License expires in a week. Earliest appointment is over a month out. ???

Submitted by media1mogul t3_1224p93 in massachusetts

Wondering if anyone has hit this. It's been a loooong time since I went to the RMV.

My license is expiring within the week. Yup. waited too long to renew. So the online process directed me to go to a location. And you now need to make an appointment?! Ok. So I've been looking at AAA and the RMV. The next appointments are consistently over a month away.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd rather spend my day waiting in line than waiting 4 weeks given my license expiring. So.. I can't get an appointment and I can't walk-in but I'll still get nailed if I drive with it expired.

Anyone else had this happen? And yes. Before you flame me. I know. This is all my fault.

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NoMoLerking t1_jdor95h wrote

Just get it by email and skip real ID. The feds kicked the can to May 2025 anyhow.

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media1mogul OP t1_jdotdfm wrote

It's not the realID thing. I'm not sure what triggered it, but I have to do the in-person thing. It might be I hit my limit on renewing online and need a new picture.

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FuzzAldrin36 t1_jdqksux wrote

My fiance had the same thing. No updated info needed except his picture.

He procrastinates on things sometimes too (as do we all), but was able to get in to AAA in December. They were scheduling sooner than a month out though, so he got in 2 days before his birthday.

I'm not giving this as advice, because I generally avoid advising people to do illegal things.

If I was in this situation, I would book the earliest possible appointment (considering I hadn't already found a walk-in location), get everything done and submitted online that I can (to have the process started in the system), and then do my very best at driving until then.

I would personally be okay doing this knowing I have a clean record without a history of being pulled over and don't live or travel in an area where cops camp out for quotas.

It's really an odds game. I would play it, because my odds are good.

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DanieXJ t1_jdri8qr wrote

The rule is that every 10 years you have to do it in person. Simple as that.

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Icy-Neck-2422 t1_jdosvio wrote

Keep checking back. They release appointments throughout the day during the week on a rolling basis. You'll find one if you check often enough.

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media1mogul OP t1_jdot7ph wrote

Thanks. I'll give this a shot.

I'm also going to try just showing up.

I can't get my head around that they'd put you in this sort of situation of a long wait without allowing for a grace period for dolts like me.

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peonies_envy t1_jdow59k wrote

My husband ran into the same thing - took a two hour drive to Pittsfield - next day appt

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mslashandrajohnson t1_jdota1q wrote

I filled the form in online. I didn’t get real ID but needed to order a fresh birth certificate. I started earlier than you.

I made an appointment at AAA. The RMV form I’d filled in online got to the necessary status the day before my AAA appointment.

Here is one note on electronic form design:

The RMV form has lots of fields, but father’s last name is immediately to the left of gender.

Well my dad was male so I kept picking male, and the form wouldn’t get processed.

Day or two before my AAA appointment, I got a clue and updated the form to my gender.

Another note: on the eye test, I found out last summer that I have cataracts. A month or two ago, I finally saw a surgeon. Takes a very long time to see a surgeon.

Anyway, she let me know my vision was awful and I needed glasses to drive. The glasses made a great difference.

So my prep for renewing my license started last summer and continues. After surgery this coming summer, I’ll find out if I still need glasses. If not, I’ll have to update the license.

I’m a planner type so as I said, I had an idea that my night vision was sh*t, and I’d noticed bright lights getting extra sparkly recently in daylight. So I was super concerned about driving and was not driving at night at all. Concerned about whether I could respond as needed to the need, if a friend had trouble or there was a bad situation at work.

I’m sure if you fill in the form online and book at AAA today, you’ll make the deadline, as long as you have a current passport or birth certificate.

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Michael_Dolances t1_jdorkdc wrote

From what I’ve heard some don’t require an appointment for certain things, but some are appointment only, like cape cod is appt only and Plymouth has walk in availability

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jfburke619 t1_jdouxfc wrote

My recommendation is make the appointment and then try to get a better one. In the odd chance that you do get a traffic stop, have a print out of the appointment with you. I had a similar problem - I moved and needed to get a Massachusetts license so I could transfer my automobile registrations. Meanwhile the insurance company wanted to cancel coverage because I was not at my old address. It worked out. I was checking twice a day and something freed up within three days.

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ya_boy_ace t1_jdpmspx wrote

If I didn’t have any planned travel then I would just let it expire and drive around with a printed copy of the confirmed appointment time. YMMV

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Empty_Ad_612 t1_jdrvxjg wrote

Search all branch locations in MA and find the one that has a next day appt and drive out there. Had to drive from Salem to Greenfield to renew my license in a hurry.

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abat6294 t1_jdp43s1 wrote

I went to the RMV in Chicopee without an appointment just a few weeks ago to register a trailer. I had no issue and didn't even wait very long.

