NY State — NY Vehicle and Traffic Law

§ 505 — Duplicate and amended licenses and permits; change of address

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Statute text reproduced from nysenate.gov. Not attorney-reviewed for your situation — for reference only.

What is NY VTL § 505?

Quick Answer

This section outlines the procedures for obtaining duplicate or amended driver's licenses and permits, including the process for reporting lost or destroyed items and changing addresses. The commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles oversees these applications. Applies to individuals holding driver's licenses or learner's permits in New York State.

General informational summary. Not legal advice for your situation. Consult an attorney before acting on any specific matter.

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§ 505 Duplicate and amended licenses and permits; change of address

VTL § 505

1.Lost, mutilated or destroyed license or permit. In the event of the loss, mutilation or destruction of any driver's license, or any part thereof, or any learner's permit, or any document issued by the commissioner and required for the issuance of a license, the licensee or applicant may file with the commissioner proof of the facts with respect to such loss, mutilation or destruction together with the fee prescribed by law. If the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to a duplicate of such item, he shall issue a duplicate of the lost, mutilated or destroyed item. Any mutilated item shall be surrendered before a duplicate is issued. If a duplicate license or permit is issued because of a lost license or permit, and such lost license or permit is later recovered by the licensee or permit holder, he shall surrender such recovered item to the commissioner for cancellation within ten days after recovery of such item.

2.Change of class of license or addition of class to license. Any licensee holding a license of one class who desires to obtain a license of another class or to add a different class or endorsement to a license may file an application with the commissioner together with the fee for an amended license for the purpose of having such license amended. The commissioner may require such applicant to take any tests required for the issuance of a license in the desired class. Upon successful completion of any required tests and the surrender of the prior license, the commissioner shall issue such amended license.

3.Removal of restriction. Any person holding a license containing restrictions as to use, other than one imposed solely by statute, may file an application with the commissioner together with the fee for an amended license for the purpose of having such restriction removed. The commissioner shall require such applicant to submit such information or to take such tests as he deems appropriate with respect to such restrictions. Upon approval of such information or the successful completion of such tests, and the surrender of the prior license, the commissioner shall issue an appropriate amended license.

4.Amendment of license. Any person holding a license which contains any error, other than a clerical error made by the issuing agency, with respect to the information contained thereon, except with respect to the address of such licensee, may file an application with the commissioner together with the fee, if any, for an amended license to have such error corrected. The commissioner shall require such person to submit proof acceptable to him with respect to the facts, and upon approval of such proof and the surrender of the prior license, the commissioner shall issue an appropriate amended license.

5.Change of address. It shall be the duty of every licensee to notify the commissioner in writing of any change of residence of such licensee within ten days after such change occurs.

6.It shall be the duty of the commissioner to deliver to the state board of elections, at least semi-annually, records, in a format as mutually determined by both agencies, of the names of all licensed drivers of voting age who have voluntarily surrendered their New York state drivers licenses in order to obtain a license in another state. Where feasible the department of motor vehicles shall also deliver records of the names of all licensed drivers of voting age who have notified the department of a change of residence address. Such records shall be arranged by county of old residence and shall include the name, birth date and old residence address of each such licensee and the new residence address of each such person who has moved within New York state.

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