Is it legal to have two driver’s licenses in the United States? Maybe you have never stopped to think about it, but it is more common than you might imagine. It often happens that people move to another state only for a while, maybe for seasonal work, maybe for vacations… but then, what about driver’s licenses?
The answer is no, you cannot. It is illegal in almost the entire country to have two active driver’s licenses at the same time, and relax, this is nothing new. We are going to explain it clearly so there are no surprises later.
One person, one license
In the vast majority of states, the law is clear: you can only have one valid driver’s license, even if you have lived or currently live in several states. When you move, the correct thing to do is to surrender the old one and obtain a new one in your new place of residence.
It is not a serious crime (it is a misdemeanor), but in states like California, Texas, Florida, Georgia or Pennsylvania it is included in their traffic codes and it is a legal issue. In addition, the well known DMVs automatically check whether you already have another active license in another state before issuing a new one.
Why is having two licenses prohibited?
Basically because for many years, some people (very clever ones) used licenses in different states to avoid fines, spread out points or even avoid license suspensions…
On the other hand, fraud, identity theft and similar issues are very common, which is why states decided to share databases and eliminate any possibility of having multiple licenses. Remember that trying to obtain a license without canceling the previous one is much riskier than it was 20 or 30 years ago.
The key role of the REAL ID law
Of course, with the REAL ID law, measures have become stricter. No state can issue a REAL ID license without first verifying that there is not already an active one in another state. If the system detects another valid license, the process is automatically blocked until you cancel the previous one.
What if I live in two states?
There is no real legal exception for people who spend long periods in two states. Not for retirees, not for temporary workers, not for anyone. You can have homes in several states, yes, but only one license, and it must correspond to your primary residence. It is not that complicated to understand, right? With that same license, you must drive in any other state.
Fines and penalties
The consequences vary by state, and can include fines or the revocation of one or both licenses. In some cases, it can also be considered a first degree offense.
In Florida, for example, having two licenses can cost you a fine of 1,000 dollars. And if authorities believe there was an intention to deceive, the problem becomes more serious…
What to do if you move to another state
If you change your residence, the most sensible thing is to handle the process properly. You usually have between 30 and 90 days to obtain a new license after reporting your change of residence. During that process, you surrender or cancel the old one and that is it.
“If you obtain a duplicate by telling the DMV that you lost your original license, it means that you now have two IDs. You go to state number two, give them one of your IDs and now you have a license in two different states, even though the first one is no longer valid,” said a user.
Even though myths still circulate and “I know someone who has two”, the legal reality is very clear: having more than one active driver’s license is not allowed. And every year it becomes easier to detect.
Knowing this rule not only helps you avoid fines. It can save you from serious problems during a traffic stop, an accident, a federal procedure or even when boarding a plane.