A residential address is an important detail that cannot be omitted when registering a car. As a matter of fact, it also appears on the driving license.
Therefore, it is important that the address with the DMV is the correct address of where you really live so that it will be easy for you to be located if there is a need for it.
However, if you finally moved out from your parent’s house and live on your own, can you still keep your parent’s address on your driving license?
Yes, you can keep your parent’s address on your driving license if you are still living with them. However, if you’re no longer living at your parent’s house, you’re expected to use, change or update the address on your driver’s license to your current address.
Can I Keep My Parents Address on my Driving License?
Yes, you can keep your parents’ address on your driving license, this is however on the grounds that you live with them.
When registering a car, you are required to provide your residential address, if it turns out that you live with your parents, then it’s only right that you put down their address.
However, if you do not live with them do not keep their address on your driving license. Put in the address of where you live.
How Long Should I Use My Parent’s Address on my Driving License?
In most states, you are allowed to use your parent’s address for as long as you live with them. If you are staying with them for 2 years, you can use their address for that long, therefore there is really no specified duration for which you can use their address.
The moment you decide to move from their house, you are expected to change the address within a certain period.
What Happens if I Don’t Change the Address on my Driving License?
It is important that all the details you have with the DMV as regards your car are correct. As a matter of fact, having correct and up-to-date information with them is important for your safety.
If you however decide not to change the address on your driving license after moving to your new house, you should know there are penalties and possible disadvantages.
The penalty for not changing the address on your driving license varies from state to state and may also depend on how lucky you get.
It is possible that you drive around for a long time without getting pulled over by the police, in this case, you have nothing to worry about, but if you get pulled over, you can get in serious trouble.
The police can decide to let you go with just a written or verbal warning or you could get a ticket with you promising to have the license updated.
The ticket may be waived or reduced if the judge is lenient or you have a good driving record. You can as well get a fine.
Not changing the address on your driving license may not be a serious offense in some states but the legal penalty could also be getting a jail term of less than a year since it is considered a misdemeanor.
There are also disadvantages of not changing the address on your driving license some of which are;
- You Won’t be Easily Located: If you decide not to notify the DMV of your change of address, the change won’t be made on your driving license which makes it difficult for you to be located in the event your car was involved in an accident or used for criminal activity.
- You Could Get in Trouble with the Police: Not changing the address on your driving license is a good way to get in trouble with the police. If you get pulled over by the police, you could be penalized and charged to court depending on the circumstances surrounding why were pulled over.
- You are at Risk of Spending Time in Jail: This may be an extreme penalty for not changing your address but if it happens, you can be sent to jail (less than a year) if you do not change the address on your driving license.
How Long do I have to Update the Address on my Driver’s License?
The length of time you have to update the address on your driver’s license depends on your state of residence. Usually, it is expected that you change the address on the driver’s license between 30-90 days you moved to the new address.
For some states, it has to be within 30 days while for others within 60 days, it all depends on the state. Therefore, it is important to know what applies in your state.
Do I Have to Change my Address for a Temporary Move?
No, you do not have to change your address for a temporary move. Having to change your address when you are only moving temporarily will be too much work as you will have to change it back when you move back.
Rather than changing address for a temporary move, you can use a forwarding service that allows important documents to be forwarded to wherever you have moved to temporarily.
In a state like Canada, they have Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding Service that works for this purpose.
In the case where you are moving temporarily but can still be contacted at your old address, you may not need to change the address on the driver’s license.
For instance, for someone going to school but living with the parents, prior to the move, you can still leave the address on the driver’s license as they can be contacted at the parent’s house.
What Do I Need to Change the Address on My Driver’s License?
To change the address on your driver’s license, you will need the following, although the requirement may vary from state to state.
If you are changing the address on the driver’s license when moving within the state you will need;
- Change of address form
- The driver’s license card number and the issue date
- Previous and new residential address
- Birth date
- Social security number
- Plate number, VIN
- Proof of Residence
- Proof of identification
If you are moving from one state to another state, you will need the following to change the address on your driver’s license
- Out-of-state driver’s license
- License application form
- Social security card or proof of it
- Proof of address (two)
- Proof of identification
- Proof of lawful presence
It is important to note that not all states require all the aforementioned to change the address on your driver’s license, therefore, if you are moving houses whether within or outside the state you should do your due diligence by finding out what the requirements are.
Conclusion
In order to avoid being penalized for not changing the address on your driving license, do your due diligence by finding out the requirements for where you live.