American Driver's License Expiring - what to do?

[YpsiFella 20]

Hi,

My American wife is awaiting renewal of her Canadian permanent residency card. We let it expire while we were living in the US for a few years. We did not know we could have renewed it while she was there and frankly we never planned on returning. Spilled milk!

Now her permanent residency card won't likely get here until AFTER her American driver's license expires. If it is a BC license I know that they will allow her to renew for up to three years without taking the test. She is freaking about taking the test though if she has to.

Anyone been through this? Her license will expire mid-February and she won't get card until end of February earliest. We tried to get her a license already and they denied it without a permanent resident card or Canadian passport.

Thank.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Back to BC

[bigdog 376]

Just pay the renewal money for the DL when the card arrives. You should not have to retest, but it depends on the state.

[YpsiFella 20]

Just pay the renewal money for the DL when the card arrives. You should not have to retest, but it depends on the state.

No - sorry - you missed it. She is in Canada now. It is her American license expiring here in Canada while she waits for her Canadian permanent residence card.

Thanks.

[kamhoe 5]

What state of residence is your wife? Contact her state driver licensing about the ways to renew it!

[YpsiFella 20]

What state of residence is your wife? Contact her state driver licensing about the ways to renew it!

Her state does not allow on line renewal - some states do - Kentucky only allows in person renewal. Which would mean a $500 flight and a few days to get a driver's license.....and you have to have an address in the state to get it - which we no longer have.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Back to BC

[bigdog 376]

What state of residence is your wife? Contact her state driver licensing about the ways to renew it!

I guess that's what I meant thanks.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

According to what I found online: http://www.dmv.org/ky-kentucky/renew-license.php she has up to a year to renew it after it's expired without penalty. She just pays the $20 fee. After the year she needs to re-take the tests.

Here is the actual DMV site: http://courts.ky.gov/counties/jefferson/driverslicense.htm that says the renewal will have to take place in Louisville if it's expired (and under a year expired). I don't know where that is compared to where you live but travel within your state is probably cheaper than flying from Canada.

**Edit - I just saw that you don't have an address to renew it to... so if you've moved back to Canada to live I would just redo it all if/when she moves back to the US. If you do come back that within the year though it helps to know she won't need to re-take the tests.

**Edit 2 - Another option would be to do what I do with my Aussie licence. I consider my parents address my Aussie base address so that's what my licence has on it. But if you're not going back to the US for some time I just would wait and see what happens.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony