I have had a nondriver id since i was 18. I never learned to drive b/c im from the city and take public transportation. When i first go an id, it had the under 21 logo then i got another one later after i turned 21. I then recalled i had the option to renew it either every 4 years or 8. I choosed 4 years and then when that expired i had to get another one and renewed another 4 years and took a photo and my current one is expired already after renewing it yet again.
I know you could apply for another nondriver id online as you wouldn’t have to go to the dmv. However, do the majority of you who renew your ids, do most of you just get 4 years or 8 years? The reason why i always get 4 year is b/c i want to take a new picture every 4 years. Also i would feel very weird if i have a photo of myself at 21 when im 40 thus that wouldn’t be up to date.
Do the majority of you who renew your ids whether license or nondriver id… do most of you do 4 year or 8 year? I would figure the only ppl that do 8 years are those who are lot older such as in their 50s and up? Im just curious if theres anyone here who has an active id but the picture on their id could be say 15 or even 20 years ago and they just kept the same picture. The reason i ask this is b/c when i crossed the border recently, they need to see my passport and in my passport, the photo was taken about 9 years ago or so. And now, im older but i dont look that much older than my photo but i was wearing glasses and the border person asked me to take off my glasses as i probably think he wanted to make sure im the same person as on the id since i was wearing glasses.
Also how long does it generally take for you guys to get your id when you renew them whether at dmv or doing it online? Im from NY and i see online they say it take 2 weeks or so and the last time i renewed my id was 4 years ago so i don’t remember how long it took.
Also i have to renew my passport within the next year as my passport i got was 9 years ago and it renews every 10 years.
Since the OP is asking for personal experiences, let’s move this to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
My state gives no options; driver’s licenses are renewed for six years. The state says it can take up to 30 calendar days for the license to be posted.
So what’s the big deal?
Some states have machines right in each DMV office that can print and laminate your license and hand it to you warm, and some states (like Michigan) subcontract it and send the image to a private company in California or some place who takes their sweet time and drops them in the mail when they get around to it, and meanwhile you drive with a big folded up 8x11 receipt with your old license stapled to it.
States also vary by how long a license can be issued for. Most of them like you to come in for an eye test fairly often, but some states have an 8-year license that can be renewed online without an eye-test for 16 years, although I think the lax states are starting to crack down on that.
I had a Florida license that expired when I was living in Michigan, and Florida tracked me down and mailed me a renewal notice to my Michigan address. I sent them the money, and they mailed me a fresh new 6-year Florida DL with my Michigan address on it!!! No cops ever raised an eyebrow over it.
Ours renews every 5 years, no choice, and you get a new picture every time. And, as above, you get it fresh from the machine all warm and toasty.
Given that you said the max term is 8 years, the scenario of being 40 with an ID picture of 21 isn’t even possible. At 40, an active ID would at most have a picture a 32 year old you.
My state offers ID terms of 5 or 8 years. I always go with the 8 year because it’s cheaper on a per year basis and I don’t have to deal with renewal as often. That’s a win-win for me!