Do I need to tell DMV I am moving?

I'm flying 1 way to the UK on 4 Sept. I've lived in Louisiana my entire life, I've had a license here since I could drive and I've always had my own car. I recently handed over my car to my dad via "power of attorney" and he's going to sell it to my uncle in my absence. My mom pays my insurance on the car, so once I move the car/insurance are in good hands, and not mine anymore. (My parents are great!)

My licence is valid until 2021. However, it has my current address on it. I live with my aunt, so when I move the address will still be there, it's not like an apartment or something that will go vacant or be lived in by someone else. So, the address is still valid. Do I need to call the DMV and tell them my new UK Address or do I just leave it alone? I never changed my last name when I got married or did any of that, so I never contacted them with that either. The Clerk of Court said I only needed to contact the DMV regarding my marriage in the event of a name change.

If my licence can be renewed online that would be great, because then I could renew it online and use it when I come visit. However, I've seen a few people on this thread that said it depends on the state-if you don't live there for a certain period of time the licence automatically becomes invalid. I do plan on calling the DMV to ask them that, but I'm just concerned if they'll need my new UK Address on record, or if it doesn't matter since I won't be a resident of Louisiana anymore.

Sorry for the lengthy post, I wasn't really sure how to ask this question clearly.

I'm flying 1 way to the UK on 4 Sept. I've lived in Louisiana my entire life, I've had a license here since I could drive and I've always had my own car. I recently handed over my car to my dad via "power of attorney" and he's going to sell it to my uncle in my absence. My mom pays my insurance on the car, so once I move the car/insurance are in good hands, and not mine anymore. (My parents are great!)

My licence is valid until 2021. However, it has my current address on it. I live with my aunt, so when I move the address will still be there, it's not like an apartment or something that will go vacant or be lived in by someone else. So, the address is still valid. Do I need to call the DMV and tell them my new UK Address or do I just leave it alone? I never changed my last name when I got married or did any of that, so I never contacted them with that either. The Clerk of Court said I only needed to contact the DMV regarding my marriage in the event of a name change.

If my licence can be renewed online that would be great, because then I could renew it online and use it when I come visit. However, I've seen a few people on this thread that said it depends on the state-if you don't live there for a certain period of time the licence automatically becomes invalid. I do plan on calling the DMV to ask them that, but I'm just concerned if they'll need my new UK Address on record, or if it doesn't matter since I won't be a resident of Louisiana anymore.

Sorry for the lengthy post, I wasn't really sure how to ask this question clearly.

If it was me, I wouldn't contact them at all.

I'm doing everything I can to keep my US drivers license. Even though I no longer drive when I go home because I'm not insured with any US carrier.

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If it was me, I wouldn't contact them at all.

I'm doing everything I can to keep my US drivers license. Even though I no longer drive when I go home because I'm not insured with any US carrier.

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Okay. It's all so confusing...being married changes a lot of things, but I also realized that it isn't really being married that changes things, it's changing your last name that complicates things. Since I didn't do that, easy peasy. I'm mainly worried about relying on people to bring me places when I come visit. I was going to rent a car....but will my license still be valid in the US? It's all so confusing!

Okay. It's all so confusing...being married changes a lot of things, but I also realized that it isn't really being married that changes things, it's changing your last name that complicates things. Since I didn't do that, easy peasy. I'm mainly worried about relying on people to bring me places when I come visit. I was going to rent a car....but will my license still be valid in the US? It's all so confusing!

Yes, your license will still be valid unless you get a notice saying it has been cancelled or revoked and really, there is no reason for them to do that.

I wouldn't stress out over it and just let it be.

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Yes, your license will still be valid unless you get a notice saying it has been cancelled or revoked and really, there is no reason for them to do that.

I wouldn't stress out over it and just let it be.

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What's your advice for when it expires? Just let it expire? I'm sure once I have a UK license there are ways to use that in the US instead, right? This is all in the far future. I'm just thinking ahead. My hometown doesn't have public transportation. You need a car to get around.

What's your advice for when it expires? Just let it expire? I'm sure once I have a UK license there are ways to use that in the US instead, right? This is all in the far future. I'm just thinking ahead. My hometown doesn't have public transportation. You need a car to get around.

Small town NC here so I know!

