6 months from expiration before allow to order renewal pack

[KinnyLee]

Is this true? I called the CHL office, and the guy refuse to send me a renewal packet until 180 days from expiration. I kinda want to get this over with already so my license won't lapse in anyway. Any thoughts?

[seamusTX]

That is the law.

You can get a non-resident license from a state that Texas recognizes to cover any possible gap. Pennsylvania's is cheap and easy to get by mail order. Others will tell you the advantages of other states.

There's also a bill in the Legislature that would allow a grace period if you had not received a new license when your old one expired. It might be law by Sept. 1.

- Jim

[KinnyLee]

Wow. Didn't know that's the law.

Thanks. Learn something new every day.

[AEA]

That may be the law for the renewal pack, but the TR-100 you get from the instructor is good for one year. So, you can take the class whenever you want within a year of your expiration and then send in the pack 6 months prior to expiration.

[roberts]

You can't apply to renew more than 6 months before expiration. You can take the class and get a packet from the instructor and mail it right on the 6 month window if you want to shave a few days off requesting the packet from DPS then.

The PA license is the best choice If you want to cover yourself in case of DPS delays. You need a license from your residence state to get a PA license so it's not a substitute for the TX CHL and it doesn't get you any extra states but it's less than $30 so it's cheap insurance for DPS delays, lost/stolen wallet, etc.

[KinnyLee]

Ah okay. I'm beginning to see the light. Thank you sir! I will take the renewal class in 2 weeks as planned.

[BobCat]

You are wise to do so. I took the class only a few days before I was "eligible" for the renewal package, ordered the package as soon as eligible (180 days from expiration), and sent it back immediately.

My renewal took 60 days.

I had the Pennsylvania non-resident form all filled out and ready to go, in case the renewal dragged on. Didn't need it.

Best of luck with your class and renewal.

Regards,
Andrew

[ELB]

You can take the renewal course before hitting the 180-days-prior-to-expiration point. The law says

GC 5411.185. RENEWAL. (a) To renew a license, a license holder
must:
(1) complete a continuing education course in handgun proficiency
under Section 411.188(c) within the six-month period
preceding:
(A) -the date of application for renewal, for a first or second
renewal; and
(8) the date of application for renewal or the date of application
for the preceding renewal, for a third or subsequent renewal, to ensure
that the license holder is not required to complete the course more
than once in any 1 0-year period;
(2) obtain a handgun proficiency certificate under Section
411 . I8 9 within the six-month period preceding:
TEXAS CONCEALED HANDGUN LAWS GCw11.106. 15
(A) the date of application for renewal, for a first or second
renewal; and
(B) the date of application for renewal or the date of application
for the preceding renewal, for a third or subsequent renewal, to ensure
that the license holder is not required to obtain the certificate more
than once in any 10-year period; and
(3) submit to the department:
(A) an application for renewal on a form provided by the
department;
(B) a copy of the handgun proficiency certificate;
(C) payment of a nonrefundable renewal fee as set by the
department; and
(D) two recent color passport photographs of the applicant.

IOW, your renewal course has to be within six months of your renewal APPLICATION date, not the expiration date. Apparently DPS won't provide you with the package, but your instructor can, at least the forms that he is required to sign/notarize. (Seems to me tho that DPS sent me the package prior to 180 days...hmmm).

Anyway, this is what I did to get in line at the earliest point -- and I got my renewal in 35 days, or about four months prior to expiration.