News

Wondering if you have to renew your license and get stuck with a photo of your lockdown bangs? Good news: The Department of Motor Vehicles has announced it's extending expiring licenses at least until the end of May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In a press release, the DMV put a May 31 deadline on renewing for those under 70 whose licenses were to expire from March through May. Those over 70 get an automatic 120-day extension. Commercial drivers with licenses expiring anywhere from March through June are clear until June 30. None of these extensions, however, affect medical certifications for commercial drivers or suspended licenses.

An optional paper extension to tuck in your wallet is available online at www.dmv.ca.gov, though the DMV states that law enforcement is aware of the extensions. You can also still renew your license online or by mail if eligible.

Read the full release below for details:

DMV Extends All Expiring Driver Licenses
Customers eligible to renew license online encouraged to do so
Commercial licenses extended through June 30; drivers under 70 extended through May 31
Drivers can request an optional paper extension online
Drivers 70 and older will automatically receive temporary paper extension valid for 120 days
Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles is extending driver licenses expiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Licenses for drivers younger than 70 that expire between March and May 2020 are now valid through May 31, 2020.

All commercial driver licenses, endorsements and certificates expiring between March and June 2020 are now valid through June 30, 2020, aligning with a recent emergency declaration from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The extension does not include medical certificates for commercial drivers, which requires additional administrative actions scheduled in the near future.

The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the extensions. Californians with a suspended license are not eligible.

The DMV continues to review and process online renewals, and encourages drivers who are eligible to renew their license online to do so.

The extensions require no individual action on the part of drivers. These drivers will not receive a new card or an extension in the mail. As an option, these drivers can request a free temporary paper extension online through DMV’s Virtual Field Office to document their extension.

The Virtual Field Office, virtual.dmv.ca.gov, builds on the other online services already available to DMV customers at dmv.ca.gov, including driver license renewals.

The temporary extensions are in addition to other steps the DMV announced earlier this month to help Californians with expiring licenses, including:

A 120-day extension for drivers age 70 and older. Drivers age 70 and older with expiring noncommercial licenses are receiving an extension in the mail automatically.
Temporarily waiving required in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders with expirations in March, April, and May 2020. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail.
The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, its call center, available business partners and now virtually to process critical transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can use the Services Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

The measures to help Californians with expiring driver licenses are the latest DMV actions during the coronavirus pandemic, including:

Temporarily closing field offices. Following deep cleaning, expansion of virtual services and development of new protocols, the DMV soon will offer in-person services in each region. Information on office openings will be announced by DMV in the near future.
Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines.
Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service.
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