Driver's License Dilemma (Detroit: living, airport, driving)

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by momof11

So how long can I drive in Michigan with a California license? We will be moving next month if all goes well with the sale of the house, I hadn't even thought of voting problems..... I may have to skip it this year. Downside- not having a say. Upside- not getting blamed. Hmmmmmm......

I kept my California license for about a year (maybe a little bit longer). technically, you are required to switch it over sooner than that, but I do nto see how they know one way or the other. I considered just keeping my CA license becuase I work in Ca about 15-20 weeks of the year and I wanted to be able to go to traffic school if I got a ticket. However since I wanted to vote in MI I finally had to change it. The main reason that I delayed changing it was the insane wait at the Secretary of State office and their ridiculous requirements for documentation.

[momof11]

The main reason that I delayed changing it was the insane wait at the Secretary of State office and their ridiculous requirements for documentation.

They don't have a DMV there? Yikes! I'll have to make sure we all have our certified birth certificates and I just got my license renewed here.

[khfar]

I encountered problems with this, too. And I really couldn't believe it. For a state that has people leaving in mass exodus, I can't believe how DIFFICULT they make it for newcomers, to get a drivers license. Especially ones from other US states with established driving records.

I looked up their requirements online before I went. I took my TX drivers license, my birth certificate AND my marriage license. It wasn't good enough. Thankfully, at the last minute, I found my old college ID in my wallet. They took that, and then went and CALLED my college, to confirm that I went there. WTF?

[khfar]

Originally Posted by momof11

They don't have a DMV there? Yikes! I'll have to make sure we all have our certified birth certificates and I just got my license renewed here.

You'll need more than that. It is ridiculous how much crap they expect you to dig up, just to get a license! I think I remember that you need at least 3 documents.

Good luck!

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by momof11

They don't have a DMV there? Yikes! I'll have to make sure we all have our certified birth certificates and I just got my license renewed here.

The Michigan SoS is the same as the DMV in other states I've been to, just a different name. It isn't that difficult to obtain a DL in Michigan, if you bring what they ask for and spell right out in their pamphlet that is both online and as hard-copies at any location. Here is the link. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/so...8_222146_7.pdf

[firecracker123]

Yikes...the relo compay we are using sent me the info I would require to get my license...(coming from Canada)

One thing I though I saw was SSN OR proof of ineligibility? though my hubby's visa allows us all to get one, I was looking into all options in the event I didn't get one --- is this something you could do?

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

since i've had to move to two different states i can vouch and say that the MVA in MD sounds much worse-i had to go back five times in one week trying to get thigns right-mainly had to do with registering and re-titling my car-since i had the three or more documents for my DL it wasn't too bad...then in PA they do not have a DMV or a MVA or a SoS they have specific "drivers licensing stores" then separate "car tags stores" it is ridiculous so many different places no one centralized place to get it all done at! so anyway they required three forms of id here too.......so it is not just michigan-if you all moved to michigan you probably don't know what it is like in your homestate-just thinking back to getting my DL in MI i was sixteen so it was pretty basic

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

looked at that link from Bydand and it is the same exact stuff needed in any state-but actually explained much better!!

[Coldjensens]

I had my CA license, but they wanted two more forms of ID. You have to pick things from various lists. I found one pretty easily, but the second one was difficult. After much searching, my wife found my 30 year old Drivers ed certificate from when I lived in Michigan as a kid. That was on their list. However, they would not accept it, they said it was too old. Then I found a high school yearbook that was from the year before my driver's ed certificate. Even though it was older, they accepted that as the third piece of ID. That was bizzarre. Someone said it was because my yearbook has a photograph, but I do not even vaguely resemble what I looked like 31 years ago. The whole experience was laughable.

When I moved to CA from MI, they took my MI license and gave me a CA one. I had to take a silly little test and that was it. It took about fifteen minutes. i think that our SoS is a bit too bureaucratized.

[diamondgirl45]

Thank you for all the help. I was given a form from the SS office to attain a tax identity number. They told me that I was not able to work in the USA because my visa number under my husband's work visa did not permit it. However, they did not give me anything to take to the S of S to prove inability to acquire a SS. So I guess I need to go back and wait (argh) again then ask them to give me something in writing. Life sure gets complicated, lol. Only problem is that since I don't have my vehicle yet (sitting 2000 miles away at home waiting to be transported) my husband will have to take another day off work to get this done. Oh well, at least it is air conditioned.