View Full Version : Renewed Driver's License Onlin........
I just renewed my driver's license online. Seems a little dangerous, but I know I'm not a criminal, my eyesight hasn't changed, I haven't had any accidents, etc.,etc.
But it just seems a little disconcerting that I could do this. It's been 6 years since my last one. My picture is (unfortunately) the same. Still.......doesn't it seem like incompetent people can easily get a license online?
You have to be under 75, which is good, but it seems like the age should be lower. Maybe it's different for each state. Our state got rid of car inspections a long time ago. I wonder if this is another thing that will go by the wayside, because of so many people??
What do you think?
That's pretty decent for you anyway. Around here the long waits and cultural experiences are legendary.
My opinion would be required eye tests earlier than 75 based on what I've seen with older relatives and friends. I can imagine the DMV has been the target of budget cutbacks and seem to have problems with the customer load the way it is. I recall something about being able to set up an appointment time to renew licenses now, but I'm not sure what the eye test frequency requirements are.
We got rid of vehicle safety inspections a long time ago but have emissions inspections every couple of years, which I support. The inspections are contracted out to a private enterprise and it goes along fairly quickly.
What's your specific concern about how online renewal makes it more likely that " incompetent people can easily get a license online"?
ToomuchStuff
12-12-17, 4:25pm
Are you incompetent?
Do you wear glasses or have restrictions on your license? Do they allow this for those who do have restrictions for any/all class licenses?
Do you know if they do this for those with points on their license? (seems like no points, no medical notifications, might be a class allowed to do this)
How does the license come to you? (I would be worried if you could change your address on it, about fraud)
My state still has safety inspections. It is NOT a money maker for garages and can be a hassle. It is done more as a convenience for your known customers, as a general safety check of their vehicles. It is why it is by appointment only as it takes time to do and is a no profit, rack tying up event.
Not sure if St. Louis has emissions tests, but that isn't statewide.
If you had seen some of the vehicles I have, you would be glad they do. That said, even then I saw one vehicle which took the application for license plates form, and posted it on the rear window, like someone would a true temp tag. While the four people were in the car, on the road, and you could see their shoes, below where the floorboard should be and the rusted floorboards pushed to withing 2" of the road.
I guess it's mostly the eye test for older people (60+??). A lot can change in 6 years. I suppose any bad driving would show up on the BMV's computer info. I was sort of surprised needing glasses didn't require my going in for a test.
I was in there a number of years ago when a really old guy was failing his eye test over and over, and the worker still passed him. I think she felt sorry for him. :(
Rogar.......I have to admit, living in the country near a small town made going to the BMV sooooo much easier than when I lived in a big city. I can remember in the city, the line going around the whole office with people just standing, waiting.
Anymore, you can't call the local BMV, you get sent to a phone-answering place.
Are you incompetent?
Do you wear glasses or have restrictions on your license? Do they allow this for those who do have restrictions for any/all class licenses?
Do you know if they do this for those with points on their license? (seems like no points, no medical notifications, might be a class allowed to do this)
How does the license come to you? (I would be worried if you could change your address on it, about fraud)
My state still has safety inspections. It is NOT a money maker for garages and can be a hassle. It is done more as a convenience for your known customers, as a general safety check of their vehicles. It is why it is by appointment only as it takes time to do and is a no profit, rack tying up event.
Not sure if St. Louis has emissions tests, but that isn't statewide.
If you had seen some of the vehicles I have, you would be glad they do. That said, even then I saw one vehicle which took the application for license plates form, and posted it on the rear window, like someone would a true temp tag. While the four people were in the car, on the road, and you could see their shoes, below where the floorboard should be and the rusted floorboards pushed to withing 2" of the road.
They make you answer questions online, before letting you renew online. Like I said to bae, I'm surprised needing glasses wasn't one of the restrictions.
I wish they still had car inspections here. We can even get by with a bad catalytic converter. I think the sheer number of people made things get harder and harder to require inspections, etc.......which is unfortunate.
ToomuchStuff
12-12-17, 4:43pm
Have you talked to your doctors about restrictions? The glasses thing worries me less, due to surgeries these days, that allow some people to be corrected back to no glasses required. I would expect that the doctors are required to submit notifications to the state as such, as they are in cases of mental or physical impairment, where a license may be suspended or revoked. (example a gal I know, just 60 being diagnosed with early Alzheimer's, while her 83 year old bad driving mother, who now takes her around, is still legal to drive, even with points on her license)
If you have a bad catalytic converter, you won't be driving very far. You will either have to remove it (there were a bunch of thefts a few years back due to prices of the stuff in them), or hollow it out. They tend to go bad from the honeycomb collapsing and stop your exhaust, which isn't good for your motor.
Williamsmith
12-12-17, 4:59pm
CathyA, if I could set your mind at ease.....about 75% of drivers who have their license suspended, continue to drive. It is literally just a suggestion. Only the morally and ethically motivated actually adhere to the restrictions. The state just wants your money. There.......doesn’t that make you feel better? >8)
iris lilies
12-12-17, 5:10pm
There is a bitchfest raging on our
Nextdoor site right now because someone complained about multiple cars on her block that have outdated license plates. “Why is that your business!!!???” Go the posts. “Busybodies with nothing else to do!” And “why dont you talk to the owners to see why they have not paid rathher than call the cop?s”
so, paying auto license fees is also considered optional.
having licenses for guns, optional.
