My dh's drivers license will expire in 2012. DH hasn't driven for almost a year and won't again. I doubt if he could pass any written test but if it is just a "send your check by mail" thing, I am tempted to have him renew it for the good identification. How have you handled this?
DH hasn't driven in 4-5 years but I kept his DL until it expired. Then I took him in and got a State ID card. Don't think he knows the difference. If he won't go for that, then I'd just may renew it by mail, if possible.
Claude voluntarily gave up driving in 1997 but kept his Oklahoma license. When we moved to Texas in 2000, instead of getting a Texas license, he got an ID card. Looked like a license but said it was an identification card. His Oklahoma license didn't expire for three more years. Texas didn't ask for it and he kept it. He would take it out and look at it every once in awhile. I don't think he realized what it was but it was famalier and was still in his wallet when he passed on.
I handled this by taking my husband for a State ID. We are in Illinois and you can have both at the same time. His license was still good and even though he hadn't driven for months he was very attached to his license. By taking him before the license was expired, he didn't have to give them his license to keep. When the license did expire, I took it out of his wallet and replaced it with the State ID. He never knew the difference.
Because DH got lost twice driving, his nero wrote a letter to the DMV advising them to revoke his license. They did and demanded he reuturn his license. We did not and let it expire but wanted him to have it as an ID. When he lost his wallet this year (license was expired) we replaced it with a state id.
My concern was twofold- that if he by chance was driving a car with a valid license but was unfit to drive we would have a huge lawsuit on our hands if something happened and if the insurance company was notified he could no longer hold a license, they would drop us because the policy is in his name.
I would NOT renew his drivers license if he's not competent to drive, because should he somehow drive a car you're responsible.
LFL you would not lose your insurance even if it is in his name. You are covered under that policy and they would continue to just cover you...at least in PA it is that way.
i have been wondering about this drivers license thing. does anyone know the answers to my questions. bobby has not driven in over two years now but his license is valid until 2015 , if i call the insurance company to have him off the policy i know they will make him go get just an id and turn in his DL , would it save me any money to have him off the policy? also we have a harley he does not drive either i was wondering if i could stop the insurance on it ( it is a separate insurance company) and wonder if since it is locked in the gargage would it be covered under our homeowners, i think he would realize if we had to go get just a id that his license were being taken away and since he give me no problem with trying to drive i don't want to start any anger but would like to save some money if i could. oh well any thoughts
Donna, every state is different with the insurance thing. When DH stopped driving several years ago, his license was still valid and I kept it. I did call my insurance agent and told him DH was not driving, nor would he, and we took him off the policy-so it's only in my name, and it did reduce my premium a little. When his license expired, we got him a state ID card. The Harley would probably be covered under your homeowners policy, if it were destroyed or something while locked in the garage - but again, you need to check with your insurance agent. Every policy is different.
By the way, before turning in his expired license, I went by the clerk's office, explained the situation, so when we went in, I just said he needed a "new card", and flashed my "My husband has ALZ -please be patient with us" , card. They just took his picture, prepared the ID, and that was that. I think he still thinks it's a drivers license.
oh Vickie thanks for the info. i have been afraid to call the agent to ask , afraid he would make us turn it in. it would be wonderful if they would do like you did. i really don't want to pay 500.00 again this year for insuranse on the bike if homeowners will cover and it renews this month so i guess i am in for a call. i hope my agent is as nice as yours!!! i have got to get some of those cards, did you have them made up locally? i also want to get id necklaces and a braclet for me as a caregiver , i know the alz assoc. page has a safe return thing on it that has that stuff , has anyone use it.
most stage licensing agencies have a special needs section and if you call them with a few days notice they will tell you which person to see right up front without a wait. by doing this we were ushered in went directly to the person who they said and got DH state ID turned in his old license and got pic done within a short tine -the only issue was getting DH to look into the camera look enough for a clear ID pic.. grin. after 3 tries we took the best look.. haha.. i highly recommend calling in advance if you intend to change out. i agree with vickie that most policies are rated on the higher aged/higher risk driver which increases the pemiums. but also if you have multiple cars etc and take them off you lose the savings when you reduce to 1 vehicle. on the issue of having a spouse with a non valid license if they drive and cause a wreck even without having a valid license you would more than likely still be liable for damages and could be sued. you are not off the hook solely becasue you took thier license, you must ensure they dont ever get the opportunity to be behind the wheel. it would be like a juvenile driving without a license, you as parent are responsible for their actions. here due to their mental incapacity the same thing. as far as motorcyle insurance , usually that insurance isnt expensive, and maybe just cancel when the renewal comes due. but do check with your homeowners insurance as far as coverages while on premises.your motorcyle insurance may cover theft or damages so i would ask before cancelling.
I made up my own card on the computer. Just says, My Husband has Alzheimers. Please be patient with us".
I got the Safe Return Medic Alert; bracelets for both of us, ID cards, etc. I think it's "30-40 a year. He wears the bracelet. I keep mine in my wallet with my drivers license. And there's a car sticker also with their 800 # on it, where all the info is available in the event of accident, etc.
Divvi, thank your for the info. i have to make the call this week so these are some good ideas about the call ahead thing. we will not be getting rid of any vehicles we have 3 and the harley and DH would have a cow if any of them went missing. all but the harley serve a purpose one for snow it has 4 wheel drive one is a truck for hauling things from the local hardware store as needed then my car, all are older cars so not really sure if we will save that much on premiums. but i would like to be able to have the harley just protected from theft or fire under homeowner if i can . oh well another phone call this week. yuck!
donna at any rate if its not automatically coverered under your homeowners you may can ask them to cover it and add to your howners policy as an extra for a min amount, probably less than 500dol. for sure. let them know its not ridden and it may be given a special premium as addon.