Just discovered Drivers' License expired...leave in a week
Sep 2nd, 2010, 12:54 PM
#21
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If you can't take your laminated expired license along also, take a color photocopy to help explain the procedure. Would a letter from YOUR insurance company stating they accept this as official license help also? I hope you are able to work it out.
Travelerjan has probably pointed you to the right direction. 3 weeks is a loooong time.
Travelerjan has probably pointed you to the right direction. 3 weeks is a loooong time.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:05 PM
#22
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I had a similar incident. We arrived in France for our vacation, only renting a car for a few days in the middle of the trip, going to a little town somewhere I don't remember right now. When we got to the counter they noticed that my DH's license was expired, no, they would not let him rent the car. No problem, I have my license....oh, our birthdays are two weeks apart and mine is expired too! I spoke french, english, italian if they would have understood it, I explained that my DH left the REAL one at home, he does have one, it's just not in his wallet. For God's sake, he is a police officer, they wouldn't let him drive the car with an expired license, honey show him your police ID....no it still didn't work. Fortunately we have a large limit on our cc and we were able to BUY the car for 14,000 euros!!! I've never taked such good care of a car, it was all returned on the card when we returned the car, but we didn't enjoy the experience!
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:11 PM
#23
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susanna - that sound miserable....good problem solving but i don't have a card with that kind of limit (which is probably a good thing!) 
i have two calls/emails into my congressmen. i have a call into the DMV. we have made a back-up reservation at another agency; though if we can't get through one, i doubt we can get through a second one. my husband is working on calling the Nice reservation desk directly....i don't know what else to do. i hate to cancel but even more, i hate to get there and find out we cannot execute our plans as no one will give us a car.
i realize that public transit is an option (thanks stu) but we truly enjoy traveling when we have the freedom of a car. maybe i just need to get over that, sling on my backpack and pretend i'm 20 again.....
i have two calls/emails into my congressmen. i have a call into the DMV. we have made a back-up reservation at another agency; though if we can't get through one, i doubt we can get through a second one. my husband is working on calling the Nice reservation desk directly....i don't know what else to do. i hate to cancel but even more, i hate to get there and find out we cannot execute our plans as no one will give us a car.
i realize that public transit is an option (thanks stu) but we truly enjoy traveling when we have the freedom of a car. maybe i just need to get over that, sling on my backpack and pretend i'm 20 again.....
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:18 PM
#24
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I was in a similar situation a few years ago - didn't realize my license was expired until I tried to get and IDP. My state (MN)cuts the corner off the official license, writes up a temporary renewed license and we keep both and then toss them when the new one arrives. I used the cut card and temp paper license to get my IDP at AAA. I rented a car in France and they looked at my cut license and the temp paper license and that was it. I was not prevented from renting the car. I realize that everyone's experiences can and are different.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:24 PM
#25
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Can you skip renting a car and take trains instead? That solves the whole issue if you have valid passports, which you say you do. Is the car/driving paramount to this trip? I'm not sure where in France you're going, but the train system there is quite good, and it seems a little bit crazy to postpone a trip simply because you can't rent a car.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:31 PM
#26
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okay - i am going to explore the train option. i have never used a train in my european travels...always rented a car and went where we wanted, when we wanted...
SO, what websites do i need to go to? do i get a pass of somekind or do we pay as we go? do we need to make reservations in advice or can we just hope on a train when we get there if they don't give us a car? we are there for 7 days, starting in a little over a week....
you ALL have been invaluable to me in the past 24 hours with travel advice and now giving me great options as i find myself in a weird little corner i have backed myself into...
SO, what websites do i need to go to? do i get a pass of somekind or do we pay as we go? do we need to make reservations in advice or can we just hope on a train when we get there if they don't give us a car? we are there for 7 days, starting in a little over a week....
you ALL have been invaluable to me in the past 24 hours with travel advice and now giving me great options as i find myself in a weird little corner i have backed myself into...
Sep 2nd, 2010, 01:59 PM
#27
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Do your planning here
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
The Nice station is "Nice Ville" dates are in DD/MM/YYYY and often there is a different schedule for Sat & Sun. If you don't want to stay in Nice (large city) try Antibes or Villefranche.
No need to make reservations in advance.
Read my itinerary about my train trip into the Alps to the charming villages of Saorge and Tende . Also there is a train to the village of Entrevaux & several villages on the way & beyond. We stayed in a Gite across the gorge from Entrevaux for a week. There is a "name" for this scenic train - but I forgot what it is.
You can get to all of the coastal cities & villages on the Cote d'Azur by train - except St Tropez. There is a ferry to St Tropez. You can take buses to some of the villages in back of Nice - St Paul, Vence, etc.
