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When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:35 am
by DONT TREAD ON ME
My license expires in 1 year and I am wondering what a good time out is to start the renewal process so that my license does not expire?

Also, how do I go about doing it (heard something about an online application now)?

Do any of y'all know a good class in the San Antonio/Austin area?

Thanks :tiphat:

Re: When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:16 am
by longhorn86
I believe DPS will send you a notice somewhere around 6 mos. before your expiration date. (Someone correct me if I am wrong) I would think that would be a good time to start the renewal process.

As far as a class in SA/Austin area, I would suggest that you check out Lone Star Handgun in Schertz. They have a CHL/Renewal class nearly every weekend.

Re: When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:23 am
by C-dub
DONT TREAD ON ME wrote:My license expires in 1 year and I am wondering what a good time out is to start the renewal process so that my license does not expire?

Also, how do I go about doing it (heard something about an online application now)?

Do any of y'all know a good class in the San Antonio/Austin area?

Thanks :tiphat:
Are you still in Korea?

I hope to get my renewal packet before the end of this year. I will schedule my class as soon as possible after that. It will be my second renewal. The way things seem to be going I hope to have my new license before the current one expires.

Re: When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:39 am
by speedsix
...you're startin' out better'n me...I got my letter in Feb...dragged my tail till July 9 for the class...left out some initials and lost a week...after waiting a week for them to mail me a paper app the instructor said'd be downloadable and wasn't...got my new one 3 1/2 days after the other expired...on the 25th of Aug...so it woulda taken them about a month to process if I'd been on the ball...I'd give them 60 days from mail-in just so you won't have to run with a dead license...they use the same prints and pic if you want them to...I could have done it all online and saved more time...but I'm a paper-generation guy...

Re: When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:58 pm
by ELB
Last I looked, the CHL law requires your class and handgun proficiency certificate to be within 6 months of your application date (NOT expiration date). The earliest your application can be submitted is 6 months (DPS counts 180 days, not calender months) prior to your expiration date. So legally you could take your class and shoot the proficiency course now (since you state you are a year out), and then submit the package 180 days prior to the expiration of your current license.

Last time I renewed, that is what I did. I had to renew when DPS had the huge backlog of applications and renewals, and I did not want to take a chance of a lapse. Turns out I got my license in about 30 days anyway.

I am not familiar with the details of the current DPS procedure for renewal, since they have gone to strictly electronic fingerprints and online stuff, so not sure if it will let you start more than 180 days prior to your license expiration.

Re: When to start renewal process?

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:06 pm
by DONT TREAD ON ME
C-dub wrote:Are you still in Korea?
Yea, for another days 22 days :grumble :mad5

ELB wrote:Last I looked, the CHL law requires your class and handgun proficiency certificate to be within 6 months of your application date (NOT expiration date). The earliest your application can be submitted is 6 months (DPS counts 180 days, not calender months) prior to your expiration date. So legally you could take your class and shoot the proficiency course now (since you state you are a year out), and then submit the package 180 days prior to the expiration of your current license.
I believe I will do that. This way I can submit my packet exactly 180 days out so I should not have to worry about not having a valid license.

Thanks :cheers2: