we dive into the question of if your license is expired what happens? And that topic is the different types of driver’s licenses that are out there. Remember that there are 50 states and in all these 50 states things are regulated quite differently. But in general, the concept is pretty much the same.
When it comes to the types of driver’s licenses, it is worth mentioning that there are two types of licenses in general. Standard driver’s licenses and commercial driver’s licenses. Also known as CDL.
The standard driver’s license usually is known as a Class D driver’s license. This is the most common type of driver’s license that you will come across. This type of driver’s license will give you the ability to drive any sedan, SUV, or light-duty pickup truck, and also you can drive RVs or trailers.
There is a separate subtype of the Class D driver’s license that is known as the DJ. This Class DJ is simply a junior driver’s license. A junior driver’s license is given to drivers who are still not experienced and this type of driver’s license has some restrictions depending on the state where you live.
And on the other side of the spectrum, there are CDL driver’s licenses. These driver’s licenses are commercial driver’s licenses. Purely intended for commercial use. So, if you want to drive for a trucking company, then you will need to have one of these.
There are three classes. Class A, Class B, and Class C. And depending on the type that you want to get, you need to participate in a special CDL training program. These driver’s licenses are also rather expensive to get. But if your license is expired what happens? More on that next.
Driver’s License Expiration
Now let’s cover a bit more on the driver’s license expiration before we cover what if your license is expired what happens. This topic is really important because you need to know when your driver’s license expires.
As with every personal document, similar to the driver’s license, you have to renew it at a certain period of time unless you want to suffer some consequences and repercussions and have to deal with the laws. So, how you can find this expiration date?
Well, on each driver’s license, there is a section that says ISS and EXP. The ISS refers to the date when this driver’s license was issued to you. The date is usually right after or below the ISS abbreviation. And below the ISS, you can notice the EXP.
The EXP refers to the expiration date of your driver’s license. Right next to the EXP, you have a date that tells you till when your driver’s license is valid. For example, 04/30/2023.
This means that somewhere at the start of April 2023, you need to call your local DMV and get the papers to renew your license and take a fresh picture. But why is this all necessary?
Well more on that, we are going to explain in the following chapter where we will discuss all about it. After that, we will take a look at what if your license is expired what happens. And you definitely don’t want to miss that. This is why it is crucial to follow us closely while we elaborate on everything in detail and learn more about it.
Why License Renewal Is Necessary
Another topic that we would cover before we learn if your license is expired what happens is the reasons why renewal is one of the essential things that has to be done. So, let’s elaborate more on this in this chapter and find out why this is important.
A lot of people would say that this is another way for governments to collect money from people. Which is a good explanation. But when you consider the average cost for a renewal, you will understand that is quite cheap and it mainly covers the costs of creating the new license as well as the labor for the people who are involved in this process.
Still, you need labor to take care of all the documentation and other paperwork. And labor costs money.
Now let’s discuss what is the real reason for renewals. And the real reason makes a lot more sense. And that is maintaining the information up to date.
Through the years we change a lot and at 60 we don’t look the same as we did when we were 40 or so. This is why updating personal images is really important.
So, when an officer pulls you over, he will have the right image for you and will be able to tell right off the bat when he sees the driver’s license that you are the guy in the photo.
Also, if you have veteran status, you will have some benefits as well. And this status is also added to the driver’s license as well. A public representative will immediately know that you are a veteran and you will not have to carry with you documents like the Certificate of Release. Now let’s see if your license is expired and what happens.
If Your License Is Expired What Happens
Now let’s take a look at what if your license is expired what happens in this situation? Well, we can say that this is a serious situation when it comes to your ability to maneuver a car or a truck as you did previously. Why is this the case?
Well, this is the case because you are not driving the vehicle legally anymore. So, what does this means? This means that you can get fined pretty heavily if you decide to drive your car like this.
So, sitting behind a vehicle with an expired license means that you don’t have a license. And this is not allowed by the law.
So, you can either get fined by the police or even get a suspension on your driver’s license if you do this unlawfully.
It is your call after all, but we wouldn’t recommend you to do it because you put yourself at great risk of losing the ability to drive in the long term. We will list some of the repercussions that you might face when you deal with a police officer.
The fines for this type of driving with an illegal driver’s license range up to $250. And frankly, this is your least concern. You can also get points added to the driving license, as well as arrest and impoundment of the vehicle if you do this consecutively.
So, the first time will not be that serious and you will get away with a few points and a fee. But if you continue doing this, you can face much worse penalties.
