Renewing US drivers license from UK

My California drivers license expires in August. I'd like to renew it so I can have a valid US license when and if we move back to the US in the next few years. I'd hate to go through the hassle of reapplying for a US drivers license if we repatriate.Has anyone done this? Is it possible? I am going to have a look at the Califormia DMV website, but I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with this?

My husband wasn't able to do it remotely for his TN drivers licence but California might be different?

Each US state is different.  I just renewed my FL driving licence online for the second time since moving.  They use my old photo and my signature is scanned in.  I did it because it expires this November, which is when we're hoping to go visit my mother, and I wanted to make sure it was legal before I got there.  Once there, I'll be (finally!) changing my name to my married name, which I have to do in person.

Agreed- all states are different.  In NJ I have to physically go and renew in person.

just to add to the data points- in TX, you can renew either by mail or online *if* your last renewal was completed in person.  So basically, if you live in the UK you'll only have to go in person to renew your license once every 12 years.

The answer for each state should be on the relevant DMV/DPS website.

Virginia doesn't let you renew AT ALL even if you show up in person at the DMV like I did.  They basically said,if you don't live in the State anymore you have no right to driver's licence.  I'm not sure what will happen if I were to move back to the States.  Maybe I'd have to retake the driving (hope not!)

Are you using an international address when you renew or your old US address?

I wasnt allowed to renew my Ohio driving license either as I am no longer a resident there....felt a bit miffed about that but im cool with it now as i have passed the UK test so i feel like i could pass any driving test in the world now 

hi,
   Yes, I did renew my California driver's license from the UK.  I wrote a letter to the DMV in Sacramento, and they responded that I could only renew 60 days in advance.  So I sent another letter exactly 60 days in advance of the expiration date.  They sent me the forms, I filled them out and paid the fee by cheque, and sent it all in.  I heard nothing for quite a while and called them up.  They assured me they were working on it, and I did eventually get the renewal in the mail, but it arrived a week after the expiration date.

   You can find information online about the process in the California DMV site.

Luckily my FL driver's license was renewed before I moved over here and then I got it change with my married name after that too so now it's good until like 2012. But does anyone know if say, any of us with valid US drivers licenses were to get stopped by the police driving in the US, would there be a problem since we don't actually live at that address anymore (I used my family home address which is still technically my address on a few credit card statements).

when i had my michigan licenses i did it on line.

Hi Everyone,

Where would I go to renew my Fl drivers licence online? My server keeps throwing me back to UK websites!

Thank you very much

As I've said before, and as others have said, the laws of most states are very clear that you cannot hold a drivers license if you are not a resident. Using your parents'/friend's/other address when you do not live there is illegal. You also are required to inform the state when you move - so your license that you renewed just before you moved may no longer be strictly legal. If you are in the US, you may well run the risk of incurring fines if you are involved in an accident and police and insurance companies start running checks. Plus, you definitely gives the state reason to question why you are not filing a state income tax return.

OK - if you are here on a student visa or anything other than permanent settlement, then there may be a loophole. Otherwise....make sure you are aware of the potential consequences.

OK - if you are here on a student visa or anything other than permanent settlement, then there may be a loophole. Otherwise....make sure you are aware of the potential consequences.

If you were in the UK for a temporary reason that would be no different than if you were for example away from home studying within the U.S. (in most cases you can maintain your original driver's license if you plan to return). If anything you'd have more justification keeping your driver's license when studying abroad since unlike within U.S. States where you can transfer a license without re-testing in many cases, licenses from other countries are from a completely different system and are less likely to be interchangeable.