US driver's license renewel

But driver's licenses aren't federally issued.

I can understand the feeling of losing ties though.  It is hard.

Woot! I got a reply to my PennDOT email:

Thank you for contacting Driver and Vehicle Services.

Since you are unable to return to Pennsylvania (PA) at this time, you may request a photo-exempt license. Please sign and return your camera card, the form DL-82, and a letter explaining why you wish to receive a photo-exempt driver’s license. This form may be downloaded from our website by using this link, DL-82. If you are unable to print this form from our website, I will be happy to mail the form to you. If you would like me to do so, please respond with your current out ofcountry address.

Please mail your signed camera card, letter of explanation and completed application to the following address:

PennDOT
Bureau of Driver Licensing
Discrepancy Unit
PO Box 68615
Harrisburg PA 17104

From the time we receive your application, please allow 22 days for receipt of your laminated photo-exempt driver’s license.

When responding, please include all previous e-mail.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Ric Black
PA Department of Transportation
www.dmv.state.pa.us

I gave up on keeping my PA license - I didn't want to deal with state and local taxes, plus I couldn't get back to renew it there, which was the case the last time - had to go in person and couldn't just renew online.  I sucked it up and got my license here.

Just because you have a license in a state doesnt mean you owe taxes. You must be earning money in a state to owe money. Its not like federal taxes where you have to file on worldwide income.

Do you have a U.K. driving license?  Because, if you do, then you should still be able to drive on visits home, even if your U.S. state license expires.  At least, Wisconsin allows visitors holding (most, if not all) foreign licenses to drive.  I suppose it would be best to check the state you'll be visiting, but I can't imagine it being a problem, short-term.

Just because you have a license in a state doesnt mean you owe taxes. You must be earning money in a state to owe money. Its not like federal taxes where you have to file on worldwide income.

It depends on the state.

Lots of people from Mass are mighty annoyed they didn't change their state of residence before moving over because Mass wants to tax your income no matter where it is from and it isn't cheap. 

Woot! I got a reply to my PennDOT email:

I got that answer when I called, but when you look around the PA website having a PA DL license is one of the things that shows you are intending to maintain residence. 

It is a grey area since I don't have any property/investments and other things, but if I were determined to have residence then I would have to pay taxes on all my income to PA at the state rate, which isn't worth it to me.

Of course, that all depends if you plan on ever moving back. 

Argh, I've got this problem as well  - need to renew my VA license, but apparently have to do it in person this time, and I wasn't planning on going back there this year.  The Virginia DMV site is hopeless, so I think I will call their hotline and see if there are any other options...

It depends on the state.

Lots of people from Mass are mighty annoyed they didn't change their state of residence before moving over because Mass wants to tax your income no matter where it is from and it isn't cheap. 

I'm not sure - Taxes are all complicated in Mass and based upon being permanent resident/domiciled/and place of abode, plus spending more than 183 days there and having Mass income sources
I lived in Florida before -no income tax- but gave up my ties to Florida- get anything sent to my parents house if it won't come here. Did swap to a Mass license again once my Florida one expired- if more than anything so I could get on my parents insurance every time I went home...
 But that doesn't mean I live at my parents house- nor have I had any Mass income in many, many years... It's all so complicated-  The tax accountants who did my taxes when I first moved over said I had ties to Mass. because of family, but that I didn't need to file Mass taxes since I wasn't resident.
Now Mass residents who drive must have Mass. drivers licenses- but it's hard to say if having a driving license makes you a resident -afterall, you don't really meet

Resident" or "inhabitant", (1) any natural person domiciled in the commonwealth, or (2) any natural person who is not domiciled in the commonwealth but who maintains a permanent place of abode in the commonwealth and spends in the aggregate more than one hundred and eighty-three days of the taxable year in the commonwealth, including days spent partially in and partially out of the commonwealth. For purposes of clause (2), a day spent in the commonwealth while on active duty in the armed forces of the United States shall not be counted as a day in the commonwealth. The word "non-resident" shall mean any natural person who is not a resident or inhabitant.

What -- pray tell -- is a "natural person", PB?
I'm sure Taxachusetts is going to get us if they can wangle it one way or another.

What -- pray tell -- is a "natural person", PB?
I'm sure Taxachusetts is going to get us if they can wangle it one way or another.

Very good question BD! I have no clue!!

I was able to renew my IL license by mail. They didn't actually send me a new license, but rather a sticker that said the license had been renewed for four years. You can only do this once though, so in four more years I suppose I'll have to renew it in person on a trip home.

An update on this...

So I did as the email said, filled out the Exemption form along with my Photo page and a cover letter and sent it off to PennDOT last week.

I got an email reply today:

Since you have been living in London for several years, there is a question regarding your residency.  Pennsylvania law only allows for the issuance of a photo exempt driver’s license to a resident of the Commonwealth; Act 152 of 2002 prohibits PennDOT from issuing or renewing driver license products for any person who is not a resident of the Commonwealth.

            Please submit two proofs of Pennsylvania residency.  Acceptable proof may be the most current state or federal income tax record, most current personal or property tax notice, or a recent utility bill in your name with a Pennsylvania service address.  A cell phone bill, bank statement or a safety deposit bill will not be accepted.

            If you cannot provide proof of residency, you  may submit a written request for a refund of your renewal fee (form MV-700).  You are welcome to reapply when you return to PA and can establish residence.  You are welcome to reapply when you return to PA and can establish residence.

If you cannot comply with any of the conditions outlined above, I have attached form MV-700 to apply for a refund, for your convenience.

Sincerely,
Carol Little, Contract Compliance Manager

Nevermind the fact that even before I moved to the UK, I didn't own 2 forms of proof they're asking for, but I certainly don't have it now. So I am humbly admitting that you were right, bookgrl. You can't renew indefinitely without turning up to get your photo taken.

So what this means for me is that I am unlikely to ever drive in the US again, as I don't intend on moving back there (and if I did, I'd have to retake the exams all over again!), and I have zero desire to drive in London, so I don't want to get a UK driver's license. I was just over in September so there's no chance I'll be back over in time to get my photo taken before the expiry period (I only try to go back every 3-4 years if I can help it). I'm kinda bummed, but it's the first major sacrifice I've had to make for severing my US ties, so I suppose it's not too bad.

I *am* going to be annoyed at having to haul my passport around everywhere in order to buy beer though.

I *am* going to be annoyed at having to haul my passport around everywhere in order to buy beer though.

You can always apply for a Provisional UK License as Identification. It will cost you £50, but then you don't have to pack your passport. You can just not drive if you so choose.

You can always apply for a Provisional UK License as Identification. It will cost you £50, but then you don't have to pack your passport. You can just not drive if you so choose.

Sorry, I should've clarified - hauling my passport around whilst in the States. I never, ever get carded in the UK. (And there's no way they'd ever accept a UK Provisional License at ANY bar in PA - if it's not on their photo sheet of state licenses, no go! They barely accepted my husband's UK passport when we were there last!)

I'm sorry that I was right on this one and I'm really sorry you won't have a license.

I had a full-on hairy meltdown when I got the camera card and not the license in the mail.  I've been driving since I was 17.  I was 33. Ahhhh.  I almos felt like I was a teenager again.

It wouldn't have been such a big deal, but my husband doesn't drive so I needed to get my license to rent cars on vacation and all that.