Question: I just got my new driver’s license with my updated address. I’m not sure what to do with the old one, and I’m kind of afraid to just throw it in the garbage. Is there some way I can safely dispose of my old driver’s license?
Answer:
It is a bit nerve-wracking throwing away anything that has your information on it, especially in this day and age. Because your license contains sensitive information, there are safer and more secure ways to dispose of an old copy than to simply throw it in the trash.
Shred your license
Once you get your new license, run your old license through a paper shredder, then throw the shredded bits in the trash or recycling. You could also use a company that specializes in destroying documents that have private data on them—for a fee, of course.
Cut your license with scissors
If you don’t have a shredder, use scissors to cut your license into small pieces. Be especially sure to cut through any identifying information, like your name, address, and driver’s license number.
If you want to take additional security measures, throw half of the shredded or cut pieces of your license in the trash one week, then wait and dispose of the rest the next week. That way, in the unlikely event anyone were to go through your trash, they wouldn’t be able to obtain your information by piecing together your shredded license.
Turn in your old license to the DMV
The easiest way to do this is to turn in your old driver’s license when you get your new one. Some states will ask you to turn in your old license for disposal when you get a new one, but other states will let you keep it—they’ll just punch a hole in your old license or cut off the corner to signify that it’s no longer valid. But if you don’t want to keep it, ask the clerk to dispose of it for you.
If you renew your license online, check whether your state’s DMV will allow you to mail in your old license for disposal.
But there’s an exception—if you’re getting a license in a new state, you’re generally required to turn in the license you held in your last state. That’s because a driver’s license is seen as proof of residence, and you can’t legally have primary residence in two states.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