It is all a specific mind set.
Personally i'm very glad that i can do it online. Even with an appointment our dmv is a half day time suck. I suppose the vision thing could be concerning.
Personally i'm very glad that i can do it online. Even with an appointment our dmv is a half day time suck. I suppose the vision thing could be concerning.
Don't get me wrong, I was really happy that I could do it online. It just made me wonder about a few things…
I am the person you are all worried about.
Doctors always think I have glaucoma. Actually it's that large eye nerves run in my family. Tests showed my eyes are normal, same with my aunt and cousin who were scared by eye doctors into testing.
But in the back of my mind was, what if I really do have glaucoma? Because to try to get more procedures/payment the doctor said my eyes really need to be measured every year because although they are normal now they could go bad.
I have to drive to get to work, and I have to work at least 18 more years. So I renewed online. But I didn't bite on annual glaucoma tests.
I think you should have those annual tests, at least for a couple years, to see if your optic disc is enlarging.
If I did everything I was told I should do I would be broke. Within the past 24 hours just on this forum between the out of pocket costs for the eye exams you say I should have and the smoke and carbon dioxide detectors Bae says I should have you all would have run up more than I take home in a day.
And Suze Orman and all the other financial advisors say I should have many multiples of what I have saved for retirement. Catchup contributions would take all my take home pay and then some.
Should, should, should. I try to avoid using that word. I don't like it.
Here in Arizona you can get a drivers license in your 20s and you're set until you turn 65. No renewals. 😄
iris lilies
12-12-17, 10:56pm
I am the person you are all worried about.
Doctors always think I have glaucoma. Actually it's that large eye nerves run in my family. Tests showed my eyes are normal, same with my aunt and cousin who were scared by eye doctors into testing.
But in the back of my mind was, what if I really do have glaucoma? Because to try to get more procedures/payment the doctor said my eyes really need to be measured every year because although they are normal now they could go bad.
I have to drive to get to work, and I have to work at least 18 more years. So I renewed online. But I didn't bite on annual glaucoma tests.
My mother had glaucoma, so when the eye doc said this year, for the dirst time, he wanted to test for it based on indications he was seeing, I said ok. I will go back annually as long as it is recommended.
Here in Arizona you can get a drivers license in your 20s and you're set until you turn 65. No renewals. ��
While that's awesome I do see an issue for people who got their license before the "Real ID Act" was passed by the federal government after 9/11. Those people won't be able to get on an airplane unless they have a passport, passport card, or update their driver's license to a new Real ID compliant one.
My mother had glaucoma, so when the eye doc said this year, for the dirst time, he wanted to test for it based on indications he was seeing, I said ok. I will go back annually as long as it is recommended.
I thought the eye doc tested for glaucoma every visit by either poking at the eye or blowing a gust of air at it and somehow measuring the pressure.
Thinking about temporary license plates, we don't have them here.* When I inherited my father's car a few years ago there was an issue with transferring the title that took about 6 weeks to resolve. During that time I drove with no plates on the car. It was, though, provisionally registered so if a cop stopped me they could have checked the VIN in the system. Not that that happened since driving without plates is not a totally abnormal thing here. A quirky side benefit was that the golden gate bridge does either EZ Pass tolling or license plate tolling. I probably crossed that bridge 3 or 4 times during my no-plate period and wasn't charged. I felt like I was really sticking it to the man in my own small insignificant way, $6 at a time...
* At least we didn't until recently. I read somewhere a while back that this has changed. And used cars wouldn't need a paper tag since the license plate stays with the car when you sell it. But someone bringing a car in from out of state that has a titling issue to resolve would still have to drive without plates for a little while.
iris lilies
12-13-17, 12:31am
I thought the eye doc tested for glaucoma every visit by either poking at the eye or blowing a gust of air at it and somehow measuring the pressure.
That is just some kind of preliminary test. The second set of tests
I took were ones I had never had before. They were considered medical tests and some health insurance policies would pay for them.
That is just some kind of preliminary test. The second set of tests
I took were ones I had never had before. They were considered medical tests and some health insurance policies would pay for them.
Interesting. I had no idea. As they used to say, 'The more you know'
Yes, multiple sets of tests and when I switched jobs and insurances the old provider was no longer in network and refused to release the results of my baseline to the new provider unless I paid $20.00. In my area release of records to another provider is usually free of charge. I offered to pay 10 cents per page plus postage, but they refused. The old provider had retired and sold out to some national profit driven outfit pushing Lasik.
Wow, I get the annual glaucoma tests because my dad and grandmother had glaucoma. Even when I get the annual vision test at Walmart they do a glaucoma test and it's never a lot of money. If your numbers are high, yes, probably more tests, but if your numbers are normal, no more tests.
My ex husband had it and had laser surgery when the drops would not control it. His vision continued to be fine with the treatment until his death.
