Name change can slow Real ID process
QGary, help! My driver’s license expires Aug. 24. I received the renewal paperwork from the DMV and could have renewed by mail. However, I decided to get to the Alma DMV in
San Jose and wait in line so I could renew my driver’s license and get the Real ID.
I had my birth certificate, original Social Security card and a utility bill. My birth certificate has my first name as Debra, but my Social Security card, utility bill and current license all have my first name as Debbie.
They refused to give me the Real ID because my birth certificate had my first name as Debra. The DMV rep indicated I would have to legally change my name.
How can this be as I have been using the legal name of Debbie Schlaeger all of my adult life? — Debbie Schlaeger, San Jose A Ah, what a pain. This is a frequent complaint, especially for women whose names can change after getting married. Per federal requirements, the driver’s license must reflect the name on your identity document (in this case, your birth certificate). Name change documents, such as a certified copy of a marriage certificate or divorce decree, may be required if your identity document name (birth certificate) is different than the name on your application.
My DMV contacts say you’ll be contacted by a region administrator for assistance. Keep the faith, Debbie. Q You indicated that if one renewed their license before Real IDs became available, they can have their current license converted to a Real ID. I renewed last October. Can I still do that, with the same expiration date? — Lisa Okamoto, Sunnyvale A You have two options if you want to apply for a Real ID before the Oct. 1, 2020, federal enforcement date. Come into a field office and upgrade to a Real ID and pay $28 for what is left on your current license. The Real ID card would have the same expiration date as your license.
Or pay $35 for five years, but you would have to take an exam because you are more than 90 days from your license expiration date. Q If you have a passport do you need a Real ID? — Fred Tierney ANo. Q A reader admitted to being a menace on that stretch of Highway 1 because of road boulders. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. — John Dannenberg, San Jose A The wonderful scenery on Highway 1 south of the Oregon border is worth absorbing.