Driver's license renewal

[nvbirdman]

My 80th birthday is coming up next month and it was time to renew my dl. When it was time for the vision test and I looked in the machine, I was wishing they didn't make those little numbers in there so blurry. Somehow I guessed correctly on enough of them that I passed.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Those machines are nothing but JUNK I couldn;t hardly read those little squiggles either and they told me I needed glasses;
HAH !! They VA is going to lazer polish the back of the lenses they installed to correct the slight cloudiness.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I also just renewed my DL at age 80. What surprised me was that I didn't have to take the eye test as was required in the past.
I even bought a new pair of glasses after going to the eye Doc just to make sure I would have no trouble.

 

[eveled]

Be thankful if your vision can be corrected. I watched my grandfather slowly go blind. He was forced to give up his license in 1970.

I used to stand on the front seat while he drove in the driveway. My job was to yell stop before he hit anything.

He went missing one night, the bus driver let him off at the wrong stop. Then he couldn’t figure out were he was. He walked for hours before we found him.

 

[john guedry]

I don't know where everyone on here lives, but "down here" I think you would have to be almost blind and could pass the drivers license "eye exam."

 

[caryc]

I had to renew mine at age 76. The DMV still used the old chart on the wall thing.

I managed to fail the written test 3 times and had to go back to the start again which I would do the following day. On my way out, I picked up a new drivers handbook. When I got home, I discovered that the drivers handbook that I had studied up on was 14 years old, I had kept it in a file cabinet at home. A bunch of stuff on the test wasn't even in that 14 year old handbook. I studied up on the new handbook and passed the test again with no problems.

 

[AJGUNNER]

I recently had to renew. Took all the paperwork, did the eye test with my glasses on, and for some reason they could not make my passport work to get the new "smart" license. This was on a thursday. No problem I'll just bring my actual birth certificate since they won't accept a photo copy. 2 days later on saturday I get a notice in the mail that my license has been suspended---what the hell??? So monday I go back in and ask why I am suspended. Oh because they now know that I need glasses and since my old license does not show this---I am suspended. Oh they are so smart and up to date and sophisticated, I am completely underwhelmed!!! The DMV is super efficient as we all know (eye balls rolling)---heck it only took them 2 days to send me the notice. So I do it all over again on monday, only this time I don't wear my glasses. You guessed it---I passed just fine with no glasses. Got my new "smart" license without the glasses required endorsement on it. DOH!!!
Similar to the TSA---Oh I feel so much safer--- it just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Also found out that a concealed carry permit IS accepted as part of the required ID to get a license renewed.

 

[BearBiologist]

Washington State requires everyone over 70 appear in person. Had a simple eye exam and a new picture.

Guess they just wanted to that I am still breathing!

 

[Hvymax]

My 80th birthday is coming up next month and it was time to renew my dl. When it was time for the vision test and I looked in the machine, I was wishing they didn't make those little numbers in there so blurry. Somehow I guessed correctly on enough of them that I passed.

What REALLY ANGERED me when testing welders for a job was older welders with decades of experience showing up without cheater lenses. I'm an actual welder to CWI. It's like they made me fail them. It's not like they didn't already know this. If you need to guess at what's on the screen you should just hand over your license and leave before you kill someone. Probably a kid.

 

[Bob Wright]

What REALLY ANGERED me when testing welders for a job was older welders with decades of experience showing up without cheater lenses. I'm an actual welder to CWI. It's like they made me fail them. It's not like they didn't already know this. If you need to guess at what's on the screen you should just hand over your license and leave before you kill someone. Probably a kid.

O.K. ~ What is CWI? From working with an engineering firm I was familiar with AWS (American Welding Society) but never encountered CWI and you've aroused my curisosity.

 

[Hvymax]

O.K. ~ What is CWI? From working with an engineering firm I was familiar with AWS (American Welding Society) but never encountered CWI and you've aroused my curisosity.

Bob Wright
























o.K.

Certified Welding Inspector. I was the Chief QC for a few power plants. I tested every welder on my sites. I tell people that CWI means you don't know how to weld till I say you know how to weld. My stamp was the one going on the project.

 

[Jeepnik]

Just did mine earlier this year. Like Cary they used the old eye chart. But I'm not so vain that I worry about wearing glasses. I didn't want to give them any excuses (if you have heard many states are talking about putting a cutoff on the age one can drive). Seems as we get thinner on the ground the politicians don't care what we think anymore.

