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posted 11/24/09 04:33 PM | updated 11/24/09 04:33 PM
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So You Want an Enhanced Washington Driver's License

By Michael van Baker
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I'm in the market for an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) because of my lifelong dream to get around to taking Amtrak up to Vancouver. So I have a trip to the DMV in my future. My dealings with the DMV always seem to involve moments where I ask myself, "Are they serious?" It turns out they usually are, so that hard-won knowledge I pass on to you.

Since the approval of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (Slogan: "You can still travel around the Western Hemisphere, it just takes a lot more personal initiative!"), Washington residents need either their passport or EDL to visit Canada (and Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean).

Seattle residents have two EDL choices: the downtown DMV office or what's charmingly known to the DMV as Seattle-West. At the Seattle-West (known to locals as "West Seattle") location, they only take walk-ins for EDL applications, and stop taking applications 30 minutes before closing (closing weekdays is 5 p.m., Saturday, 2:30 p.m.).

Downtown, they only take appointments (call 1-866-520-4365). That's how they keep it fresh.

You must bring with you documentation, proof of identity, citizenship, and residence. You will think that one or more of these documents is redundant, but not to the DMV. I'll be bringing my current Washington driver's license, my passport, and a Seattle City Light utility bill. I must also know my Social Security number.

I will also be bringing $25 for the driver's license renewal and $15 for the EDL upgrade. (I broke down and asked the person on the phone for this information, because I was unable to make heads or tails of this chart of fees.) I will bring a check for the amount, because the DMV only accepts credit cards online, not in person. 

I am told they will provide me with a protective sleeve for the card because the EDL is RFID-enabled, and as we have previously discussed, pretty much anyone with $10 can put together a mobile RFID sniffer that can steal your identity.

Anyway, all of this preparatory hoop-jumping is likely moot once I get down there. I'll post again about my success or failure.

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Tags: edl, enhanced drivers license, dmv, seattle, fee, rfid, passport, canada, vancouver, identity + add tags
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I don't quite get it
So why are you going to all this trouble, instead of just using your passport?
Comment by Audrey Hendrickson
November 24, 2009
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RE: I don't quite get it
1) I have to renew my driver's license anyway, and it's only $15 more. This way I have back-up if I forget/lose my passport. 2) I gotta get my passport renewed, too.
Comment by Michael van Baker
November 24, 2009
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RE: I don't quite get it
yeah, I just helped a friend figure this out for a trip we're taking to Whistler next month. The main advantage is that this is cheaper and faster than a passport, but I don't really know why you'd want both. Except for the service journalism and novelty.
Comment by josh
November 24, 2009
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RE: I don't quite get it
josh--I go where angels fear to tread in my commitment to service journalism!
Comment by Michael van Baker
November 24, 2009
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Missing the Point
Come on -

The big boost from getting this is that it is a license for Enhanced Driving! Who could be against that?

From the always-definitive Microsoft Dictionary definition of 'enhanced':

Definition:
1. improve: to improve or add to the strength, worth, beauty, or other


Basically, it allows you to drive some sort of strong, sexy, fancy-assed car. Again - who could be against such a wonderful thing! I rest my case.
Comment by bilco
November 24, 2009
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washington enchanced license
MY LICENSE HAS NOT EXPIRED BUT I WANT AN ENCHANCED TO GET INTO CANADA. DO I HAVE RENEW EVERYTHING AND WHAT WOULD THE COST BE;
THANK YOU, LINDA LABISH
Comment by linda labish
January 26, 2010
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RE: washington enchanced license
Linda, my best guess is that it will be $15 to upgrade a non-expired Washington DL to an enhanced version. From the chart of fees:

$15 - Upgrade to enhanced driver license or enhanced ID card from valid Washington State driver license or ID card (not available for licenses with “military” expiration)
Comment by Michael van Baker
January 27, 2010
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