How can my son renew his driver's license while at USNA before it expires

[USNA_Mom _2021]

Hello,

My son just accepted his nomination to USNA. We have been reviewing things to get done before he leaves, we discovered his driver's license will expire in November while he is at USNA. Went to our local DMV and they said they WILL NOT renew his DL early before he leaves for Plebe Summer. So his license will be expired. How will he have proper identification to fly and/or drive when he gets first leave. Does anyone know if they give freshmen real Military IDs valid for travel or if special considerations are made so driver's license renewals are granted early.
Thanks for any help!

 

[AFBrat21]

It probably depends on your state, but in Florida once you have a verified identification, renewals are done by mail.

 

[Capt MJ]

USNA Plebes are active duty from I-Day on. They will get a military CAC card, which will serve as their primary govt ID. It will seldom be far from his person for the next 9 years or longer.

Does your DMV renew by mail? Or online? I do mine with MD that way, haven't been in a DMV/MVA office in years. If you get it at home, you could send it on to him.

 

[USNA_Mom _2021]

Thanks for the reply. When you say verified identification, do you mean military verification of some kind?

 

[USNA_Mom _2021]

Because he has a probationary license, it can't be renewed by mail. I was hoping that he would be granted an acception of some kind since he would be actively in the military prior to expiration of license.

 

[Capt MJ]

Thanks for the reply. When you say verified identification, do you mean military verification of some kind?

The first time he got a license, he had to bring something that proved his identity. His license was issued based on that verification. Now, it's a matter of renewing an existing license.

The analogy would be when I moved to MD, I showed my BG&E electric bill to prove my address was local, and I was issued a county library card. That was initial verification. Your son has already proven he is who he says he is.

Additionally, some states allow their active duty military residents assigned out of state to drive on expired licenses. Something to research on the DMV site under "military non-resident."

Your son will be an adult on active duty, likely retaining his Home of Record state (the place from which service member originally reported to duty) as his tax residence during his USNA time, and possibly changing the tax state later on, depending on what's most favorable for state income tax.

If you have no military background, prepare to be mystified. Your son will have plenty of help to figure it all out along the way.

Active duty often have a Home of Record in State A, tax residency State B, license plates from last duty station State C, and driver's license from current duty station State D! Military people know if they are stopped by police for traffic infraction, to hand over CAC card and driver's license, to set the scene upfront.

 

[dancing_falcon]

In NJ, if it is upgrading from probationary to a full license it can be done at 18, but you have until you are 21 to do so. For me, my license expiration date is in 2019, even though I turned 18 in 2016. You are allowed to upgrade from the probationary license at any time. Maybe, he can waste a day at the DMV during leave at Christmas or spring (as bad as that sounds) to upgrade if your state lets you.

 

[ktnatalk]

@USNA_Mom _2021, would you be able to share the state your DS is from and maybe posting to the appointment thread as well?

Congrats to you and more so to your DS!

 

[mmb5]

Washington provides a special license to active duty military with no expiration until 90 days after end of active duty.

 

[AF6872]

Most, if not all States, have driver license, tax exemption and registration fee waivers for active duty military serving out of state (check the state and local tax law for driver license, property, state income tax and emission inspection waiver where applicable for the car but you probably have to submit some forms signed by their OIC to the state of registration). Emission inspections can be a problem since some states don't have them and some states require them for registration and don't have reciprocals. It can be a nightmare.

 

[5Day]

Get a passport. DS will probably need one anyway. The passport and CAC card should be all he needs. He can then renew his license over thanksgiving or christmas break.

 

[kinnem]

In addition to other comments, it's just my surmise, but I doubt the driver's license must be current. The key is he has a photo ID that was issued by a government authority. If it had to be current (as long as it's not extremely out of date) I would be very surprised. You could check with the airlines on that.

 

[nuensis]

State laws differ. There's no uniformly correct answer. My state will let me drive with an expired license for a while before I have to renew it. I have stuff from three different states, but usually the authorities near any kind of military base won't even be fazed; it happens to everyone. I did have to drive back to the state I registered my car in just for the emissions inspection.