So, overall, this is the answer to the question of if your license is expired what happens? Now let’s move on and answer other common questions that bother people who want to renew their licenses.
Ways To Renew Your Driver’s License
Now as we learned more about what if your license expired what happens, let’s move on to other topics. More precisely the ways to renew your driver’s license. As you probably know, there are three ways that you can try in order to renew your driving license. And these are to go there in person, renew by mail, or renew the driving license online. And we are going to cover all three ways in the next three chapters. So, follow along.
If Your License Is Expired What Happens, Renewal #1: Renew Driver’s License In Person
The first type of driver’s license renewal that we are going to cover since we learned if your license is expired what happens is the best way in our opinion.
For this purpose, you need to check the expiration date of your driver’s license and go to your local DMV two months prior as we would recommend. Don’t wait for the last day because in some cases the new license will not be done right away.
Just visit your local DMV and fill up the form, pay for the fee which is a rather small fee. Then you will have to take a picture and you will be good to go.
In some cases, you will have to take a vision test or a driving test if you are an older gentleman or you have suffered some accident that affects your ability to drive. Then you will be good to go, you will get your new license by mail in about 30 to 60 days or less.
If Your License Is Expired What Happens, Renewal #2: Renew Driver’s License By Mail
The second method that we are going to cover since we learned if your license is expired what happens is the renewal by mail.
This is the method that is probably least used by people. But it works! The thing you will have to do in order to meet this condition is for your last renewal to be done in person, also, you should be less than 70 years old, you should be not on probation, and your driving license has at least 60 days before expiration.
Usually, the DMV sends this letter to you that notifies you to renew your driver’s license. In the letter, you will have all the documents needed to fill up and how to pay, then send these documents back to the DMV.
And after 60 days, you should get your new license. Remember that this is an old method that we usually don’t recommend you do because it is rather slow. It is much better to go in person or try the third method that we are going to cover next.
If Your License Is Expired What Happens, Renewal #3: Renew Driver’s License Online
And the last type of renewal that we will mention since we learned if your license is expired what happens is the way to renew the driver’s license online.
Nowadays we live in a digital era and renewal online is a rather trendy thing to do. Mainly because it is rather convenient and can be done in a few clicks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAp5nf3DKo8
The only thing you need to have is an internet browser and that your current address and personal information have not changed. Also, the DMV has your social security number verified, and you can pay the fees with your credit or debit card.
The only thing you need to do is to go online and look for your local DMV website. Usually, each state has a DMV website. There you can apply for a renewal of your driver’s license. Just fill up the form, pay the fee, and you are good to go.
Not to forget that you will also have to wait for 30 days or more to get your new license. So, I would advise you to do this process at least 2 months prior before your license expires. This way you will be sure that you are not left without a driving license and you will definitely not be looking online for if your license is expired what happens next.
Cost To Renew Driver’s License
Since we covered the topic and learned if your license is expired what happens? We think that now it is time to discuss another topic that a lot of people are curious about. And that are the costs that are involved in this renewal. How much does it cost to renew a driving license?
Well, we cannot give you a precise number because costs vary a lot from state to state. Starting from $30 to $130.
Each state has its own legislatures that determine these costs. And for a more precise number, you will need to contact the DMV and make sure what is the exact amount of money that you will need. Even though it is not much, on average the prices are between $50 and $75. Now let’s conclude this article.
If Your License Is Expired What Happens: In Conclusion…
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the question of if your license is expired what happens.
First, we learned what is a driver’s license and the different types of driver’s licenses that exist out there. Then we moved on and learned about the problem with an expired driver’s license and we answered the question of if your license is expired, what happens? And lastly, we learned how you can renew your driver’s license and which methods are available for you.
F.A.Qs On If Your License Is Expired What Happens
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Do I Need To Renew My License
In order to renew your license, you will need to get your personal identification, and your old license, and also fill up the form at your local DMV. Then you will need to take a picture and your license will be delivered to you in about 2 to 4 weeks.
Can I Renew My License Online
Yes, you can renew your driver’s license online. You just need to go to your local DMV’s website and fill up the form, also pay the fee and the new license will be delivered to you via mail.
Does Your Driver’s License Number Change
The driver’s license should be the same until you live in the same state. If you move to a different state, the driver’s license number will change.
How Long Does It Take To Get A New License
This really depends on the state where you live. On average it takes about 2 to 4 weeks in most places. In some states, it could even take up to 60 days. So, it really depends on the place of living and how fast the DMV with issuing these documents.