I would not travel to Provence. Train & bus travel there is less frequent and you would probably have to stay in a large city like Avignon to take advantage of public transportation - and you stated that you're not fond of large cities.
Stu Dudley
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
The Nice station is "Nice Ville" dates are in DD/MM/YYYY and often there is a different schedule for Sat & Sun. If you don't want to stay in Nice (large city) try Antibes or Villefranche.
No need to make reservations in advance.
Read my itinerary about my train trip into the Alps to the charming villages of Saorge and Tende . Also there is a train to the village of Entrevaux & several villages on the way & beyond. We stayed in a Gite across the gorge from Entrevaux for a week. There is a "name" for this scenic train - but I forgot what it is.
You can get to all of the coastal cities & villages on the Cote d'Azur by train - except St Tropez. There is a ferry to St Tropez. You can take buses to some of the villages in back of Nice - St Paul, Vence, etc.
I would not travel to Provence. Train & bus travel there is less frequent and you would probably have to stay in a large city like Avignon to take advantage of public transportation - and you stated that you're not fond of large cities.
Stu Dudley
Sep 2nd, 2010, 02:03 PM
#28
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I would not get so anal about the "laminated" version.
(Old) drivers licenses in Europe come in any shape you can imagine, and since they are not ID, people are not forced to renew them or exchange them.
susanna had a hard time because they had no valid DL with them.
Who knows what had happened if they had a temporary license (in whatever shape or color) with them.
I think that you have a good chance to rent that car. In fact, you have a valid DL - it just looks a bit funny (just like dozens others the rental car agency processes every day)
(Old) drivers licenses in Europe come in any shape you can imagine, and since they are not ID, people are not forced to renew them or exchange them.
susanna had a hard time because they had no valid DL with them.
Who knows what had happened if they had a temporary license (in whatever shape or color) with them.
I think that you have a good chance to rent that car. In fact, you have a valid DL - it just looks a bit funny (just like dozens others the rental car agency processes every day)
Sep 2nd, 2010, 02:11 PM
#29
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stu - thanks for the information - i will look into this option and be prepared in case we cannot carry out our initial plans. again, you are a valuable resource.
cowboy - you are giving me hope. thanks so much. we are going to go armed with every form of ID we can find, a letter from the Utah DMV and anything else that 'might' help our cause.
i'll let you know what i learn at my appointment with the DMV tomorrow.....THANK YOU once again.
cowboy - you are giving me hope. thanks so much. we are going to go armed with every form of ID we can find, a letter from the Utah DMV and anything else that 'might' help our cause.
i'll let you know what i learn at my appointment with the DMV tomorrow.....THANK YOU once again.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 04:41 PM
#30
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I don;t get it - don't these states send reminders 3 months in advance that your lic is going to expire and you need to get a new one? Mine has followed me all over the place to ensure that I renew on time. Are you sure there's no central office that will give you a renewal on the spot for extra $?
(And agree that you need to contact the office where you will be renting to find out if this is OK.)
(And agree that you need to contact the office where you will be renting to find out if this is OK.)
Sep 2nd, 2010, 04:51 PM
#31
"<i>i have two calls/emails into my congressmen</i>"
Why congressmen? This is strictly a State issue. If you want to see if someone can help you expedite w/ DMV -- contact the Governor's office and your local legislators -- not congress member.
Also don't understand two congressmen -- you live in a specific congressional district w/ ONE member. But in any case-- contact your State officers -- not the Feds . . . .
Why congressmen? This is strictly a State issue. If you want to see if someone can help you expedite w/ DMV -- contact the Governor's office and your local legislators -- not congress member.
Also don't understand two congressmen -- you live in a specific congressional district w/ ONE member. But in any case-- contact your State officers -- not the Feds . . . .
Sep 2nd, 2010, 05:03 PM
#32
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Nice is a really good base for public transportation. You can take the train along the Riviera to Villefranche, Monaco, and Menton, Antibes and Cannes.
In addition the bus system for the area is great. We took a bus to the Villa Ephrussi-Rothschild, an over-the-top Belle Epoque villa with a beautiful garden. You can also bus to Eze and St. Paul de Vence as well as other smaller towns in the vicinity.
Maybe this is an opportunity to relax and enjoy someone else doing the driving. I love taking the trains in Europe. The scenery just slides by the window, the seats are wide and comfortable, there's a toilet at the end of the car and probably a restaurant car not too far away. You arrive in the middle of town with no worry about parking. You might like it.
