# DMV vs BMV licensing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748 "2023-03-28T01:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gam3changer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dc4da7/32.png) [@gam3changer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gam3changer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/1 "2023-03-28T01:01:24Z")
If I have my license suspended in a state that has a DMV can I get a license in a state that has a BMV? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/2 "2023-03-28T01:10:56Z")
DMV versus BMV makes no difference, but most U.S. states are part of this thing called the Driver License Compact which means they will check to see if you’ve been suspended in any other state before issuing a new license. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/3 "2023-03-28T01:11:54Z")
They are just different names for the same bureaucracy. So the DMV/BMV distinction itself isn’t going to matter. What _might_ matter, and I don’t know the answer or I’d tell you, is whether the various states’ computers talk to each other. When you apply in the new state they will almost certainly ask you if you have a current license in another state or if you have a suspended or revoked license in another state. If you say “yes” they’ll probably refuse to give you one of theirs. If you say “no”, will they catch your lie or not? That is the hard question. Because the USA has 50 states plus DC, there are over 2500 combinations of old state versus new state. We can help you look up the specifics if we know which two states are involved. But absent that knowledge we’re probably guessing unless the Feds have stepped in already to standardize this stuff. Which I doubt, but again I don’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![gam3changer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dc4da7/32.png) [@gam3changer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gam3changer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/4 "2023-03-28T01:12:05Z")
thanks buddy. i know it was a dumb question ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/5 "2023-03-28T01:32:12Z")
50 states, the Disctrict of Columbia, and a few populated territories. ---
**Author:** ![Richox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Richox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richox)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/6 "2023-03-28T11:32:42Z")
Looks like a few states aren’t in this compact : [https://apps.csg.org/ncic/Compact.aspx?id=56](https://apps.csg.org/ncic/Compact.aspx?id=56) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/7 "2023-03-28T13:07:09Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > They are just different names for the same bureaucracy. Yeah, different states call it different things: > **[Department of motor vehicles | Terminology and organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_motor_vehicles#Terminology_and_organization)** > > Driver licensing and vehicle registration in the United States are handled by the state government in all states but Hawaii, where local governments perform DMV functions. In Canada, driver licensing and vehicle registration are handled at the provincial government level. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/8 "2023-03-28T14:26:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > They are just different names for the same bureaucracy. > > Yeah, different states call it different things: > [Department of motor vehicles - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_motor_vehicles#Terminology_and_organization) In New Jersey they rebranded the DMV as the Motor Vehicle Commission. It’s been years but you are more likely to still hear people call it the DMV and not the MVC. In court I’ve seen people take care of very old cases because their suspension finally caught up to the state they were currently living in. Many attempt to plead by affadavit to avoid having to travel. I do remember one cranky judge who was pissed when someone came in to clear up an old case to be able to get his license in another state. In the meantime the officer that wrote the ticket had died very young of a brain tumor. The judge gave out a normal fine for the original change but whacked him with a big contempt fine. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/9 "2023-03-28T14:29:12Z")
RMV in Mass. Gotta be different here in the Commonwealth. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/10 "2023-03-28T14:37:44Z")
You’re already being different being a commonwealth ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dmv-vs-bmv-licensing/981748/11 "2023-03-28T14:41:07Z")
Right.