My plan is to renew online when mine expires. My ex husband will still be living at the same address, probably my kids too, so it won't be a problem.

And yes, you will be able to drive on your UK license. I only have a provisional licence here with no motivation to get a full license right now.

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Thank you. This has made me feel better!

Okay. It's all so confusing...being married changes a lot of things, but I also realized that it isn't really being married that changes things, it's changing your last name that complicates things. Since I didn't do that, easy peasy. I'm mainly worried about relying on people to bring me places when I come visit. I was going to rent a car....but will my license still be valid in the US? It's all so confusing!

Question: after you got married, did you change your name on your passport and about how long did it take to get back also, did you  change names on your drivers license first if so ?
Congrats on your flying "home" date yay 

Question: after you got married, did you change your name on your passport and about how long did it take to get back also, did you  change names on your drivers license first if so ?
Congrats on your flying "home" date yay 

I changed my name after I got married but before I applied for an in country FLR (M). I went to the Edinburgh consulate and applied for my new passport and it took less than a week to come in.

I changed my name on my SSN and drivers license on a recent trip back to the US.



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I changed my name after I got married but before I applied for an in country FLR (M). I went to the Edinburgh consulate and applied for my new passport and it took less than a week to come in.

I changed my name on my SSN and drivers license on a recent trip back to the US.
ok thank you 


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What's your advice for when it expires? Just let it expire? I'm sure once I have a UK license there are ways to use that in the US instead, right? This is all in the far future. I'm just thinking ahead. My hometown doesn't have public transportation. You need a car to get around.

I was able to renew my license once online (just got the new one last year) and it's good for 5 years. The plan is next time I am in the states to get a new one after "losing it". I will need to get proof of address. I think the bank still sends me my statements to my parents house. Mine is for CO.

I was able to renew my license once online (just got the new one last year) and it's good for 5 years. The plan is next time I am in the states to get a new one after "losing it". I will need to get proof of address. I think the bank still sends me my statements to my parents house. Mine is for CO.

The main reason I'm so concerned (I might've briefly mentioned this above) is because where I live we've got NO public transportation, other than services like Uber. So, getting around would get pretty expensive that way. You basically need a car to live here. The inner city does have a bus service, but I don't live in the city limits, so even to get to my house I need a vehicle! Both my parents and my sister work, so I couldn't really rely on rides when I go visit, therefore renting a car was always the plan. But I've come to realize how much moving out of the country changes things lol! Silly me for thinking it would be easy 

Will you get your UK license?  If so, it's a moot point.  If you rent a car, it's cheaper to rent from the UK with your UK license than to rent as a US licensed driver (as all the insurance is already included).

Basically, we get hung up in these little things - but at the end of the day, you'll have a license.  It'll just be a foreign license (when in the USA).

The longer you are here, the more you'll realise there isn't much point in keeping US documentation up to date (obviously taxes, voting, passport).  But the little local things...  meh.  You'll start to let those go. 

Will you get your UK license?  If so, it's a moot point.  If you rent a car, it's cheaper to rent from the UK with your UK license than to rent as a US licensed driver (as all the insurance is already included).

Basically, we get hung up in these little things - but at the end of the day, you'll have a license.  It'll just be a foreign license (when in the USA).

The longer you are here, the more you'll realise there isn't much point in keeping US documentation up to date (obviously taxes, voting, passport).  But the little local things...  meh.  You'll start to let those go.

Good to know. I'm bringing all of my tax returns with me so I can deal with that come February/March. (fun!)

I do plan on getting a UK licence once my US year is up. I want to practice a bit first....the shifter on the left is a little unsettling. And the backward road....and unfamiliar road signs.

And the back roads?! Have you driven through the Welsh country side? I was holding on for dear life.

I do plan on getting a UK licence once my US year is up. I want to practice a bit first....the shifter on the left is a little unsettling. And the backward road....and unfamiliar road signs.

Just a tip: I would get started on practicing, applying for your UK provisional licence, taking a few driving lessons and preparing to take the tests as soon as you can after arriving in the UK. You need to have passed all the tests BEFORE your 12 months is up, or you will be treated as a learner driver in the UK (which means L plates on the car, and you must be accompanied at all times by someone over 21 who has held a UK licence for at least 3 years).

It can take several months to prepare and actually pass the tests, so give yourself plenty of time .