In addition the bus system for the area is great. We took a bus to the Villa Ephrussi-Rothschild, an over-the-top Belle Epoque villa with a beautiful garden. You can also bus to Eze and St. Paul de Vence as well as other smaller towns in the vicinity.
Maybe this is an opportunity to relax and enjoy someone else doing the driving. I love taking the trains in Europe. The scenery just slides by the window, the seats are wide and comfortable, there's a toilet at the end of the car and probably a restaurant car not too far away. You arrive in the middle of town with no worry about parking. You might like it.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 05:39 PM
#33
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@nytraveler - neither my husband or i received a reminder....i have no idea why? there is no such thing as an on the stop actual new official drivers' license. i was told twice that they send them out somewhere else to be processed.
@janisj
okay - i meant a congressman and a local city official. someone earlier suggested a congressman and i thought it wouldn't hurt to shoot off a quick message. i doubt there is anything he can do but i just wanted to try.
@mimar
thanks for the vote of confidence for train travel. i'm exploring this option
@janisj
okay - i meant a congressman and a local city official. someone earlier suggested a congressman and i thought it wouldn't hurt to shoot off a quick message. i doubt there is anything he can do but i just wanted to try.
@mimar
thanks for the vote of confidence for train travel. i'm exploring this option
Sep 2nd, 2010, 05:44 PM
#34
Not city and not Fed -- your contact should be w/ <u>State</u> officials. Thus the Governor's office and your state legislators. Neither the city/mayor nor feds have control/influence over the Utah state DMV. If you want to pull strings, they should be strings attached to DMV - the legislature and Governor both of which have constituency staff who can often help w/ things like this
Sep 2nd, 2010, 06:17 PM
#36
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Ditto PalenQ. Just take the temporary license to AAA and get an IDP. Make a color copy of your old license, if you still have it, and bring that also.
If you have to use the trains that would be a blessing. See http://tinyurl.com/eym5b to learn how everything works over there.
This reminds me of the time I landed in Pittsburgh and went to the Hertz counter to pick up a car. Oops, no DL in the wallet. I had left it in the car back home. My wife faxed a copy to the Hertz counter and they rented the car to me.
If you have to use the trains that would be a blessing. See http://tinyurl.com/eym5b to learn how everything works over there.
This reminds me of the time I landed in Pittsburgh and went to the Hertz counter to pick up a car. Oops, no DL in the wallet. I had left it in the car back home. My wife faxed a copy to the Hertz counter and they rented the car to me.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 07:53 PM
#37
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You need to have a contingency plan in case you are refused a car.
Depending on your routes, though, train tickets, if your schedule is set, are less (often much less) if purchased ahead than on the spot.
Jeepers. I received a notice six weeks before my license expired with the option to renew it online. My new one arrived in the mail within a week!
Depending on your routes, though, train tickets, if your schedule is set, are less (often much less) if purchased ahead than on the spot.
Jeepers. I received a notice six weeks before my license expired with the option to renew it online. My new one arrived in the mail within a week!
Sep 2nd, 2010, 08:16 PM
#38
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@djkbooks - we are working on a contingency plan right now. not sure exactly what it will look like but we are going to bring considerably less luggage/stuff (which is actually good) and redo our itinerary to take trains. so we will have to routes - one with car, one with train.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 08:18 PM
#39
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What would happen in UT if you were stopped and asked to produce your DL? A temporary DL <b>IS</b> an official DL.
As the lovely and talented P_M notes, in this situation in TX we keep the expired license and get a paper receipt that serves <u>with</U> the expired photo license as the temporary but <i>official</i> DL.
If UT makes you turn in your expired license, just tell them you lost it. Then take it and your paper and present them together at the counter.
Now exhale and stop kicking yourself.
As the lovely and talented P_M notes, in this situation in TX we keep the expired license and get a paper receipt that serves <u>with</U> the expired photo license as the temporary but <i>official</i> DL.
If UT makes you turn in your expired license, just tell them you lost it. Then take it and your paper and present them together at the counter.
Now exhale and stop kicking yourself.
Sep 2nd, 2010, 08:21 PM
#40
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seamus....you are a breath of fresh air.
my husband has already decided to go the 'lost it' route so he will still have his old license, he will have the temporary license AND because his license doesn't expire for a few days we are going to go and get the IDL tomorrow so he will have that too.
still going to have a backup plan in place but whatever will be will be - this just adds to the adventure (at least that is what i keep telling myself).
my husband has already decided to go the 'lost it' route so he will still have his old license, he will have the temporary license AND because his license doesn't expire for a few days we are going to go and get the IDL tomorrow so he will have that too.
still going to have a backup plan in place but whatever will be will be - this just adds to the adventure (at least that is what i keep telling myself).
