Let this serve as a PSA:

DPS around here is the absolute worst. My license was set to expire on 8/28. I visited the local office in Bryan on 8/17 and was told they no longer do walk-in appointments and that the next available appointment wasn't until September 6th!

I said to the lady "So I'm just to drive around with an expired license for nine days?" to which she replies "I didn't say that" and I said "Yeah, you basically did".

I then checked the Hearne, Caldwell, and Brenham locations and all had the same wait times of three weeks.

Flash forward to today and just received notification that my appointment has been canceled due to a state wide system outage. I'm hopping on a plane to Miami Friday morning and renting a car through Turo that is being dropped off at the airport where I'll now greet them with an expired license.

I then go for next available appointment and it's not until September 28th! I send an email detailing the urgency of the situation and get a reply that I could try to walk-in tomorrow (I've already done that on 8/17 and was told there are no walk-ins) but that there is no guarantee that the systems will even be back up and running.

TL; DR We live in the year 2023 yet somehow you can't even get a simple renewal in barely less than a month in advance. I highly recommend renewing a year in advance to save yourself all manner of headaches and stress.

Sounds like pretty much every other thing the government manages.

I renewed 6 months early because of the horror stories. Showed up 10 minutes before my window and couldn't check in until my window. They were taking walk-ins left and right. I asked if I could be a walk-in to get in line. They said no you have to wait because you have an appointment. All the walk ins went before me.

Call your state rep's office immediately and explain your situation like you did here. They can help. They helped me last year.

I hate to let this secret out. Check Hempstead

Beware of trying to fly with an expired DL! Mine was expired a few years ago and I hadn't realized it until the TSA pointed it out. I had to do quite a bit of fast talking to convince them to let me board on the plane. They did warn me TSA on the other end when it was time to return home might not be so understanding and might not let me on the plane. Thankfully, it worked out fine!

dallasiteinsa02 said:

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I renewed 6 months early because of the horror stories. Showed up 10 minutes before my window and couldn't check in until my window. They were taking walk-ins left and right. I asked if I could be a walk-in to get in line. They said no you have to wait because you have an appointment. All the walk ins went before me.

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I'd normally say unbelievable but that sounds about right.

I forgot to mention it said on the 17th I was eligible to renew online. It asks would I like to do so. Of course I would so I click yes. Then it takes me to a page telling me I'm ineligible and must schedule an appointment hence what started the whole debacle.

Called the guy with the vehicle through Turo and he said it's even worse in Florida and he'd work with me but that I might have to add an extra driver of which Turo likely charges an additional amount per day.

I don't know if expired licenses matter when getting on a plane but fortunately I have a passport and an LTC for backup.

During a round trip flight from Houston to El Paso, on the return leg, my wife's DL had expired, and she forgot the paper verification of renewal in process.
TSA treated her like a high risk terrorist, "excuse me ma'am, please follow these two agents, to a secure room", where questioning, a search of her purse, and pat down occurred. For a state resident, returning to the origin of the flight!
Never underestimate the power of brain-dead government employees...

Not to get into a big fight, but I can almost guarantee you this did not happen. TSA will allow you to fly with an expired DL (up to 1 year). It's on their website. And has happened to me.

75AG said:

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Not to get into a big fight, but I can almost guarantee you this did not happen. TSA will allow you to fly with an expired DL (up to 1 year). It's on their website. And has happened to me.

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Oh, it did happen, but was also 7-8 yrs ago. Thanks for pointing out the change in their operation.

I renewed mine 11 months early. Just did it last month.

But yea - in your situation, that sucks. You really should have done it much earlier

I've flown without an ID before from Seattle to Austin. It was rather easy. Just fessed up that I lost my ID. I did have a credit card with my name on it. They did a search of me and my bag. It was no big deal.

And today, DPS had a major software meltdown statewide. Mine is up for renewal next year. I am gonna go to Pfluggerville or Hempstead to get it done

Another outage?? The system that connected to the inspection system was down last week, preventing online renewals. Amazing.

I did some quick googling and Florida has a six month grace period on expired driver's licenses which might explain why the guy with the rental through Turo didn't seem to care much when I called him today. Texas has a zero day grace period.

