Renewing my driver's license - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Hollz · 06-26-2006, 09:07 AM

I need to renew my driver’s license for August. I leave on my trip at the end of July so I was going to wait till I get back considering the $300 my license is going to cost me due to a little accident I was involved in…. Paying for it after my trip won’t be that bad since I get my job back and I won’t be saving up anymore. But I know that here in Canada if you don't renew your license, whether you are driving or not it is not considering valid. Some bars might care, so won’t.

Should I renew this for before I go to Europe? They can’t know about every country’s driver’s licenses. My main concern is renting mopeds or something like that. I’ll have my birth certificate and passport anyways.

**space virgin** · 06-26-2006, 10:13 AM

Better to be safe and renew it before you go. Some places are funny about valid forms of identification, others won't care. But that one time a business DOES care is going to bite you in the arse!

**Jen05** · 06-26-2006, 01:50 PM

Hmm, if it weren't for the possibility of renting mopeds or whatever I'd say don't bother. I think I showed my license once at a bar in Europe, but our licenses are so confusing that I doubt anybody will be able to figure out if it's expired!

**omisan** · 06-26-2006, 03:38 PM

Unless you look really young, you probably won't ever get carded in Europe. However, if you do need to show an ID for car/scooter/bike/whatever hire or for any other reason, it's generally a good idea to have a valid one.

**Jen05** · 06-26-2006, 09:27 PM

I totally didn't mention this before, but Tpunk and your post almost saved my ass! I completely forgot that I have to renew my license by the end of this week! I don't know when I'll be able to, but at least I'll remember now!

xanthuos · 06-26-2006, 09:59 PM

Well as others have pointed out, you'd really only need it if you anticipated renting some sort of vehicular conveyance. If you don't think you're going to be renting mopeds or a car, then I'd say wait until you get back.

I'm not sure if Manitoba is like Saskatchewan in this sense, but in Saskatchewan you have the paper driver's license and then a plastic identification card. I can't see them saying the plastic ID isn't valid even if you no longer drive or possess a valid driver's license.
From SGI's website:
"A photo identification card is available from SGI for all residents of
Saskatchewan, regardless of whether or not the individual is a licensed
driver."
From the MPI site here, it looks like Manitoba is the same way.

**LostFarmboy** · 06-26-2006, 10:39 PM

Agreeing with the masses here - if you weren't going to be hiring any mopeds or anything i'd say don't worry about it. But, seeing as you will be hiring vehicles then i think it's best to play it safe and get it renewed.