“Sir, I’m going to need you to exit and join me at the rear of the vehicle.”
Those were the words from a U.S. Forest Ranger during an unexpected traffic stop in Rocky Mountain National Park last week. But what he said next made my earlier attempt at humor—answering his question, “When I run your license, am I going to find anything interesting?”—sound downright ridiculous.
The last time I was pulled over was probably about 20 years ago. No wrecks, unpaid fines, or fees that I knew of. So, I thought I’d make a joke of it. But as I joined the ranger at the back of the vehicle, he asked, “Sir, is there any reason you know of why your license is suspended?”
I thought he was pulling my leg—maybe even that my wife, Cassie, had orchestrated some elaborate prank. But no, this was serious. It turns out the state of Florida had suspended my license back in October…of 2022! And I had no idea. The day after this incident, I contacted the Florida DMV, and they confirmed that my license had been suspended for nearly two years without any notice sent my way.
So, I made a list of 10 things you can apparently do with a suspended license (which technically requires your license for the transaction):
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- Buy Real Estate in Tennessee—Even with a suspended license, I was able to keep investing using the BRRRR method to expand my portfolio.
- Apply for and Receive a Passport—No problems there.
- Refinance Rentals in Alabama with a National Lender—My investing didn’t miss a beat.
- Fly Domestically and Internationally—Air travel? Not a problem.
- Renew Your Concealed Carry Permit in Florida—This one was especially mind-blowing. You have to go to the DMV, show your license, and yet, I still renewed mine.
- Set Up Multiple Bank Accounts for New Businesses—Expanding our ventures didn’t require a valid license.
- Renew Vehicle and Trailer Registrations in Florida—Even the DMV itself didn’t catch this.
- Purchase an Annual Pass to Rocky Mountain National Park—Yes, the very place I was pulled over.
- Check into Dozens of Hotels Across 26 States—No issues at the front desk.
- Purchase an Annual Pass to Smoky Mountain National Park—And it even worked in Canada with an annual pass to Banff National Park.
It turns out that a suspended license doesn’t stop you from doing much, even when it comes to conducting real estate transactions or using the BRRRR method to grow your portfolio. But to be clear, I don’t recommend operating with a suspended license. This experience served as a strange reminder of how life can throw unexpected challenges our way—like not knowing your license is suspended for nearly two years!
The lesson here? Stay informed, stay vigilant, and keep your sense of humor intact. Whether you’re navigating the intricacies of the BRRRR method or just trying to keep your driver’s license valid, you never know what surprises might be around the corner.
Common FAQs using the BRRRR Investing Strategy:
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