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A stolen license in the United States poses a great risk to the affected person due to identity theft . Often times, these types of events are associated with people who can use this document to commit other crimes, mainly scams on behalf of the affected person. Like the loss or loss due to damage, the theft of a license is very common throughout the country, for that reason the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has arranged a whole process for the recovery of lost licenses under any circumstance.
As with all procedures related to the privilege of driving in the United States, the recovery of a lost license, also known as requesting a License replacement, may vary depending on the state of the country because traffic laws are not universal. However, in most cases, the steps to follow in order to replace a lost license are usually the following :
1. Visit a local DMV office to complete the process in person.
2. Fill out an application form for driver’s license or identification card .
3. Include with the form some proof of identity, Social Security number and also proof of residence.
4. Pay the fee for requesting a replacement license, also known as a duplicate license.
Simply put, the process of applying for a stolen license is the same process that is carried out to apply for a license with the DMV , only in this case the applicant will not present the knowledge test, a written exam comprised of questions based on the appropriate state driver’s manual , or the practical test, a driving test that is conducted in company of an expert DMV evaluator.
The authorities recommend that, when filling out the form, it is clarified that the license has been stolen . There is usually an item to indicate the reason why a duplicate is requested. Upon completion of the process, in most states, the DMV provides a provisional license valid for 60 days and then send the replacement license by mail, to the address established by the applicant in their records.
In addition to notifying the DMV through the form, it is also advisable to notify the theft to the police to have proof of what happened if there is any fact associated with identity theft.
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