This is a question that pops up every once in a while in the Speedway community, usually from drivers who are frustrated with the lack of available transfers and the long waits that sometimes arise. It might be a good idea to prepare for that eventuality by understanding how transfers work and how you can avoid the most common issues that arise from them.
What Is A Transfer?
Many people mistakenly assume that a transfer in speedway means just changing teams. While there is certainly something to be said for that approach, a transfer in speedway actually refers to the practice of an operator or motorsport authority moving a driver’s license between two states. This is usually done to allow the licensed driver to compete in different events than they are lawfully allowed to in their current state of residence, or to allow a competitor from another state to challenge an out-of-state licensed driver’s ability to race in their state of residence (reduced residency requirements in some cases). You might also see this practice referred to as a “paperwork shuffle.”
Regardless of the reason behind the practice, it is usually performed by the state athletic directors’ offices or event organizers to ensure that the competition is fair. When that happens, it is known as a “speedway transfer.”
The Importance Of A Transfer
It is important to understand the importance of a speedway transfer. In most cases, the process is a cumbersome one that can eat into your down time and may even require a driver to take a day off of work. As a result, most people will go through the process as little as possible, doing their best to keep their driver’s license in the state where they live and work. If you are asked to serve as a witness during a transfer, you will need to get a permit signed by a notary public, ensuring that you uphold your end of the bargain.
This issue came up earlier this year when a driver in Florida noticed that North Carolina was looking into renewing his license. The driver’s existing license was about to expire and he was required to update his address with the DMV or risk losing his ability to drive. Since transfers usually occur near the end of the year, just before the new year, this would have meant missing out on a considerable number of races. The situation was brought to the attention of NASCAR, who passed the info along to the NCDA. The NCDA then put out a notice to all license holders in the state, advising them of the upcoming changes and the potential ramifications for noncompliance. At least one driver, in fact, did not update their address and lost the right to drive in both states.
Paperwork & Red Tape
When a transfer takes place, the driver’s existing license will be sent to the state of residence along with a letter explaining the reason for the transfer. At this point, the process stops and the operator will have no further involvement in the matter. The two states will then begin mailing correspondence regarding the status of the license and any restrictions that may or may not be placed on the license by the receiving state. The amount of paperwork that arises from a transfer can be considerable and in some cases, it has been known for the process to drag on for months. It is not unusual for the two states to negotiate the terms of the transfer for several weeks before coming to an agreement and moving on to the next step.
Some of the paperwork that arises from a transfer includes:
- DMV correspondence (drivers license, registration, insurance)
- Warranties and / or service records
- Alterations and / or repairs to the vehicle (if any)
- Accident reports (if any)
- Driving record
- Demeanor actions (if any)
- Background check (if any)
- Salesperson’s certificate
- Affidavit of solvency (when required)
- Notary public permit (if any)
- Release of liability (when required)
- Medical examination (when required)
- Take a test (when required)
- Eye test (when required)
- Record of attendance (when required)
- Change of name (if any)
- Transfer fee (when required)
The Steps Of A Transfer
The process of transferring a license is usually very straightforward but since there is so much paperwork that arises from it, there is also a lot that can go wrong. Here is an overview of what typically happens when a driver wants to transfer their license from one state to another: