Renewing a driver's license in New Jersey

[BWVDenise]

It would be much easier moving to another state and applying for a new license there.
I gathered all my proof that I was me and headed to the Division of Motor Vehicles this morning. I had my current license, my social security card, my marriage licence, a bank statement, and my birth certificate. I was set for a quick and easy renewal.
I waited patiently for my turn and watched as my documents were spread out on a desk for scrutiny. That's when they dropped the bomb. "This is NOT your marriage license ma'am. This is just the receipt for when you applied for your license. You need the "official" license so you'll have to go to the town in which you were married and get it. There is nothing we can do." I told them that this piece of paper was the only license for our marriage that we have had since 1988, how is it that all of a sudden this is no good? AND, wouldn't it make things so much easier if they made this clear when they sent me the renewal form instead of waiting until I was standing there expecting to get my new license?? So they tell me that I absolutely must go to this other town (a few towns away) and I tell them that it is certainly a good thing I wasn't married in HAWAII, isn't it?! I nearly blew a gasket. I could have had a stroke. Now I know why they have a police officer stationed at the DMV.
So I got the REAL license and then drove to another DMV and after 3 hours, I got the new license with a really bad picture since it was raining while I was running all over. It took my dh about 20 minutes to get his b/c he didn't have a name change.

 

[buzzlady]

Sorry you had so much trouble. When I went in Jan. it took me a total of 10 mins.

 

[sweet angel]

I went in February and was in and out in 10 minutes also.

You said:

"This is NOT your marriage license ma'am. This is just the receipt for when you applied for your license. You need the "official" license so you'll have to go to the town in which you were married and get it. There is nothing we can do." I told them that this piece of paper was the only license for our marriage that we have had since 1988, how is it that all of a sudden this is no good? AND, wouldn't it make things so much easier if they made this clear when they sent me the renewal form instead of waiting until I was standing there expecting to get my new license?? So they tell me that I absolutely must go to this other town (a few towns away) and I tell them that it is certainly a good thing I wasn't married in HAWAII, isn't it?! I nearly blew a gasket.

However, how were they to know you'd bring a RECEIPT, not a LICENSE? I know you don't want to hear this, but that we your mistake, not theirs.

Be happy you're not the elderly couple who called my office the other day looking for info on a name change. They've been married for 60 years and only have the CHURCH CERTIFICATE, not the county one. DMV wouldn't accept that. The county has no record of it. They have to get remarried in order to renew her license.

 

[Rhonda922]

I went in February and was in and out in 10 minutes also.

I was in and out pretty quickly myself. (Not to rub it in.) I took so many things with me to DMV because I knew that I wanted to get this whole license thing taken care of that day so that I didn't have to go back. I don't know how I knew but I took my original marriage license. It has to have the raised seal on it. I got my license done. There's no way that I look like that picture though -- I never like myself in photos. Hopefully you can get it taken care of. I had been hearing about the new license procedure for some time on the radio so I had taken all the documents that I could think of and then some just to be sure that I had what was needed. Better luck on your next go-around with DMV. I know it can be a pain.

 

[LisaNJ25]

It is a pain if you are a married or divorced women. The men have it easier. I do love the fact that you haveto show move to prove who you are these days. Years ago it was easy to get a license or state issued id. Even if it wasnt in your name.

The new laws are probably why there are so many out of state plates in my town.

 

[Caradana]

We split time between two houses. I'm looking into what it would take to get a driver's license in Pennsylvania. Well, unlike NJ and NY, a pay stub does not serve as adequate proof that you have a social security number. You need the authentic social security CARD to get a license in PA. Mine went poof along with my wallet in the Caribbean a couple of years ago, so I downloaded all of the info to get a new card. WELL. I need my current license, my passport, and my birth certificate, and I need to send them the ORIGINALS if I want a new social security card. They provide assurances on the website that they will send them back -- but ???

Does that sound like a hugely stupid move to anyone else? I don't have a social security card, so I should send my entire identity to some government office in order to get one, and trust their assurances that they will mail it back ?!?

SO, I decided I would visit a social security office. I google, I search, and I discover that there is one about 15 minutes from work in Hoboken, NJ. Oh good. Unfortunately, it is open from the massively unhelpful hours of 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Being that I have a j-o-b and we pivot off trading hours, it is easier said than done to rack up all my info and head off to points unknown in Hoboken.

I gave my boss this same speech I just gave you and I'm giong to bail on Monday and try to get a god-forsaken social security card. Wish me luck.

 

[lsyorke]

SO, I decided I would visit a social security office.

I went through this last year. Went to the SS office. I was given a form and STILL had to send in original documents by mail. The good news is that I did get them back, safe and sound. This cemeted our decision to get a passport for each one of the family. Gives you a few more "points of ID"!!!

