Hideous driver's license photo

December 16, 2009 8:14 AM

I have an awful photo of myself on my driver's license. I'd like to have it changed.

I have a North Carolina driver's license but I just moved back to NYC. How can I get a new driver's license along with a new photo from the DMV?

posted by AngryTypingGuy to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

Am I missing something here? Wouldn't you just go get a NY license? They will take a new photo when you do that.
posted by amro at 8:16 AM on December 16, 2009

Yes, when you get a new NY driver's license, you will get a new photo taken.

Also just an FYI:
NYS recognizes valid driver licenses held by residents of other US states, US territories and Federal districts and Canadian provinces. If you become a resident of NYS, you must apply for a NYS driver license not more than 30 days after you become a NYS resident.

From here.
posted by Grither at 8:19 AM on December 16, 2009

If you were still living here, I'd tell you that NC will give you a new picture and charge you $10 for the privilege. You just have to go to the NC DMV and wait in line; they'll swap out your picture for you, then mail the license - this is a new and annoying rule; they don't just hand them to you anymore. This new rule means you can't just come down here and get a new license, since you've moved and presumably no longer have an NC address. Therefore, I think you're out of luck and will have to get an NY license to get your new picture.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:23 AM on December 16, 2009

As other said, just get a new license.

If it makes you feel better, EVERYONE hates their DL photo.
posted by unixrat at 8:26 AM on December 16, 2009

In MO, they store everything electronically, so if you go get a new license, they charge you ten bucks, pull it up from the database, and you get the same picture. If you're really desperate to get a new picture, they'll do it for a substantially larger fee.
posted by chrisamiller at 8:50 AM on December 16, 2009

I got a new license in NC about 6 months ago due to an address change. They used the same photo (ugly--aren't they all?) rather than taking a new one.
posted by Stewriffic at 9:57 AM on December 16, 2009

I've always wondered if there are any decent DOL photos. For example, is Brad Pitt's passable? I've seen many licenses, but never a picture you would show anyone unless you had to. I.e., I wouldn't expect much from the next license either.
posted by bearwife at 10:12 AM on December 16, 2009

bearwife, there's an article here discussing changes to the UK's passport photos and has a few pictures of famous people (none of whom look like Brad Pitt, but still). Interesting in a kind of voyeuristic way, I guess!
posted by jaffacakerhubarb at 10:42 AM on December 16, 2009

I don't know if it applies there, but here in Alberta you can just go an get a new license at any time (with a new photo). You just have to pay $20 (or whatever the fee is).
posted by blue_beetle at 12:30 PM on December 16, 2009

Thanks, jaffacakerhubarb! Glad to see they all look awful too. See, AngryTypingGuy, DOL camera operators everywhere hate all of us.
posted by bearwife at 3:27 PM on December 19, 2009