They need to either get their **** together or the Texas legislature needs to pass a bill allowing a short grace period. Hell, I thought I was being proactive for once in my life being 11 days early.

Unfortunately, all the offices are currently closed due to an unexpected software issue.

My last two renewals were online. Got my notice three months before expiration for both DL and LTC. Went to the website, filled out the forms, and was done in less than 10 minutes. Two weeks later both cards arrived in the mail.

DPS did a sw upgrade last weekend that completely hosed up the system. Nothing has been issued all week, they say this will be through at least noon today.

PSA: licenses are now issued for eight years. You can re-new up to two years in advance, so your license will be good for ten years before needing to be renewed.

textar4404 said:

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My last two renewals were online. Got my notice three months before expiration for both DL and LTC. Went to the website, filled out the forms, and was done in less than 10 minutes. Two weeks later both cards arrived in the mail.

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Yeah OP posted that he tried online and it said he wasn't eligible and had to go in person and now here we are.

TXAGBQ76 said:

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DPS did a sw upgrade last weekend that completely hosed up the system. Nothing has been issued all week, they say this will be through at least noon today.

PSA: licenses are now issued for eight years. You can re-new up to two years in advance, so your license will be good for ten years before needing to be renewed.

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This is great news

TXAGBQ76 said:

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DPS did a sw upgrade last weekend that completely hosed up the system. Nothing has been issued all week, they say this will be through at least noon today.

PSA: licenses are now issued for eight years. You can re-new up to two years in advance, so your license will be good for ten years before needing to be renewed.

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This seems par for the course in Texas. Last year they "upgraded" their sales tax website and it crashed on the 20th of each of the next three months. People were filing on the 21st and 22nd only to be made to pay penalties and interest for late filing. Then the state refunded the penalties and interest via check a few weeks later. Even now over a year later you'll see it hang up and kick you out if you're using it on the 20th. It's prettier than the old one though so that's good.

I totally get the frustration. I have a relative that works there, he says the biggest problem is a very large percentage of folks wait until "the last minute"- many, many wait until the day it is to expire. Then, they come totally unprepared- i.e. none of the proper paper completed, id required, etc.

Arrive Friday morning by 7.30am. They open at 8am. They take a limited number of walk ins first thing on Friday mornings. That is what we did for my daughter after she passed her driver's test in June. We arrived at 7am and were third in line, out before 9am.

In a stunning turn of events the person that replied to my email yesterday apologizing for the inconvenience and telling me they didn't know when the systems would be up and running again called me at 9:05 am and asked if I could come in. I said I'll see you in 20 minutes and got it renewed.

Whoohoo! Now I only wish I'd have taken care of the bed head and been better prepared for that awful headshot.

Looks like they may be open 7-7 during the week and 8-2 on at least the next three weekends once the system is back up to catch up.

I've had occasion to deal with the Secretary of State's office. Multiple times with the Comptroller of the Currency's office. Even the General Land Office. All three, outstanding service. The DPS? The worst government agency in the country, bar none. And that's saying something.

Glad I renewed mine a few months early and already got it. Still waiting on LTC.

Are all renewal offices by appointment only. No walk in. ?

https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/txdl/

Y'all are actually going in to the office?

I've renewed online the past few times but now required to go in person. Just curious if any offices still allow walk ins.

While we are on the subject, why is a BC required for renewal?

I still have not heard a good answer why an unexpired US passport does not qualify you for TDL renewal.

it does.

where does it say the BC is required if you can produce a passport?

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/us-citizenship-or-lawful-presence-requirement

[Keep that on F16. -Staff]

It is supposedly a TSA requirement

The Bryan will try to work walk ins in if there are gaps in appointments, no guarantees though.

Aggie@state.gov said:

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it does.

where does it say the BC is required if you can produce a passport?

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/us-citizenship-or-lawful-presence-requirement

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Can confirm this.

Renewed my license on the 27th last month. Was prepared with a lot of stuff, but only needed my current, un-expired license and unexpired passport. The passport or birth certificate is for the RealID act compliance is what I've heard.

That said; I made an appointment for 11:00 at the Madisonville DPS office. Per the instructions, I shot to get there 30 minutes early. Ended up checking in at 10:35. Was leaving the office, having completed the renewal, even including a vision exam, at 10:55 am, before my appointment was even scheduled to start.