Posted on Oct 2, 2015
Should Active Duty Service Members have a federal driver's license and vehicle registration?
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A Federal Driver's License and Vehicle Plates would ease a lot of troubles during PCS. Also, licenses and plates would remain valid for the entire duration of military service.
There would be one less place to clear.
There would be one less place to clear.
Posted in these groups: 
PCS
PCS
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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Soldier & Sailors Act already means your Driver's License doesn't expire while on active duty, unless you are in your home state.
Plates have the additional purpose of ensuring vehicle safety. The federal government doesn't have a mechanism for ensuring that.
Plates have the additional purpose of ensuring vehicle safety. The federal government doesn't have a mechanism for ensuring that.
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SPC Michael Clark
Are you sure? How many times have you had a vehicle inspection prior to any 3/4 day weekend or leave?
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Sgt Ed Allen
The only vehicle inspection I've ever had, other than when serving, was a smog check. That has nothing to do with vehicle safety.
I think the federal license and plates would be a good thing. The soldiers and sailors act doesn't exempt you from the licensing. It just gives you a little slack. I ran into an issue where I had a CA drivers license with NC tags. This was no problem while station in NC, however, when I got PCS orders to MO, then I had to make a decision, Keep the CA license or Keep the NC tags. You can only have 2 states involved.
Changing to a federal drivers license would go a long way to eliminate these issues.
Additionally, If you are active duty, and have a Federal License, you should also no longer have to pay state income taxes. Talk about providing military relief!
I think the federal license and plates would be a good thing. The soldiers and sailors act doesn't exempt you from the licensing. It just gives you a little slack. I ran into an issue where I had a CA drivers license with NC tags. This was no problem while station in NC, however, when I got PCS orders to MO, then I had to make a decision, Keep the CA license or Keep the NC tags. You can only have 2 states involved.
Changing to a federal drivers license would go a long way to eliminate these issues.
Additionally, If you are active duty, and have a Federal License, you should also no longer have to pay state income taxes. Talk about providing military relief!
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People are also forgetting other issues, such as Virginia State's property tax on vehicles. During service you would avoid that. I experienced that issue, even though I was a legal state resident, my vehicles were registered out of VA. Annually, I was required to go into the DMV and show proof of my active duty military affiliation. This could not be done while deployed. I was sent to collections a few times by the State of Virginia.
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My driver's license was valid until either 30 or 90 days after the end of my active military service. In my case from 1960 to 1975. There was not even a renewal.
Plates were a different story.
Plates were a different story.
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