1. Get a tourist passport. If he doesn't get one now, he will be told to get one later (and no, USNA does not cover the cost or handle the paperwork, he will just be told to get it done). He may at some point be issued a red official passport as well if summer training warrants.
2. Military ID is good for any kind of identification or travel within the United States and--coupled with orders or leave authorization papers--some foreign nations under a Status of Forces Agreement. But see #1.

There's a Midshipman Financial Advisor (usually a LT Supply Officer that's been around the block) that assists clueless mids on issues like filing taxes, investments, cars and such. Local company officers and SELs are also pretty well versed, having done it for a while now. Good resources are readily available.

 

[USNA_Mom _2021]

@USNA_Mom _2021, would you be able to share the state your DS is from and maybe posting to the appointment thread as well?

Congrats to you and more so to your DS!

Thank you very much! We are very proud! I have read many posts over the past year while going through this process with our son and appreciate all we learned from everyone and their experiences. My son in from Wisconsin and received a Congressional Appointment. Should I post to the appointment thread or ask my DS to... (what does DS actually stand for? I gather the s is for 'son'.. D??) Sorry. My husband is a Marine.... I am the civilian wife getting used to the USNA way!!!

 

[Capt MJ]

Thank you very much! We are very proud! I have read many posts over the past year while going through this process with our son and appreciate all we learned from everyone and their experiences. My son in from Wisconsin and received a Congressional Appointment. Should I post to the appointment thread or ask my DS to... (what does DS actually stand for? I gather the s is for 'son'.. D??) Sorry. My husband is a Marine.... I am the civilian wife getting used to the USNA way!!!

D = dear. Your resident Marine is your DH. You are his DW. If you had a second son, he would be DS2. I believe this usage is a SAF quirk, not a military jargon variation.

Your son would have received a Congressional nomination; the actual appointments come from the SAs. Congratulations!

 

[USNA_Mom _2021]

D = dear. Your resident Marine is your DH. You are his DW. If you had a second son, he would be DS2. I believe this usage is a SAF quirk, not a military jargon variation.

Your son would have received a Congressional nomination; the actual appointments come from the SAs. Congratulations!

Sorry.... I knew it was a Congressional nomination..... so much to learn and remember BUT COMPLETELY WORTH IT. I would go through this experience and hard work as a family all over again if I could. We are an even closer family now because of it. THANK YOU again for being so helpful and kind. This has been a favorite place for our family to get help.

 

[Capt MJ]

Sorry.... I knew it was a Congressional nomination..... so much to learn and remember BUT COMPLETELY WORTH IT. I would go through this experience and hard work as a family all over again if I could. We are an even closer family now because of it. THANK YOU again for being so helpful and kind. This has been a favorite place for our family to get help.

Just pay it forward as you will have good current info to share in the coming years.

Now, go have fun and read the threads about I-Day and Plebe Parents Weekend hotels, transportation, where to eat, the links for the USNA calendars, connecting with the Wisconsin USNA Parents Club, and more...

 

[USNA_Mom _2021]

Just pay it forward as you will have good current info to share in the coming years.

Now, go have fun and read the threads about I-Day and Plebe Parents Weekend hotels, transportation, where to eat, the links for the USNA calendars, connecting with the Wisconsin USNA Parents Club, and more...

I sure will! I only hope to be as knowledgeable as you and so many others here are. We are already anticipating the wonderful, exciting and sad trip to Annapolis and the even more sad trip home. Need to find the support threads for parents dealing with the 'loss'. Our DS is literally a best friend to both of us.

 

[CaliNavyMom]

Get a passport. DS will probably need one anyway. The passport and CAC card should be all he needs. He can then renew his license over thanksgiving or christmas break.

I was wondering why it took so long for someone to suggest this...he should get a passport BEFORE plebe summer anyway for any international opportunities that come up while there attending USNA in his future summers.

 

[ktnatalk]

Just pay it forward as you will have good current info to share in the coming years.

Now, go have fun and read the threads about I-Day and Plebe Parents Weekend hotels, transportation, where to eat, the links for the USNA calendars, connecting with the Wisconsin USNA Parents Club, and more...

+1 CAPT!