Should i Switch Driver's License from NY to CA ?

[fab5freddy]

I just moved from New York to California
and currently have a New York Driver's License,
but was wondering what the Pro's and Cons of switching
from a NY to a California Driver's License are ?

 

[dmr727]

Cons:
The DMV is a pain in the ass.

Pros:
It's illegal if you don't. (I think you have 30 days, but double check)

 

[fab5freddy]

I know some people who have had out of state licenses for years
without changing.

 

[creator2456]

Cons:
The DMV is a pain in the ass.

Pros:
It's illegal if you don't. (I think you have 30 days, but double check)

Here's the page from the California DMV
Click Me

Looks like you have 20 days before penalties kick in.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

I'm kind of in the same situation, but without the illegal part that you have.

My "permanent residence" is in Washington State, but I live in California for school - so I don't HAVE to change my drivers license. I have a Washington drivers license and my car is registered in Washington. I want to keep the latter that way, because California emissions and registration is unbelievably absurd.

So I can't decide if I should switch either. Let me know what you decide.

 

[dmr727]

I'm not saying you'd get busted or anything, but it might cause a problem if you end up doing anything else involving the DMV, like changing your plates over. And if you live somewhere that has jerky cops, not changing your plates might get noticed.

 

[eldy]

You are allowed to register a car in California even though your permanent residence is not in that state.

If you spend a majority of your time in one state then it becomes your permanent residence.

The best thing to do is to keep on using your out of state license and plates. If you do get pulled over do not give any statements about where you are going and why you are in the state of California. (Never ever tell them that you are on your way to work!) Tell them that the address on your license is current and it is your permanent residence. Let them cite you then contest the citation.

 

[yg17]

I'm kind of in the same situation, but without the illegal part that you have.

My "permanent residence" is in Washington State, but I live in California for school - so I don't HAVE to change my drivers license. I have a Washington drivers license and my car is registered in Washington. I want to keep the latter that way, because California emissions and registration is unbelievably absurd.

So I can't decide if I should switch either. Let me know what you decide.

If you're only there for school, and likely leaving after 4 years, you should remain a resident in Washington. If you decide to stay in California after college, then switch over. The only inconvenience for you is you may have to go back home to renew your plates or license.

 

[fab5freddy]

I was also thinking of tax purposes. which state is better to
be a resident in.

 

[yg17]

I was also thinking of tax purposes. which state is better to
be a resident in.

You've permanently moved, I don't think you have much of a choice

 

[swiftaw]

I was also thinking of tax purposes. which state is better to
be a resident in.

If you moved during this year you'll have to file as a part-year resident in both NY and CA. Next year you'll only file in CA.

 

[neiltc13]

Why isn't there just a single "United States of America" driving licence?

 

[swiftaw]

Why isn't there just a single "United States of America" driving licence?

Because the states would never allow it. The individual states run their own licensing and registration agencies and get the revenue, not the federal government.

 

[Gelfin]

I was also thinking of tax purposes. which state is better to
be a resident in.

You won't get to pick where you live for tax purposes. If you're working in California, you're paying California taxes. Otherwise everybody would maintain a P.O. Box in Tennessee or Nevada.

I kept my original license for several years until it was about to expire. I had a job in town and didn't have to own a car for a couple of years, so it wasn't an issue, but once I needed a car I didn't automatically switch it over. I had no problems buying or registering a car in CA using an out-of-state license, and although the subject came up at the DMV when I finally did get my license, the DMV didn't really care much less do anything.

The only way you're likely to hit a problem is if you're pulled over, but that never happened to me, so I don't know how much crap you could catch or whether being able to claim part-year residence as a student would avoid trouble.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I waited too long for fear of going to the DMV. Where they really bent me over the barrel was the fact that I had purchased a car in the state of Illinois within a year of moving to CA. They figured I owed them taxes. So, to get licensed and registered, I owed a little over 600

 

[taylorwilsdon]

If you're only there for school, and likely leaving after 4 years, you should remain a resident in Washington. If you decide to stay in California after college, then switch over. The only inconvenience for you is you may have to go back home to renew your plates or license.

I'm not leaving afterward, I'll probably stay living in the Bay area.

I'm home (in Seattle) in the summer so I can deal with tabs and renewals then.

 

[MTI]

Why isn't there just a single "United States of America" driving licence?

In addition to the revenue, there is also on single set of traffic laws in the United States. Each of the states (and even counties within states) have their own statutes and regulation scheme, including inspection schedules, emission testing (or not) and rules of the road.