Why Keep Your Old Drivers License: A Valuable Time Capsule

Do you find yourself holding onto your old drivers license despite not having any immediate use for it? While many may dispose of it upon renewal, there are indeed several unexpected and valuable reasons to keep your old license. In this article, we will explore why you might want to keep your old license, drawing on experiences of individuals like me, and discuss the practicality and benefits of retaining it.

Old License: A Keepsake Photo and Personal History

One of the primary reasons people keep their old drivers license is the photograph of themselves. Once the license is renewed, the old one becomes a nostalgic snapshot. Personally, I was very sad to have to relinquish my old license when I renewed it. But for others, the old license serves as a personal record, capturing a moment in time. For me, it was a valuable keepsake from a different era.

Unexpected Use of Old Licenses: Cross-State Validation

It's not uncommon for old licenses to still be valid, especially when moving between states. As I discovered, my old license was still valid when I moved back to a previously resided state before it expired. This can come in handy—as I found out, it doesn't require financial commitment to use an expired license as identification. Just a recent piece of mail also suffices for proof of residency. This unexpected ease of use is a handy feature of retaining your old license.

License Conversion in New Zealand

A more intriguing scenario is when you need to convert your license to another country. For instance, during my year in New Zealand, I decided to convert my US driver license to an NZ one. Initially, I did not realize that a two-year residency requirement was needed for an unrestricted license. Lucky for me, I had stored my old license in my passport case and presented it to the agent, who issued me an unrestricted license immediately. Keeping old licenses in these cases serves as a valuable document that can simplify transitions and validate your identity.

Disposing of Old Licenses

Many see old licenses as a liability and dispose of them as soon as possible. Some might even cut up expired credit cards, which is a good practice to prevent identity theft. However, even if disposal methods are in place, saving old licenses offers a more practical benefit. It acts as a safeguard against future needs for identification and can be a useful document during international travel or unexpected situation. Many states, like Kansas, recognize this and have simplified the process of getting a replacement, using an expired license and even one piece of mail as proof of identity.

Conclusion

Retaining your old drivers license isn’t just about the photograph; it can be a valuable time capsule, a handy piece of identification, and a safeguard against potential complications. In the era of digital identification and information, keeping an old license could prove to be more useful than you think. Remember, it's always better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Keywords: drivers license, old license, identification document