Renewing a USVI Drivers License

Bring your old license, two forms of ID, a passport, SS card and $45 and get in line, no tank tops

No shorts, and no bare arms allowed at da DMV.

I was there with shorts last week. Was registering a car, but picked up the latest application for renewal. This from the front page of the packet:

"Documents required when applying, renewing, converting, or replacing a lost, stolen, or destroyed license.

Every customer must bring one of the following original item listed below, along with your original Social Security card.

- Valid US Passport book or card
- US Birth Certificate
- Permanent Residence card
- Naturalization certificate

- Converting of a US Driver's License, you need to provide a driving history record from the state where the license was issued.

- All individuals coming to take their drivers license pictures shall have shirts with sleeves. All individuals shoulders should be covered.

- Head wraps are not accepted unless notarized documentation from a religious order is provided.

Revised 6/1/11"

As an aside, can't imagine why all the docs for a renewal, but I'd have them on hand anyway. Shorts don't seem to be an issue. I saw lots of folks going in to take their pictures with shorts on.

It's not really "all" the docs. It's a social security card, plus ONE of the others. I'll be there tomorrow with SS and Passport in hand.....rather be somewhere, anywhere....but, alas...discovered today my license expired in AUGUST!!! My bad, but geeze, I just got a new one in 08. What up with that? A 3 year license??

Not always what it says in the rules...mid-September in stx I saw a youngish, hispanic-looking woman renew her license wearing a tube top..no sleeves, no front no back above the bustline. I took a pic with my phone, not that it would change things any....also, took 3 hours or more that day to renew....hence the people-watching.

Juanita - Please let us know if they renew your expired license without making you take the written and driving tests.

Juanita - Please let us know if they renew your expired license without making you take the written and driving tests.

I called yesterday, and they said no test. I have to pay $10 for each expired month. Hope she knew what she was talking about!! I'll let you know.

Sorry. Didn't mean "all" like I wrote. Just meant not sure why they need to see any docs again if you already have one of their licenses. Good luck, Juanita!

Got there around 10:00, out around 12:00. Two hours.....I thought that was a bit long, but there were a lot of people and it kept moving, just took a while...One reason, I'm sure, the lady with the camera/computer was having a little difficulty getting the computer to do what she wanted. She had to take my picture twice, and it took her a while to get things entered correctly. She was very nice and let me "primp" a little before the picture. LOL Turned out great, by the way! 🙂

No tests! Yay!! And, they didn't charge me extra because my license had expired. They had told me, on the phone, it would be $10 per month, but the cashier just asked for $35, and I even asked her if she noticed it had expired, and she said yes. So, that was a bargain!

I saw a lady in a tube-type top, too. Also a man in a black "wife beater" tee shirt. Nobody seemed to care. I think both of those people were registering cars, though, so no pictures. Might have been different, if they were getting licenses.

As an aside...there was an older gentleman, with a cane. Two people had to help him up out of the chair to go to the window when he was called. I couldn't help but be a bit concerned that he would be driving a car. Maybe he just owns the car and has a driver. Hope so!

Here is the process based on my experience yesterday. Go to "Window 1" and get a renewal form out of the wall mounted tray beside the window. Fill the form out (name, address, old license number, DOB, SS#, blood type, donor preference) and then take the completed form along with your old drivers license, Passport, and SS card, to any of the cashier windows and pay $35. Then take all the paperwork and receipt back to Window 1 and hand it to the lady behind the window. Then sit down and wait to be called. Note that the lady behind Window 1 does not call your name using the loudspeaker system but instead shouts it through the window, so sit near the window so you can hear her. When she calls your name you go into her office. She transfers the form data to a computer form, has you check it, takes your picture (twice for me too), and takes your thumbprint electronically. You go back outside her office and about 5 minutes later she will call your name and give you your new license. I arrived at about 11:45 and walked back out at about 1:45, so a 2 hour process on a Wednesday. The main delay point is that there is only one person who does all the drivers license stuff and it takes her about 15 to 20 minutes per person once you get in her office. I wore shorts, a golf style shirt, and flip flops, and had no dress code issues. The form does list several alternate types of acceptable ID if you do not have a passport or social security card.

I went today to renew my drivers license. One thing to add to the above.

In addition to wanting to see your passport and Social Security card and your old drivers license. They also want TWO pieces of ID with your PHYSICAL address on them. These can be WAPA bill, Auto Registration/Title or Mortgage Statement or Rental agreement.

I was trying to renew registration and renew drivers license. Since both processes required the use of my Auto Registration they became serial processes instead of parallel processes.

Completed both in 1 hour 45 minutes.

It's also good to call before doing a Driver's License renewal to make sure the camera is actually in working order as it happens from time to time that it is not. License renewal does not consist of a written test and is good for 5 years.

They did not even use the camera for my renewal, or the fingerprint scanner. They used the picture and fingerprints from my previous drivers license 5 years ago.

BTW, since we are talking about military service on the other forum. The statement that you sign at the bottom of the drivers license application gives the VI government the right to share your information with Selective Service to make sure that you comply in case of a draft. I guess this applies to the ladies now too!

For heaven's sake, the camera they use is just a little digital camera on a stand. (At least it was when I got my license a couple of years ago.) Those things are so cheap now, you'd think they could just have two or three of them around. *-)

hope you dont get the grouchy cashier. she makes everything harder if she in one of her moods

please see the text on this page... it explains the update in driver license requirements in compliance with the real id act of 2005...

http://usvibmv.org/first_driver_license.php

For heaven's sake, the camera they use is just a little digital camera on a stand. (At least it was when I got my license a couple of years ago.) Those things are so cheap now, you'd think they could just have two or three of them around. *-)

I just got my license jan 9th (i'm 29! - I lived in NYC most of my life and was spoiled by trains/buses) they still use a little digital camera on a stand. 😛

any insight into what happens if you do not renew it on time?

The only thing I can add is to pay with cash or credit card as they don't accept checks, there is a penalty for not renewing on time (minimal) and call to make sure the camera is working for your photo ID and the lady will be there to take the pics. Good Luck.
When I renewed mine earlier in the yr., it was no hassle.

Thanks, i just dont know if i will have time before i leave on vacation. i just didnt want to have to take the driving test

I was just told that if you are 6 months past the expiration you will need to re-take the written and driving tests.

I renewed mine this month, one month late, and they charged $10 for the late charge. I couldn't find my social security card, so I walked with my passport, WAPA bill with my address, voter registration card, and W-2 with my social security number on it ... They used all of it. They don't count your drivers license as ID, so you need to be prepared with as much as possible.

When it was time to take my photo the camera lady asked if I had a sweater or a wrap. I was wearing a sleeveless dresss and arms MUST be covered ... REALLY? I'd heard that before but thought it must be an old "wives tale " ... its 89 degrees! Am I on candid camera? Nope, I don't have a sweater or wrap, but she let me borrow hers to wrap around my shoulders and it didn't even show in the photo ...truly amazing.

I saw several people being turned away because they didn't have enough proper ID ... be prepared.

Edited to say: I had to have a current drivers license in order to rent a car during travel, and needed to renew the day before I left, very thankful I remembered before I left.

everyone does not have to abide by the "dress code" for driver's licenses...I took a photo on my phone of the woman with the strapless/spaghetti strap dress on, who was getting her license renewed when I was there with a friend...but she was not a continental, so I guess rules are only rules for some...I saw her license photo after she received it and was showing someone else, it did not include any wrap or such...just skin.