By Guest Blogger, Karleia S.

Lost Driver’s License? Seven Urgent Steps you Must Take Immediately!

Misplacing your driver’s license often leads to stress and despair on how you plan to get to your destination safely. However, there are some urgent things you must do immediately if you have lost your license, and you have already searched your house, purse, and car.

Step 1: Assess the Risks

While you may think that it is just your license that is gone, that information can allow anyone to access your bank, take out loans, and even open credit accounts. The best place to start is to contact a protection service that helps prevent identity theft. Then you will need to contact your bank, insurance providers, credit card companies, and possibly the social security office.

Step 2: Notify Authorities

It is embarrassing losing your driver’s license, but you need to get over the embarrassment and contact law enforcement. They will create a paper trail that helps track possible fraudulent activity. The police will want to know every detail, include places you remember having your license at. The more details you offer, the greater the possibility of finding your license.

Step 3: Notify the DMV

When you lose your license, let the DMV know immediately. If someone is pulled over and shows your license, the state will be notified because it has been flagged as lost/stolen.

Step 4: Replace the License

When you talk to the DMV, find out if you need to apply for a duplicate copy or if you are close enough to the renewal date. While you are checking on the status of your license, check for any tickets or violations that may be on your account. You can also use a service like Registrations Are Us.

Step 5: Do NOT Drive without a License

It may be tempting to drive to the store without your license, but it is illegal. When you are already dealing with the costs of getting everything replaced and protected, being fined for failure to present your license is another hassle. You can talk to the police to find out if carrying a copy of your driving record will count, but the DMV will often give you a temporary license while you wait. These temporary licenses look just like a printed receipt, so keep it somewhere safe until your new license arrives in the mail, or your old license is found.

Step 6: Monitor for Identity Theft

It is important to remain vigilant and monitor for any possible signs of identity theft. Periodically, run a credit score to review the reports and answer the phone even when you do not recognize the caller ID. It will be a hassle, but it will prevent the possibility of someone running your credit into the ground and siphoning your money.

Step 7: Invest in Identity Theft Protection

To prevent future problems, invest in a service that will protect your identity. The number of phone calls you will need to place will diminish. It is best if you just keep your license in a place where you can find it, but protecting your identity is never a bad idea.

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