Do you live in WA state?

So In WA state a drivers licence is supposed to be renewed every 5 years. It happens on your birthday. So, seeing as I had not received notice of renewal yet and it is time, I went to the DMV site online to renew my licence as it expires this month.

There, I read that all new licenses will be renewable for a six (6) year time period instead of the the original five (5). I think great! a six year renewal is nice! The DMV is transitioning everyone to a six (6) year renewal.

Transitioning.........oh.....huh?

Therein is the catch....... Not everyone renewing their driver licence at this time will get a six year licence. Some will get one, others two, still others, 3, 4, 5, or six in random choice. Wait........what? I want the six (6) year renewal, not a year, not two, not three, etc....., but the longest time I can get renewed for!

Anyways, I proceed with the renewal process and the computer generates a three (3) year renewal for me. Thinking I can go back and get it to regenerate a different time period, I leave the site and return, only to find that the same three (3) year period is still being offered, but, I don't want three (3) years! I want at least the five (5) I have been getting, if not six (6).

Further reading and watching the short video explaining the process shows that there is no way around getting a standard renewal in the time limits they imposed on me. Apparently, according to the site, there is no way to "circumvent" (or similar wording) the random system. I am stuck with a 3 year renewal.

I don't know if WA state is the only one doing this, but it just seems like an odd thing to do. Supposedly it is supposed to help transition everyone to a complete six (6) year renewal, making the process easier, but if that is true, why not just do it for everyone to begin with? It seems to me that they are creating more work not less by not doing so, but maybe I just don't understand. In any case, I am stuck having to go back in three (3) years instead of the standard 5 which I have been happy with over the years.

[link to www.dol.wa.gov]