CO Drivers License Disaster (Frisco: insurance, purchase, DMV)

[new2colo]

I'm looking for some advice.

I decided to go to the DMV today to finally get a CO drivers license. Little did I know that there is up to a 30 day waiting period between the time you go in for a license and the time one is actually mailed to you. Most states issue you a permanent license on spot, but I guess Colorado DMVs haven't yet adopted that basic technology.

I need to travel by plane in about 9 days, but my drivers license was the only "official" identification I had. They punched a hole in my old license, but handed it back to me, along with some shoddy piece of paper that is supposed to serve as my temporary drivers license until I receive my permanent one in the mail.

Does anyone have any advice on where to quickly attain official identification for my trip? I know there is a slight possiblility my official drivers license will arrive in time, but I don't want to sit on pins and needles waiting.

Thanks for the help.

[golfgod]

I don't think punching the hole in the license invalidates it as an official ID. Why not call an airline and ask them?

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by new2colo

Most states issue you a permanent license on spot, but I guess Colorado DMVs haven't yet adopted that basic technology.

Wrong. Most states are now imposing a waiting period and mailing your ID, and in the meantime hole-punching your old one and giving you a temporary piece of paper. And that includes Nevada, btw (I became a NV resident last year when I lived in Reno, same exact procedure as here in CO when I had to re-become a CO resident this year). And they might say "up to 30 days," but typically you can expect to receive your new ID a week later. It has to do with keeping in compliance with new federal requirements for IDs.

[new2colo]

Originally Posted by golfgod

I don't think punching the hole in the license invalidates it as an official ID. Why not call an airline and ask them?

I will do that. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Wrong. Most states are now imposing a waiting period and mailing your ID, and in the meantime hole-punching your old one and giving you a temporary piece of paper. And that includes Nevada, btw (I became a NV resident last year when I lived in Reno, same exact procedure as here in CO when I had to re-become a CO resident this year). And they might say "up to 30 days," but typically you can expect to receive your new ID a week later. It has to do with keeping in compliance with new federal requirements for IDs.

I was unaware that most states are now imposing a waiting period. I have lived in several states and have never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a nice, laminated license.

That's not the issue here though. The issue is that I need ID. Hopefully my license will arrive in time for my trip.

[thedwightguy]

Standard practice the MOMENT those planes hit those towers: Pack A Passport

[Snikt]

I thought that was weird about CO too, I came from FL and you get both your license on the spot at the DMV and when you purchase a car at a dealership you get your plate on the spot too. Here they give you some silly temp tag and you have to wait (haven't even gotten mine in 1 month yet) to get some paperwork before you can go to the tag office and get a plate.

Seems like the DMV/Tag here are years behind in comparison

[Dewmik]

I had the same issue a few years ago.
Call some of these smaller towns and see if they can get you taken care of sooner. I used the one in Frisco
CO - Colorado DMV Locations

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by Snikt

I thought that was weird about CO too, I came from FL and you get both your license on the spot at the DMV and when you purchase a car at a dealership you get your plate on the spot too. Here they give you some silly temp tag and you have to wait (haven't even gotten mine in 1 month yet) to get some paperwork before you can go to the tag office and get a plate.

Seems like the DMV/Tag here are years behind in comparison

And that is why FL is a free for all on the roads. Anyone moving there is handed a DL with no testing.

It also leads the nation in uninsured drivers. Maybe because in most states you must have proof of insurance before getting the plates.

I prefer some checking, testing, and waiting periods.

[CAVA1990]

If you're really worried about it you could go get a passport expedited to you. You don't have to have a driver's license to fly. Find the post office near you that handles passports and they should be able to take care of it for you. You'll have to lay out some coin but it'll be good for several years.

[phetaroi]

Even if your license arrives in time, don't "rest assured" that it will be right. In July when my drivers license finally arrived in the mail I opened it, all the written data was correct...with someone else's photo! Of course, there was good news...I looked 30 years younger! :-)