Driver Addresses
Most people live and receive their mail at the same address, but some people do not have a fixed residence, or have multiple residences. Many but not all jurisdictions have residency regulations for receiving a license or ID Card, a person must live at a fixed residence.
To be able to support all jurisdictions, a jurisdictions Driver History Record has two addresses, a Mailing and a Residence Address. To minimize the data exchanged in electronic messages:
- The Mailing Address is always sent.
- The Residence Address is only sent if it is different to the Mailing Address.
There are a small percentage of cases where a residence is in one city or state, but it is served by a post office in a different city or state. In these cases USPS prefers the mailing address contain the post office city and state.
Examples:
Condition
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Mailing Address
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Residence Address
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One address. (The most common case).
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12 MAIN ST
BANGOR ME 04401
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Alternate mailing address, for a snowbird.
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12 SUNNY RD
MIAMI BEACH FL 33140
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12 MAIN ST
BANGOR ME 04401
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No fixed address, using a mail service.
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C/O MY RV MAIL
12 MAIN ST
CRESTVIEW FL
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Use of PO Box when no mail delivery to rural home.
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PO BOX 21
BANGOR ME 04401
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16 MILES NORTH OF RT 2
AT MILE MARKER 155
BANGOR ME 04401
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Post office in different city or even state.
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55 WEST HOLLY
JUNCTION CITY, AR 71749
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55 WEST HOLLY
JUNCTION CITY, LA 71749
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Homeless.
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GENERAL DELIVERY
HELENA MT 59601
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UNDER THE WEST END OF THE EAST STREET BRIDGE
HELENA MT 59601
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One address will always be printed on the front of a Driver License Card:
- FMCSA regulations for CDLs, require the Mailing Address be printed on the card.
- REAL ID Act (section 37.17) require the Residence Address be printed on the card, but allows exceptions including DMV procedures which permit the display of an alternative address.
Different jurisdictions have adopted the rules to different extents, so while the address on a card tends to be the residence address, this is not always the case.
The practices for handling address changes varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The most common practice is:
- Residents are required to report address changes to the motor vehicle agency. The agency records the address change in their Driver History Record. A new license or ID Card is only issued if the person wishes to pay to have a new card issued.
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