My father had the laser surgery after the drops would not control it. He continues to drive.
Now I find my son's father-in-law has it and just had the surgery. So my little granddaughters have lots of glaucoma in their family history and they ought to be tested once a year, too.
IL and Y, were your numbers elevated? Why did they want to do more tests?
I get checked for glaucoma every 4 months. I have had no change since the eye doctor said I might me susceptible to it. It generally takes me about 10 minutes. They have a couple of machines that I get checked out on. One has flashing lights and I push a button when I see them. The other one just takes measurements I suppose. And then the doctors check me out the other times.
Ive had no problems, maybe I’m just paying for their fancy machines.
I see the eye doctor and dentist 3 times a year, dermatologists and regular doctor once a year. Aviation doctor every 2 years. And I feel good.
Florida drives license are good for 6 years and you can also renew by mail or internet. Driving down here is different to say the least. With the older population, snowbirds from everywhere, and tourists, you really have to watch everyone because most don’t seem to know where they are or where they are going. And they may decide they want to be in your lane at any moment.
Yppej...........Your numbers are important. Were they within the normal range? I had my pressures checked pretty often for a couple years (every 6 mos) because they were up and down. I think after awhile, the doc realized that this was normal for me.......but without the occasional other tests, you just don't know. I'm not saying have all these tests all the time, but at least get a baseline (optic nerve, peripheral vision, etc.) and then go every couple of years. Glaucoma is a pretty easy thing to fix/slow down, and your vision is so very important. I do understand your frustration with doctors asking for too many tests all the time. But be careful not to throw it all out. Educate yourself and decide how often you might need to catch a vision problem early, and then just those things. Unfortunately, it seems doctors these days go less with their clinical expertise and default to lots of tests......maybe just to cover their asses.
One thing I noticed was that my eye pressures varied during the day. If you could figure out when yours are their lowest, you could only make appointments for that time of time. There's a normal variation with some of us, and if you don't want to doc to only focus in on the highest number, only go when they tend to be the lowest.
Another thing I noticed about my higher pressures.........they were higher when I was having sleep apnea and came down once I was on cpap.
But just remember.......you don't have to do everything the docs tell you to do........but decide what is in your best interest to have done....at least occasionally. Glaucoma is one of those more easily dealt with problems and your vision really is top priority.
iris lilies
12-13-17, 9:56am
I get checked for glaucoma every 4 months. I have had no change since the eye doctor said I might me susceptible to it. It generally takes me about 10 minutes. They have a couple of machines that I get checked out on. One has flashing lights and I push a button when I see them. The other one just takes measurements I suppose. And then the doctors check me out the other times.
Ive had no problems, maybe I’m just paying for their fancy machines.
I see the eye doctor and dentist 3 times a year, dermatologists and regular doctor once a year. Aviation doctor every 2 years. And I feel good.
Wow, every 4 months? Your indicators must be high.
I had that test with the flashing lights, it was interesting.
iris lilies
12-13-17, 10:00am
Wow, I get the annual glaucoma tests because my dad and grandmother had glaucoma. Even when I get the annual vision test at Walmart they do a glaucoma test and it's never a lot of money. If your numbers are high, yes, probably more tests, but if your numbers are normal, no more tests.
My ex husband had it and had laser surgery when the drops would not control it. His vision continued to be fine with the treatment until his death.
My father had the laser surgery after the drops would not control it. He continues to drive.
Now I find my son's father-in-law has it and just had the surgery. So my little granddaughters have lots of glaucoma in their family history and they ought to be tested once a year, too.
IL and Y, were your numbers elevated? Why did they want to do more tests?
I dont know the numbers, but for the first time the eye doc saw some kind of indication that further testing was warranted.
I pay for this out of pocket and these latter tests are considered medical tests that many health insurance policies cover. But that is fine, I can afford it.
Wow, every 4 months? Your indicators must be high.
I had that test with the flashing lights, it was interesting.
My previous eye doctor in St. Charles never seemed concerned, it wasn’t till I moved down here that it was a worry. And my numbers have not changed in the 3 1/2 years of checking. But I guess someone has to pay for those machines.
iris lilies
12-13-17, 11:38am
My previous eye doctor in St. Charles never seemed concerned, it wasn’t till I moved down here that it was a worry. And my numbers have not changed in the 3 1/2 years of checking. But I guess someone has to pay for those machines.
Well, you may be right, there are new diagnostic tools out there, everyone is now trained on them, so voila! We need these tests. Not.
Test results were fine, but because they "could change" supposedly I should keep having tests. Anything in life can change. My prescription has been the same for years now though. But my nerves are large (runs in the family) and the doctors notice this when they shine the bright light in my eyes during the regular, non-glaucoma tests.
Float On
12-14-17, 10:07am
Are DMV's state run or leased to bidders? Ours are leased out and around here they strive for polite quick service. A few years back they changed the inspection to every two years. Wish they'd do away with it. on-line renewal would be nice. We can renew car tags by mail but I've never tried it. Trying to imagine a 12 year old photo. That's a huge difference in checking someone's ID.
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