 

[Cindy B]

I did a PA to NJ rollover a while ago.

I had my original (not receipt) marriage license, bank statements, birth certificate college transcripts --since I am a college student they needed proof that I was actually in college, social security card, PA license, settlement papers on the house and work ID. (picture ID). I think I was overkill on papers.

Anyway, the ID stuff didn't bother me. It was the fact that I had to pay an extra $10 for a "permit" to drive in NJ before they gave me my NJ license. I asked why I needed the permit, and they said we can't issue a new license without a permit... So i had a permit and then got the license. Of course I had to write two different checks out as well, one for the Permit and one for the license.

 

[BWVDenise]

I went in February and was in and out in 10 minutes also.
However, how were they to know you'd bring a RECEIPT, not a LICENSE? I know you don't want to hear this, but that we your mistake, not theirs.



OK, in my own defense-- since this was the only piece of paper I've had since we were married (17 years), I thought this WAS my marriage license! Any time anyone has ever asked to see my marriage license for any reason, this is what I showed them and it was always accepted. I had no reason to believe there was anything else to show. We even went through three adoptions with this same "document" and nothing was ever questioned.

 

[jodifla]

I went in February and was in and out in 10 minutes also.

You said:


However, how were they to know you'd bring a RECEIPT, not a LICENSE? I know you don't want to hear this, but that we your mistake, not theirs.

Be happy you're not the elderly couple who called my office the other day looking for info on a name change. They've been married for 60 years and only have the CHURCH CERTIFICATE, not the county one. DMV wouldn't accept that. The county has no record of it. They have to get remarried in order to renew her license.

This is an odd attitude...be happy you're not the couple married 60 years? Uh, how about New Jersey gets a clue and doesn't make it so darn hard to get a license?

Makes me glad I kept my maiden name!

 

[ryka]

SO, I decided I would visit a social security office. I google, I search, and I discover that there is one about 15 minutes from work in Hoboken, NJ. Oh good. Unfortunately, it is open from the massively unhelpful hours of 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Being that I have a j-o-b and we pivot off trading hours, it is easier said than done to rack up all my info and head off to points unknown in Hoboken.

I gave my boss this same speech I just gave you and I'm giong to bail on Monday and try to get a god-forsaken social security card. Wish me luck.

It will help and save time if you print the application form online and then go to the office. I had to do this and I went to the Hoboken office too. Then you have it all filled out already and with all your forms and you should be in and out of there. You should go as early as you can because it gets crowed there very quickly.

I had to do this a couple of months ago and they just made copies of my documents there and I recieved my new card in the mail within 2 weeks.

 

[jenks0718]

I renewed last year and I was out in about 15 minutes. I am married and brought proof of that my maiden name and also both my social security cards I had no problem.

 

[akhenaten]

This is an odd attitude...be happy you're not the couple married 60 years? Uh, how about New Jersey gets a clue and doesn't make it so darn hard to get a license?

Makes me glad I kept my maiden name!

NJ made it more difficult intentionally.........after 9/11!!!

 

[jodifla]

NJ made it more difficult intentionally.........after 9/11!!!

Ah, yes, the 9/11 excuse. Lots of states have tightened up their requirements, but apparently New Jersey is getting a lot of flak for its overkill.

 

[Servants of Evan]

After reading all that I'm so glad I live in Ohio. Here's my old license, pass my vision test, pay my money and I'm good for another four years...

 

[j's m]

After reading all that I'm so glad I live in Ohio. Here's my old license, pass my vision test, pay my money and I'm good for another four years...

We don't have to pass a vision test. New Jersey doesn't care if you can see, they only care if you have the right paperwork.

BTW I got mine last month. Married and divorced, remarried 30 years ago. I had thrown out the first marriage license, had to get a new one. Never had a marriage license for the second one, we were married at DH's parents, and never even got a minister's copy. All these years I told DH we weren't really married. But I had all my papers, and it was a breeze, other than the awful picture.

 

[sweet angel]

OK, in my own defense-- since this was the only piece of paper I've had since we were married (17 years), I thought this WAS my marriage license! Any time anyone has ever asked to see my marriage license for any reason, this is what I showed them and it was always accepted. I had no reason to believe there was anything else to show. We even went through three adoptions with this same "document" and nothing was ever questioned.

I understand your point, and I wasn't trying to be mean. Since they've tightened the regulations and requirements, A LOT of people (primarily women, from what I've seen) have had a hard time.

I didn't need my marriage license or my divorce papers...I had my passport.

Passports are beautiful pieces of identification!

 

[BWVDenise]

Passports are beautiful pieces of identification!

but I figure I would need my marriage license to get a passport, wouldn't I?

 

[sweet angel]

but I figure I would need my marriage license to get a passport, wouldn't I?

I don't think so....I know you need your driver's license though.