The DMV is, frankly, nobody’s idea of a good time. Best case scenario? You’re in and out in less than an hour. Worst case? You take your ticket, wait for what feels like an eternity, they finally call your number….and you don’t have the forms you need to renew your license.

If you’re a Pennsylvania driver, you’re in luck.

Jerry

, the

licensed insurance broker and comparison shopping app

, is here with this guide on what counts as proof of residency in Pennsylvania so your next DMV visit is as painless as possible. We’ll also show you how to easily shop for car insurance with our app to help lower

Pennsylvania insurance costs

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What documents can you use as proof of residency in Pennsylvania?

If you’re looking to get a Pennsylvania driver’s license, you must provide official documents that prove both your identity and Pennsylvania residency. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation divides these documents into two lists: documents in List A serve for proof of identity, and those in List B work as proof of residency:

List A: Birth certificate with raised seal, valid US passport, certificate of US citizenship (USCIS Form N-560) or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DOS Form FS-240), Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)

List B: Tax records, lease agreements, mortgage documents, W-2 form, current weapons permit, current utility bills like water, gas, electric, cable, etc.

For Pennsylvania residents over the age of 18, you will need to provide one document from List A, two from List B, and your Social Security card to apply for a driver’s license. If you are a Pennsylvania resident under the age of 18, you need just one document from List A and your Social Security card.

The qualifications for new Pennsylvania residents are the same, except you must also bring your old or expired out-of-state driver’s license to your DMV appointment.

If your name is different from what’s listed on a List A document or on your Social Security card, you will also need to bring your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order name change document. Or, if you’re looking to have your gender officially changed on your driver’s license, fill out

Form DL-32

with your certified, amended birth certificate with raised seal.

Now, the million dollar question: what about Real ID? Although you can still drive in Pennsylvania without upgrading to a Real ID, the Department of Transportation recommends that you get your Real ID before the new rules about boarding commercial domestic flights, entering federal buildings, and military bases go into effect on May 3rd, 2023.

Thankfully, for Real ID, the rules are much the same as they are for a driver’s license. In order to upgrade to a Real ID in Pennsylvania, you will need one document proving your identity, your Social Security card, two proofs of Pennsylvania residency, and (if applicable) proof of all legal name changes.

Proof of identity for Real ID: Birth certificate with raised seal, valid US passport, certificate of US citizenship (USCIS Form N-560) or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DOS Form FS-240), Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570), Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (EAD) issued by DHS; Forms I-766 or Form 1-688B, Valid, Unexpired Permanent Resident Card I-551 Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Issued by DHS or INS, Unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired US visa affixed, and an I-94 indicating temporary evidence of permanent residence

Proof of residency for Real ID: Current, unexpired PA driver’s license or photo ID; PA vehicle registration card; auto insurance card; computer-generated utility bill with your name and address; W-2 form; tax records; lease agreements or mortgage documents

Proof of legal name change for Real ID: Certified marriage certificate, court order name change document, or divorce decree

MORE:

How to find temporary car insurance in Pennsylvania

What documents do not qualify as proof of residency in Pennsylvania?

Just because someone has your address as one does not mean that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will accept it as official proof of PA residency. The following documents are not included in List B and therefore cannot be to prove Pennsylvania residency:

Bond receipts

Business card

Check cashing card

Club or fraternal organization membership card

College or university ID card

Unofficial (i.e. commercially produced) ID card

Department of Human Services (DHS) card

Fishing license

Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) card

Handwritten ID or employment card

Hunting license

Library card

Personal mail

Ticket from a traffic citation or arrest

Loan papers from an unlicensed financial institution

Video club membership card

Wallet ID

MORE:

Pennsylvania car insurance laws

What qualifies as proof of identity in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, you can present the following documents as proof of your identity for a driver’s license:

Birth certificate with raised seal

Valid US passport

Certificate of US citizenship (USCIS Form N-560)

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DOS Form FS-240)

Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)

For Real ID, the following documents are also accepted in addition to the ones listed above:

Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (EAD) issued by DHS

Forms I-766 or Form 1-688B

Unexpired Permanent Resident Card I-551 Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Issued by DHS or INS

Unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired US visa affixed

I-94 indicating temporary evidence of permanent residence

How to save on Pennsylvania car insurance costs

While you’re thinking about your driver’s license, you should also consider another very important part of safe driving: having a great

car insurance

policy. And while the former involves a lot of waiting around, paperwork, and effort on your part, shopping for a new insurance policy with

Jerry

is easy!

The Jerry

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can find you a new car insurance policy in a matter of minutes. After you download the app and take 45 seconds to answer some basic questions, Jerry will present you with customized insurance quotes from a pool of 55 premium insurance providers. And, once you’ve your unicorn policy, Jerry’s trustworthy team of insurance agents will get the ball rolling on canceling your old policy.

On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance!

“
Jerry
handles everything from finding quotes to signing on new policies right in the app. No more filling out hundreds of forms! Thank you, Jerry, for helping my move to a new state feel hassle-free.” —Dolores T.

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