Does your State do this?

[Lilsia]

So our State Driver's license and IDs are vertical for those under 21 and horizontal for those over 21 so that it is easier for bar tenders to see who is a minor. The problem is that my daughter is turning 21 and her license expires on her 21st birthday. Normally, you can apply for a renewal 60 days out and then send you a new one. Well just for those turning 21, you have to wait until 10 days before your birthday to apply for a renewal but then they said that the license can take up to 2 weeks to get mailed to you. We are flying out 2 days after her birthday and so if she does not get her new license, she will only have an expired one. What genius thought of this? They create this kind of issue for those turning 21, and I am sure that quite a bit travel for their birthday, all to make it easier for bartenders. Seems a bit silly.

 

[kymom99]

Ours have the vertical configuration, but my son just went in person to have it changed. It didn’t expire near that date though so he still could have used it.

 

[CynBeth]

Where we are I believe it is the same for everyone no matter the age can only get the driver’s license that is the Real ID and they give a piece of paper to carry with you as your temporary one until you get it in the mail. Hopefully your state does that. You can ask if the person does not give her anything before you leave explaining the situation. We were fortunate when my DH and DM both had to renew this past Nov and Dec they each made an appointment on a Thursday morning which we heard was the least busy day and got it either on Monday or Tuesday even though were told could take a few weeks. Good luck!

 

[AgentMama]

You may still be able to go in person to get the replacement? Sometimes its just a very long wait. Not sure if you can do that?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

So our State Driver's license and IDs are vertical for those under 21 and horizontal for those over 21 so that it is easier for bar tenders to see who is a minor. The problem is that my daughter is turning 21 and her license expires on her 21st birthday. Normally, you can apply for a renewal 60 days out and then send you a new one. Well just for those turning 21, you have to wait until 10 days before your birthday to apply for a renewal but then they said that the license can take up to 2 weeks to get mailed to you. We are flying out 2 days after her birthday and so if she does not get her new license, she will only have an expired one. What genius thought of this? They create this kind of issue for those turning 21, and I am sure that quite a bit travel for their birthday, all to make it easier for bartenders. Seems a bit silly.

Expired driver's licenses are still valid photo ID for travel purposes one year past their expiration date. The only thing you can't do with an expired driver's license is drive.

If she has a passport or passport card, those will work too.

 

[design_mom]

Our state is 90 days for a regular renewal and 30 days for a turning-21 renewal (my son turned 21 this year, too.) They also mail the final cards (no option to get it in person, even though you must apply in person.)

similar to what Cynbeth said, they provide a computer printout you can use in the meantime. They also give the expired license back with holes punched in it. We didn’t try to fly with his printout/expired license, but he was able to use it for other things where you need to show a valid driver’s license.

I’d have her go as early as possible in her renewAl window as she can to increase her chances of getting the real card in time, but I suspect she’ll be OK.

 

[RF536]

My son just turned 21 on the 14th. He went in person, a month before his birthday, to renew is license. The new license didn't come until 10 days after his birthday. They did provide the printout showing his license had been renewed.

 

[cvjw]

Our state has the vertical and horizontal licenses. Both my boys waited a while after their 21st birthday to get a new license and both licenses were still valid.

 

[mrodgers]

Ours have the vertical configuration, but my son just went in person to have it changed. It didn’t expire near that date though so he still could have used it.

When my license expired last year, I couldn't go in person. They just sent me a new one with the same picture (kind of defeats the purpose of the expiration date as the only reason other than a money grab is to update the picture.)

It could be the OP is in an area that is still restricting life.

And you learn something new every day. I was wondering why inbetween the time my two daughters got their license that mine was still what I thought was the "old style" horizontal license. I never made the connection that under 21 was vertical and over 21 was the same as it has been. I thought when my oldest got hers, they just changed how the license was.

My oldest is 21, but she didn't get her license until she was 18 so it doesn't expire until next year I think, so still has the vertical license.

 

[AppleDumpling]

We have the vertical license for underage drivers as well. (Seems like most states do the same.) When DS turned 21 (3 years ago), he went to the DMV in person to get a Real ID. NY gives you a temporary paper license, unless you renew by mail. He also kept his old expired license until the new one came. I can tell you that on his birthday, he went out drinking with friends, in another state (where he was doing a summer internship), and AFAIK, had no problems being served. I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s a common issue with a simple explanation.

 

[kdonnel]

Georgia has vertical and horizontal licenses.

But the vertical ones can still be used to purchase booze once you reach 21.

No idea on the timelines for renewal.

 

[disneychrista]

We have the vertical license for under 21 but they don’t necessarily expire on the 21st birthday. If they are still valid they can be used to purchase alcohol. They only thing the vertical license does it alert the bartender or clerk to be extra diligent in checking the DOB.

The only thing you can't do with an expired driver's license is drive.

An expired license / ID is not valid for the purpose of purchasing alcohol, at least in California.

 

[tzolkin]

My 23 year old still has her vertical license. It doesn't expire until 2025.

There's a red highlighted section that says "TURNS 21 On 00/00/2020" but that's not the expiration date.

She did once get questioned because the cashier insisted that "they automatically send you a new one when you turn 21", so they thought she was using someone else's old ID.

 

[JimMIA]

Florida uses vertical licenses for <21 year olds, but I'm sure it's not a problem if they keep the licenses longer.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

An expired license / ID is not valid for the purpose of purchasing alcohol, at least in California.

That's a limitation on the purveyor, not on the individual. It's illegal for them to sell you alcohol, but it's not illegal for you to drink alcohol.

 

[nene0182]

No idea the limits on renewals in our state but we get ours printed on site. Our licenses are good for 6 years so that means my sons will expire on his 21st birthday

 

[mjkacmom]

My daughter’s license expires on her 21st birthday, we also have the horizontal/vertical here. She can renew online, it’s in 6 weeks so I’m making her do it today.

 

[kdonnel]

For those whose kids licenses are expiring on their 21st is it that all licenses expire on the 21st in the state or is it just timing? Meaning they got their license at 16 with a 5 year expiration or 17 with a 4 year expiration for example?

Georgia has a renewal period of 8 years so there is no way a license would ever expire on someone's 21st.

 

[disneychrista]

That's a limitation on the purveyor, not on the individual. It's illegal for them to sell you alcohol, but it's not illegal for you to drink alcohol.

Correct. As I said the individual can not PURCHASE alcohol with an expired license/ID.

 

[mrs. magoo]

My daughter just turned 21 on Monday and is at school in another state. She went to the DMV on December 27th to renew. She received a paper copy and can use her old license with the paper copy until her new one comes. We are still waiting on the new one. She also has her passport to use when she goes out. Of course she also has her sister's ID as well.