I Almost Let My Driver's License Expire

United States
July 29, 2022 10:49pm CST
Last month I was at a store and they needed to see my license for some reason. The clerk mentioned to me that my license was about to expire "next" month, on my birthday. I hadn't realized that and thanked her for the tip. Then I promptly forgot all about it. On my birthday this past Wednesday, I was drinking my coffee from Dunkin Donuts, happily singing to songs on the radio as I was driving to my first of 3 thrift stores I had planned to go to, and suddenly had a moment of panic when I remembered that my license was going to expire on that very day...in 13 hours!!! I pulled over into a parking lot and looked up on my phone where the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles was. It was 7 minutes away. And by some miracle, I was able to get in and out with a brand new temporary license within 30 minutes. The clerk told me they do send out reminders in the mail, but for some strange reason, I never got one. I am so happy that I remembered (God must have sent me a little nudge) because otherwise, I would have been driving around with an expired license. Have you ever let your driver's license expire by mistake?
9 people like this
9 responses
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148720)
• Roseburg, Oregon
30 Jul 22
No and I would panic if I did like you almost did. Glad you got your new license.
2 people like this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
30 Jul 22
@jstory07 Yes, am glad too. I had a few scary moments there thinking that I wouldn't be able to get it taken care of in time. In CT that time at the DMV would have taken about 90 minutes and really taken a big bite out of my birthday fun. Here in GA, it was much quicker thankfully.
2 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148720)
• Roseburg, Oregon
30 Jul 22
@Kouponkaren How long is the license good for?
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@jstory07 Five years. I will have to remember 5 years from now. Or at least keep looking at that date every time I need to show my license to someone.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34934)
• United Kingdom
30 Jul 22
When I got my license they lasted until your 70th birthday. Since then they have brought in photo licences, which have to be renewed (at a certain cost) every ten years, but they are not compulsory so I haven't changed mine yet. And I'm not 70 yet either. I have had a few worrying moments when I realised I had forgotten to get an MOT though - here vehicles over a few years old have to have an MOT (ministry of transport) test every year to confirm they are roadworthy, and without that the insurance is invalid.
2 people like this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@Fleura That's a good long time to have a license. We don't have an MOT, but some states do emissions testing to make sure cars aren't letting out too much pollution into the atmosphere.
1 person likes this
Marlina
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
30 Jul 22
Glad that you could get it before it expires.
1 person likes this
Marlina
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
31 Jul 22
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@marlina Thanks. That makes 2 of us!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jul 22
Oh wow, that was a bit too close for comfort! I think my licence is good for a couple more years but maybe I'll go and check.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 22
@Kouponkaren It's good till 2025 by which time I'll be 79!
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@JudyEv Did you check and do you have more time left before it expires?
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
30 Jul 22
That's handy to be able to renew in person and in half-an-hour. Still, if you want to drive I guess it is a must do!
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@Ronrybs Yes, I think it's because we live in the southern part of the US. Up north it's much more crowded in terms of the population so a lot more people are crowding into the Dept. of Motor vehicles to get their licenses renewed.
1 person likes this
Luis Asuncion
@luisga814 (7138)
• Quezon City, Philippines
31 Jul 22
Good to know that you've manage to remember that your driver's license is about to expire.
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@luisga814 Yes, I had a few scary moments there. Not fun to go through that on my actual birthday, but all is fine now.
1 person likes this
Luis Asuncion
@luisga814 (7138)
• Quezon City, Philippines
1 Aug 22
youless
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
30 Jul 22
I set a reminder in my cellphone so that I won't miss it
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@youless That's a very good idea. I don't know how far in advance I can do that though. I am all set for 5 years now.
1 person likes this
Dominique
@dodo19 (48140)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
30 Jul 22
I'm glad that this happened. Not exactly what anyone wants.
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@dodo19 No, but at least my story had a happy ending! :0)
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jul 22
I never have but often go get it at the last minute.
1 person likes this
Karen Hellier
@Kouponkaren (5497)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@wolfgirl569 Sounds like me. In the past I have procrastinated but this time I just forgot all about it.
1 person likes this