NY Drivers License Question (1970s)

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a collection of my father’s and grandfather’s old driver NYC licenses. My grandfather’s span from 1966 to 1975.

His licenses from 1966, 1969, and 1975 have photos on them as he had a Chauffeur’s License (apparently, all other license classes in NY did not require a photo until 1984). These photos were taken at a photographer and then affixed to the license at some point. The requirement was for the photo to be taken “within 30 days.”

I have noticed something. The 1966, 1969, and 1975 licenses are stamped with a date of renewal and say in type beneath them: NOT VALID UNTIL STAMPED.

His 1972 license, on the other hand, is all digital; the date is digital, and there is no NOT VALID UNTIL STAMPED on it.

So what I’m wondering is, how did this process work to renew your license back then? Why did his 66, 69, and 75 licenses require a stamp to be valid, while the 1972 one looks like it was all done in one day?

Basically, I’m trying to figure out how long getting your license renewed back then took, what the whole process was.

2

Also, what was the significance of a Chauffeur License back then? What vehicles could one drive with it?

3

Generally, a chauffeurs license entitled one to drive a vehicle for hire, such as having a job in which you drive a delivery van.

4

Yes a chauffeur’s license was needed if you drive a cab. Basic NYS drivers licenses in the 70s did not have a photo.

When you were issued a license back then you had to get it at the DMV. They would stamp it. I think the stamp was put over the photo. If the photo wasn’t stamped, it meant it had been replaced. This prevented someone from replacing the photo and creating a fake ID.

For basic licenses, renewal required a trip the the DMV, but you would get it there. If you had your photo with you, you could renew your license the same way.

5

On these licenses, the stamp is on the front under the name/address. The photo is on the back.

This is his last driver license. Issued in May 1975. He died in October 1975, which is why the Renewal Stub is still attached.

6

I am going to take a guess and say that the license was stamped when the fee was paid. I got my first license a bit after 1975, but I vaguely remember getting the renewal in the mail and having to either mail it back with the payment and eye test results or bring it to the DMV to pay for it and take the eye test. Is it at all possible that the 1972 license without a stamp was a duplicate?