COVID-19: Minnesotans Get Extension of Expired Driver’s Licenses

St Paul ( KROC AM News) - There has been another loss of service due to the coronavirus crisis in Minnesota - the renewal of driver’s licenses and road tests.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division officially closed Friday. The closure is the result of the Stay At Home order issued this week by Gov. Walz. The closure is scheduled to be in effect through April 10 when the order expires.

The department notes many local deputy registrar and driver’s license agent offices had shut down earlier.

But the state is assuring Minnesotans they won’t be driving with an expired DL, which is illegal.

The COVID-19 bill that was approved by the state legislature this week includes an extension for Minnesotans whose driver's licenses or ID cards expire during this time.

The bill extends the expiration date for any valid driver's license, instruction permit, provisional license, operator's permit, limited license, and farm work license that would expire during the peacetime emergency. The expiration dates for these licenses will be extended for two months after the month the peacetime emergency ends.

Also, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline to Oct. 1, 2021. The deadline was originally set for Oct. 1, 2020, but is being delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This gives Minnesotans more time to apply for a REAL ID or enhanced driver’s license or ID card.

Vehicle Registration
Minnesotans will still be able to renew vehicle registrations online and by mail during the peacetime emergency. As such, there are no extensions for expired or expiring vehicle registrations.
Renew vehicle registration for a car, pickup under 1 ton or SUV online at drive.mn.gov.
US Bank charges a separate service fee of 2.49% for all credit card transactions. ACH (electronic check) payments have a separate service fee of $1.50. DPS-DVS does not determine or collect these service fees for online registration renewals.
Mail your vehicle registration by sending the bottom half of your renewal notice with your check or money order made payable to DVS Renewal to:
DVS Renewal
PO Box 64587
St. Paul, MN 55164-0587

Minnesotans have until the last day of the expiration month to renew their vehicle registration. They must display their registration stickers by the 10th of the following month. For example, Minnesotans whose vehicle registration expires in April have until April 30 to renew their registration and until May 10 to display the new stickers on their license plates. DVS will continue to receive and process mailed renewals, deposit checks and mail license plates and stickers to customers.

Road Tests
Anyone who has a class D, commercial driver’s license (CDL) or motorcycle road test appointment scheduled during this time will receive a cancellation notice by email or text message. DPS-DVS is committed to making sure anyone affected by these road test cancellations is able to obtain a new appointment as soon as possible. Once normal operations resume, DPS-DVS will call, email or text those affected to offer the first available day and time for their road test.

Submitted Applications
Some DVS staff will continue teleworking and processing previously submitted driver’s license and ID card applications, including REAL ID and enhanced driver’s license and ID card applications.

DVS Public Information Center
DPS-DVS staff will continue to be available to answer questions submitted to DVS using the driver and vehicle services contact forms:
Driver services questions
Vehicle services questions

DPS-DVS Public Information Center staff will also be answering phone calls during its normal Monday-Friday business hours, but staff will be very limited March 30 through April 10, so it may be difficult to get through.