RENEW YOUR LICENSE OR ID CARD EVEN IF YOU NO LONGER DRIVE.
Q: I DON’T DRIVE ANY MORE. DO I REALLY NEED AN ID?
A: LIFE IS BUSY AND COMPLICATED. WITH ALL THE BIG THINGS TO DEAL WITH, SOMETIMES THE SMALL STUFF CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE OR ID HAS EXPIRED? NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT? THINK AGAIN
FLORIDA ‘REAL’ ID
THE FEDERAL REAL ID ACT OF 2005 (EFECTIVE NATIONWIDE SINCE 2008) CHANGED THE STANDARDS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF DRIVER LICENSES AND ID CARDS.
IN FLORIDA, A TREASURED ‘GOLD STAR’ IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF YOUR ID INDICATES YOU HAVE MET THESE STANDARDS.
IMPORTANTLY, BY MAY OF 2023, YOU MUST HAVE AN ID OR DRIVER’S LICENSE WITH A GOLD STAR TO BOARD FEDERALLY REGULATED AIRCRAFT.
WITHOUT THE GOLD STAR, A SECOND VALID FORM OR ID WILL BE REQUIRED
OBTAINING REAL ID
THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES REQUIRES YOU APPEAR IN PERSON TO GET YOUR REAL ID FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC IF YOUR PREVIOUS ID EXPIRED.
UNFORTUNATELY, FLORIDA DOES NOT HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ACCOMMODATES THE HOMEBOUND. HOWEVER FLORIDA ALLOWS YOU TO RENEW A CLASS E LICENSE UP TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE!
SO YOU CAN RENEW ONLINE-AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALREADY REAL ID COMPLIANT.
IF YOU LET YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE EXPIRE AND DO NOT RENEW WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM THE EXPIRATION DATE, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE WRITTEN AND VISION PORTION OF THE DRIVER’S EXAM.
IF YOU ARE CHANGING TO AN ID CARD INSTEAD OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE, YOU STILL MUST APPEAR IN PERSON THE FIRST TIME YOU GET AN ID.
AGAIN, HOMEBOUND SENIORS NEED TO RENEW ONLINE BEFORE EXPIATION TO AVOID OBSTACLES.
MAKE YOURSELF A NOTE TO DO THIS, AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF YOUR ID.
I DON’T DRIVE ANYMORE. WHY DO I NEED AN ID?
APART FROM BOARDING AN AIRPLANE,THER ARE MANY OTHER SITUATIONS THAT CALL FOR A VALID ID.
WHAT ABOUT AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DOCTOR – OR AT YOUR POLLING STATION WHEN VOTING? ESTATE PLANNING NEED LEGAL DOCUMENTS NOTARIZED. NOTARIES PUBLIC WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR A VALID ID.
AVOID THE HEADACHE AND DO NOT LET YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE OR ID EXPIRE.
Click for Florida ID information
Sheila Birnbaum’s professional career has been devoted to enhancing patient care. As the Director of the Patient Advocacy Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), Hamilton, NJ, she instituted numerous programs, many which received statewide recognition, including several prestigious rewards.