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denis0500 t1_jdpm794 wrote

Licenses are different, you need an appointment for those.

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jkncrew t1_jdpxwif wrote

Yes, it happened to me. For some reason you can only do the online license several times and then you have to go there.

It was sort of my fault. I got the notice on 2/13. I applied on 2/19. I got the appt for 3/9-12, I forget the exact date. 3 week’s post bday. I realized that day was my annual physical that I had to wait 3 months for, so health trumps license. I logged back in and got an appointment during the week of my bday. It was in Danver, kind of a schlep for me.

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Mr-Chewy-Biteums t1_jdsio31 wrote

I am neither a cop nor a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure the "drive around with an expired license and a printed copy of the appointment" advice is going to get you in serious trouble.

I got stopped for a dead tail light once. My father was taking me and my wife out to dinner. I offered to drive on the way back, without realizing that I had somehow neglected to bring my wallet. The cop was able to 100% verify that I did, in fact, have a valid license, but he said under no circumstance could he allow me to drive the rest of the way home. Since there were other drivers in the car it wasn't the end of the world, but:

Another time my mother didn't realize her license had expired. It was when the state stopped sending out reminders in the mail and she just spaced on it. She got stopped for something minor and not only was she not allowed to drive the remaining ~2 miles home, her car was impounded. It was a huge ordeal.

I guess maybe you might get lucky and interact with the nicest cop ever, and they happen to be having a great day so they look the other way and let you drive on an expired license, but that seems super unlikely.

​

Thank you

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AdFabulous8888 t1_je2oq60 wrote

I insisted that was totally legal and fine to my sister. HA. Turns out I guess it's not, the paper of the upcoming schedule. She didn't listen to me as paranoid luckily. It should be fine as THEY know these appointments are all backed up and i feel terrible for your mother with that trauma, I can imagine. UGHGH. about the cop not being kindly or NORMAL.

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nynexman4464 t1_jdtot0e wrote

Search all the locations. I ended up going to Greenfield since it was pretty much the only place with appointments before mine expired. Some people have luck with AAA but I didn't unfortunately. I did notice different times would show up on different days so you might get lucky but I didn't want to chance it.

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media1mogul OP t1_jdvkq6d wrote

Just a quick update.

I went to the RMV this morning. Very nice desk person. But. No appointment. No license renewal.

I was referred to the help number. After 3 minutes of recorded messages I was able to connect to the license line. While on hold it played - "Representatives will not be able to assist you in making a license appointment." hmmm..

It's just weird to think that since I'm going to need my car I'm going to be breaking the law in a day or so. I keep thinking. This is not like a fishing license. Yes. Of course, to those that will point out that I had plenty of time if I had paid attention. Yes. It's my fault.

I see where the advantages are in this for the staff. No chaos at the RMV. The one I went to was quiet and organized. It felt like a well run doctor where you get there and don't have to wait for 2 hrs. That's all good.

Still - I'm thinking. Official policy is no same day service. And... I need my car. So I drive illegally and if I get pulled over it's up to the police to let it go or charge me. They could at least officially say that if you have a scheduled appointment you will be issued a warning.

This situation just doesn't seem right to me

I have heard conflicting information about people cancelling appointments so that they come available. I'll give that a shot.

This is going to be the last I comment on this.

Thanks for all the feedback.

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AdFabulous8888 t1_je2o5eq wrote

Loved your 'it's my fault, I know' post. This is me. Thanks for the reminder and FEAR to just make an appointment or find out about if I need one before AUGUST. Pain in the ARSE IT ALL IS. I have heard the TRIPLE A places are easier but not sure if you have to be a member. CALL up and see. Good luck to me too.

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VoluntaryLimit t1_jdp2zls wrote

I think appointments are released at 7am

Edit: I am completely incorrect

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mrdjeydjey t1_jdp9k6x wrote

No it's each hour for this hour time slot in something like a month. For example Monday at 9 it releases appointments for Monday in 4 weeks from 9 to 10, and at 10 it opens for 10-11 etc

From their appointment reservation page: > New reservations time slots are released Monday through Friday each hour between 9AM and 4PM.

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VoluntaryLimit t1_jdpchzr wrote

Lol my information was based on exactly zero seconds of research

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mrdjeydjey t1_jdpe1iq wrote

Haha, I know because I had to do the same shit of booking an appointment in 1+ month this week. Thankfully RMV sent me a reminder soon enough and I checked at appointment availability right away.

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Hoosac_Love t1_jdpfb6q wrote

Why not renew online

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jkncrew t1_jdpy8h4 wrote

I could not. I was not applying for real id, though I got one. Every so many years, you have to show up in person.

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