Wednesday, June 03, 2009

DMV Fail

I wrote before about my apprehension about changing my name at the DMV because of all of the horror stories I've heard from Los Angeles area DMVs. So I went in with low expectations, and low and behold, my expectations were met.

The DMV would NOT let me change my name to First Name, Maiden Name, New Last Name -- my two choices were First Name, Middle Name, New Last Name or First Name, Middle Name Maiden Name, New Last Name. I argued that at Social Security I was able to change my middle name, but they lady actually said "They have different rules. We don't change middle names here." I was upset, but there was really nothing I could do. So now I have FOUR names and my Drivers License reads First Name, Middle Name Maiden Name, New Last Name. I essentially I have two middle names now. But the kicker is my Social Security Card only has First Name, Maiden Name, New Last Name.

Why the DMV can't just accommodate a reasonable request? I don't know. Very frustrating.

I'm going to try to get the middle name dropped on a future date -- the good news I that now I have my New Last Name on there.

And I got a pretty good picture on my license. Check out the comparison of my picture at age 21 and age (almost) 26.


I definitely look a lot older. Like I always tell my younger co-workers, "working has drastically aged me." Ha!

28 comments:

Megan said...

I still need to change my name with the SS office. It makes me nervous to think about doing it, but I need to take care of it soon! Your drivers license pictures are so cute!!

Ashley said...

The EXACT Same thing happened to me at the DMV in NH, after I got married! I told them Social Security let me do it, and they basically said Social Security Does not matter! Which I thought was funny, thinking Federal Govt. should over override the State DMV! But, the DMV hyphenated my name in their records (but, its not hyphenated on the actual license). Very strange indeed!

ELP said...

I changed my middle name to my my madian last name and had no problem at the DMV....I guess its a Cali thing?! ha ha! That is a great new picture! I must say there must be something about getting your new ID picture done after getting married. It seems to turn out to be the best license picture ever. I love my new picture from when I switched my name!

Linda said...

Those are gorgeous pictures! I'm jealous.
Sorry you weren't able to change your name the way you wanted. Boo!

Sugar & Spice said...

Great picture! Usually DMV pictures don't come out so good :)

Chic Runner said...

Ahhh your picture is cute! :) I seriously like you a lot with bangs. ha ha

Becky said...

Do you have your new SS card yet? I waited until I got that and then the DMV couldn't argue (I wasn't try to really change anything except my last name though). If it's on your SS card, that is your legal name.

Lindsey said...

Aww you look so good in your pic! When I had my new license made I made sure to wear make up and do my hair so I would look "grown-up" but I still get carded pretty much all. the. time.

Sarah said...

Ugh what a hassle! I'm not looking forward to having to go in and change everything. Especially since once I get my name changed at the SS office I'll have to go to a DMV here in ND and for some reason having a ND license bothers me...oh well I guess. I can get a Cali one again later when we move back home.

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Yeah working definitely ages people. I feel like I've aged so much since working full time.

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Your photo is still good though!

Lis said...

Why is everything 100X harder at DMV - I mean seriously when social security looks like a walk in the park - we def. have a problem!!

You really look great in your picture!! :)

Mrs. M said...

I went to SS first and changed my middle name to my maiden name and then added my new last name. The DMV just let me use the same name. I had no problem at all.

Anonymous said...

Sorry hun!

Anonymous said...

What a flippin' process! Well, at least you got a great picture out of it.You're right, you look a lot older (in a good way):)

Melissa @ I Pick Pretty said...

Yuck. I remember the CA DMVs being particularly horrid.

I also changed my middle name to my maiden last name, and I had SUCH a problem getting that done. This is so strange, because First Name/ Maiden Last Name / New Last Name is actually the traditional way of doing things. Ugh!

Melissa G said...

Oh, that would be so frustrating! Your right, why can't they just put the names you want?

Both of your DL pictures are really good!!

Kpod said...

Two good license pictures in a row? That's unheard of! Good job, lady!

Brittany Ann said...

Well, 4 names or no, that's an awesome DL photo! I wish the DMV wasn't such a nightmare. I seriously get anxiety every time I think about it!

Anonymous said...

1st of all your license photos are soooo good! I shudder when I look at mine!

I am not looking forward to doing this this fall when I get married because I too want to legally change my middle name to my maiden name. It's so frustrating that it's made so difficult.

Shoshanah said...

Does your new licence really expire in 2012? Are they only letting you wait 3 years in between renewing? Or is it because you just changed your name and weren't actually renewing your licence?

Perfectly Imperfect said...

This is crazy to me! Things are so traditional here in the South that they naturally assume you'll be doing first name maiden name (as new middle name) and last name. I hear such horror stories about name changes but it literally took me 5 minutes!! Sorry you had such a rough time!

but hey.. at least you have a cute picture!

Lucky in Love said...

That is really lame that they didn't let you do it the way it is on your SS card. I don't understand that...

But...great pic!

Anonymous said...

Thats a great picture!! I can't believe that DMV, here in Texas they let me change mine no problem.

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

i can't believe they wouldn't let you change it, that's crazy!! but you look super cute in the pics=)

LWLH said...

Whatever, you look beautiful!
And I can't believe that wouldn't do that for you..its not that serious! :)

Sonya said...

The DMV is so silly! You'd think since your SS card is your legal name that they could put that on your license. When I had my name changed they had to do my license 3 times...I moved from out of state to my home state, so they reissued it in my maiden name from when I was in the state, and sent me back through the line to have it changed to my married name. All was good until I got my debit card from the bank with my name spelled wrong and they told me to look at my license and my name was spelled wrong! It took me 2 trips to get it taken care of! Luckily I'm in a smaller town now so it's not quite so complicated! I think it's true that work does age you! On my ID for my 1st teaching job I look so young! But by the next year I didn't quite look the same!

Rachel said...

I was scared that was going to happen to me too, but luckily in TX I was able to fill out the form myself of what I wanted on there. Hooray!!!
Oh, and like you I was able to get a better pic than the one I had before, although my "old" one was only a year old!!
By the way - you look fab!

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