{"id":24079,"date":"2024-11-08T05:08:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T13:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=24079"},"modified":"2024-11-18T09:16:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T17:16:45","slug":"what-should-i-do-with-my-old-drivers-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/dmv\/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-drivers-license\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should I Do with My Old Driver\u2019s License?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question: <\/strong>I just got my new driver\u2019s license with my updated address. I\u2019m not sure what to do with the old one, and I\u2019m kind of afraid to just throw it in the garbage. Is there some way I can safely dispose of my old driver\u2019s license?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a bit nerve-wracking throwing away anything that has your information on it, especially in this day and age. Because your license contains sensitive information, there are safer and more secure ways to dispose of an old copy than to simply throw it in the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shred your license<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you get your new license, run your old license through a paper shredder, then throw the shredded bits in the trash or recycling. You could also use a company that specializes in destroying documents that have private data on them\u2014for a fee, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cut your license with scissors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have a shredder, use scissors to cut your license into small pieces. Be especially sure to cut through any identifying information, like your name, address, and driver\u2019s license number.

If you want to take additional security measures, throw half of the shredded or cut pieces of your license in the trash one week, then wait and dispose of the rest the next week. That way, in the unlikely event anyone were to go through your trash, they wouldn\u2019t be able to obtain your information by piecing together your shredded license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn in your old license to the DMV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to do this is to turn in your old driver\u2019s license when you get your new one. Some states will ask you to turn in your old license for disposal when you get a new one, but other states will let you keep it\u2014they\u2019ll just punch a hole in your old license or cut off the corner to signify that it\u2019s no longer valid. But if you don\u2019t want to keep it, ask the clerk to dispose of it for you.

If you renew your license online, check whether your state\u2019s DMV will allow you to mail in your old license for disposal.

But there\u2019s an exception\u2014if you\u2019re getting a license in a new state, you\u2019re generally required to turn in the license you held in your last state. That\u2019s because a driver\u2019s license is seen as proof of residence, and you can\u2019t legally have primary residence in two states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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