Woman issues PSA over new driver’s license requirements as she’s forced to make 3 separate trips to DMV to renew
A FRUSTRATED driver has warned others of the exasperating license renewal process after running back and forth between her home three times to get documents.
Texas native Cheryl said drivers who need a new picture can expect to fork over marriage licenses, birth certificates, and more.
The TikToker (@theycallme.cheryl) issued the public service announcement in a video that amassed over 75,000 views.
In the clip, she described her shock at learning the extreme lengths Texas residents must go to to get a license renewed.
Cheryl got her last new license about eight or nine years ago, and at the time, the DMV allowed her to use the same picture.
However, now they wished for her to take a new photo, sparking a painfully long process.
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The driver brought the standard documents, including her car’s registration and proof that she had insurance.
But after one failed trip, she found herself digging through a filing cabinet for her social security card, marriage license, and birth certificate.
The birth certificate also had to have a “seal,” which is an extra detail added to some documents to prove their legitimacy.
Her husband didn’t have the seal and had more of a headache getting his new card.
The exhausted driver urged anyone about to renew their license to visit the state’s DMV website and review every document they could possibly need for their visit.
“This is just a PSA because this was our third trip back there and they are just really tightening up things,” she said.
“You really have to have everything to get your license now.”
Viewers were shocked at the lengths Cheryl had to go through, as some claimed they didn’t need hardly any documents for a renewal.
One driver said he got a new license in April with no proof except his current driver’s license.
Applying for a REAL ID
The process varies by state, but residents will need a few documents to apply for a REAL ID before the deadline.
No matter the state, the application process can be started online by scanning and uploading the necessary documents, basic information, and Social Security numbers. Once submitted and reviewed, an in-person visit to the DMV or your state’s department agency is necessary for an attendant to verify the documents.
From there, a thumbprint will be recorded in the system, and a photo will be issued for the ID before it’s mailed.
The documents needed are those that show:
- Full legal name (previous driver’s license, passport, etc)
- Date of birth (like a birth certificate, or an official copy of one)
- Social Security number (Social Security card)
- Two proofs of residence (like a utility bill or voter registration card)
- Lawful status
Source: Department of Homeland Security
A different Texas local went two weeks ago and said all he needed was a passport and his current driver’s license to get the job done.
Another said their process was speedy, thanks to the “star” that was found on the upper right-hand corner of his ID.
These stars are being placed on all new licenses and were introduced through the state’s REAL ID program.
According to the Texas state government’s website, any driver with an expired or unexpired license is eligible for the updated style as long as they have the required documents.
In a follow-up video, Cheryl admitted she didn’t have the star on her ID, which might have been why the process was such a chore.
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“It was just a big pain,” she said.
The drama came after over 177,000 drivers risked losing their licenses under a November 18 rule change.