 

[jimbo1096]

Renewed mine last year and had to show all kind of stuff and take the eye test. I had a problem with the smaller lines but they passed me and made a note on my drivers license that I was impaired in my left eye. Not that I required glasses. The time before that they just sent me a renewal in the mail and I passed that fine.

 

[Mobuck]

MIL had no problem getting a DL renewal. It wasn't that she couldn't see well enough (with corrective lenses), the concern those who knew her had was: She had no idea where she was and those traffic signs meant NOTHING to her(even the STOP signs).
MO DL renewal is fairly simple and the actual weeding out of folks who don't see well is done by 'agents' working on commission.

 

[JBP]

I just have my optomologist fill out the state form when I have my exam. Saves time when it has to be renewed.

 

[Paul B]

When I went to upgrade my driver's license I had a handful of paperwork required but had left out a current utility bill. here I'm thinking I'l probably never have to fly again anyway so if they reuse the new ID, to hell with it. I had in my wallet my mini passport that is god only in Mexico and Canada so I dug it out and handed it to the clerk. She tells me that it I'd have brought that out first I could have left everything else at home. Anyway, yhey shoot a new picture and 5 minutes lated not only have my new "real" ID but two handicapped plates for my two vehicles. Most people seem to gripe about their DMV office but the one I've had to deal with has been on the whole fairly easy to work with.
Paul B.

 

[epags]

When I went in @80 they renewed it for 5 years and I did not have to take the written drivers test (although I had studied for it and started to ask why I didn't....she said, with her eyebrows raised: "Would you like to?" I shut up and left.)
Oh, when I was 83 and had my successful cataract surgery I had (I think 'I had to' but did not ask the question) to go in and have the 'must drive with prescription glasses" removed from my drivers license. Didn't want to be stopped and given a ticket for not wearing glasses.

 

[gnappi]

Here in Florida they implemented "Real ID" where you have to prove you're a citizen or legal resident alien to renew. My dad who was 88 when his renewal came up had to bring his birth certificate and his given name was Luigi, and even though he went by Louis all of his life they told him to legally change his name to Louis to get it on his FDL, so he wound up being Luigi!

 

[txramfan]

My dad had no issues passing 5 years ago when he turned 95. He studied up and passed first time.
Pop didn't renew his license this April before turning 100. No issue with the test, his feet aren't quick enough for safe driving.

 

[Hvymax]

Here in Florida they implemented "Real ID" where you have to prove you're a citizen or legal resident alien to renew. My dad who was 88 when his renewal came up had to bring his birth certificate and his given name was Luigi, and even though he went by Louis all of his life they told him to legally change his name to Louis to get it on his FDL, so he wound up being Luigi!

My Dad's name was Valentine on his Birth Certificate he changed it as soon as he could. You got named for the Saints Day you were born on.

 

[RSIno1]

My mom was partly blind in one eye. She was having to renew her license on an annual basis. One time the DMV lady said if you sign this form that you know you have vision problems I can give you a 5 year license. Gotta love CA.

 

[caryc]

My mom was partly blind in one eye. She was having to renew her license on an annual basis. One time the DMV lady said if you sign this form that you know you have vision problems I can give you a 5 year license. Gotta love CA.

So, if she got into a bad accident, wouldn't some attorney immediately place the blame on her and her bad eyesight? Don't get me wrong, your Mom might be sharp as a tack, I'm just saying what an attorney might do.

 

[s4s4u]

The last time I renewed my MN DL I did it online. No eye test, no photo. They used the picture from my previous license. Not sure if that will fly next time, but it beat waiting at the local DMV for 3 hours.

 

[Mobuck]

My previous renewal included a copy of my birth certificate in order to get the "REAL ID" version which is required by my job (can't get a passport or enter some government buildings w/o this version?).
Cost an extra $20 to get a 'certified' copy of BC at the county health dept.

 

[caryc]

The last time I renewed my MN DL I did it online. No eye test, no photo. They used the picture from my previous license. Not sure if that will fly next time, but it beat waiting at the local DMV for 3 hours.

OK, but what is your age? That's what this thread seems to be about, senior citizens renewing their license. They used to do it as you said above until I reached a certain age.

 

[AJGUNNER]

The last time I renewed my MN DL I did it online. No eye test, no photo. They used the picture from my previous license. Not sure if that will fly next time, but it beat waiting at the local DMV for 3 hours.

I chose a small town along my work travel route to hit the DMV. The local ones (suburbs or Portland) want you to make an appointment but still no guarantee on not having to wait. Both visits to small town DMV's I was really surprised too walk in, pull a number, and have my number called before I could even take a seat. For any locals---The Dalles DMW is right off I-84 and was actually a very quick visit.