Okay, how did I get so lucky? I let my California driver’s license expire, and the DMV couldn’t find me to mail me a notice because I had moved. I tried renewing by mail, like the DMV said I could on their website, but they kicked it out and wrote that I had to come in and take a written test. Fine, I thought, I screwed up and let my license expire, and this is my punishment. Studying the booklet was boring and a pain, but I did fine on the test.
Now, I find out that two of the people I work with had similar experiences, i.e., they moved and let their licenses expire. However, both of them were not required to take the written test! What gives? What is the DMV’s criteria for deciding who should take the frickin’ test?
Gripe gripe grumble grumble gripe gripe
I had this happen to me. I had moved and my driver’s license expired without my realizing it for awhile. At the time I didn’t have a car but I did have an Illinois ID card which was sufficient for getting into bars and such. As a result I was in no hurry to get my driver’s license renewed.
Move ahead several months (maybe 7 or 8) and I am about to go on vacation and rent a car. I toddle down to the DMV to get my license renewed. To my surprise they sit me down and make me take the test and then made me take a driving test as well. I was totally unprepared for any of this but everything went well and I got my license.
The guy at the DMV told me that if my license has lapsed for more than 6 months (I think…maybe 3) then all of those tests must be taken again.
Of course, this is Illinois and not California so it may be totally different but maybe you just waited too long to renew your license and your co-workers didn’t.
Just a thought.
I’ve lived in both Illinois & SC and both states require a written test after a certain amount of time. In SC, you have to renew every 3 years, but every 9 years you have to take a written test. I don’t remember what it was in Ill, but it was similar.