Driver's Licenses, Identicards, Endorsements, and Driver's Instruction Permits. The Department of Licensing (DOL) is authorized to issue several instruments, such as driver's licenses—standard, enhanced, and commercial; identicards, driver's instruction permits, and motorcycle endorsements, that are related to driving vehicles and providing official identification of individuals. The fees and documentation required for application of the identifying and authorizing instruments vary, but the instruments are generally valid up to six years for qualifying applicants. Driver's instruction permits are valid up to one year. During in-person visits, DOL takes photos of applicants for licenses and some identicards.
Applications for a new license or instruction permit must be signed before an agent authorized to administer oaths, meaning an in-person visit to a DOL office is required. Renewals for driver's licenses and identicards can be made in person, but they may also be made online, as long as the last renewal was not made online. A renewal for an instruction permit must be made in person, and a renewal for an identicard without a photo must also be made in person.
Emergency Executive Orders and Response to COVID-19. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, DOL driver licensing offices were closed for several months for all non-commercial driver licensing services starting at the end of March 2020. DOL began reopening driver licensing offices in June 2020, and are open by appointment only with every other counter closed to allow for social distancing. Appointments are available for scheduling 30 days in advance.
In response to DOL's limited capacity for in-person services, the Governor issued and extended proclamations allowing DOL to issue a no-photo instruction permit online, renew driver's instruction permits online, and provide expanded online renewals for driver's licenses and identicards. These are temporary measures.
Driver's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, identicards, and motorcycle endorsements are valid for eight years, but DOL must continue to offer the option to issue or renew driver's licenses and identicards for six years. The following fees are adjusted to reflect the new renewal terms, though the per-year costs remain unchanged.
| Category | Per Year Cost | 6 Year Cost | 8 Year Cost |
| Standard driver's license/identicard | $9 | $54 | $72 |
| Enhanced driver's license/Enhanced identicard* | $4 | $24 | $32 |
| Motorcycle endorsement - initial* | $2 | $12 | $16 |
| Motorcycle endorsement - renewal* | $5 | $30 | $40 |
| Commercial driver license* | $17 | $102 | $136 |
*The standard driver's license/identicard fee must be paid in addition to the fee amounts on this row.
Online renewals of driver's licenses and identicards are not restricted to every other renewal cycle for the period starting January 2022 until July 2024. Non-photo driver's instruction permit renewals may be made online. Photographs for renewed driver's licenses and identicards need be updated only every 16 years for persons over 30. Persons under 30 must update their photos every eight years. Beginning January 2023, persons renewing on-line must provide an updated photograph in a form and manner approved by DOL with each renewal unless they are unable to provide a photograph that meets the department's requirements and the most recent photograph on file with the department is not more than ten years old at the time of renewal. A sworn statement must be signed by an applicant before someone authorized to administer oaths only for original driver's license issuances.
DOL must evaluate the impact of expanded online renewals and remote photo capture on backlog reduction, access to services, employment public safety, identity fraud, and other related topics in consultation with relevant stakeholders and industry experts. DOL must submit a report to the Governor and the transportation committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2023.
The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: COVID-19 has significantly impacted the ability of DOL to serve clients. As a result of operating at 35 percent capacity, it has been hard for the citizens to get the licenses and identicards under the appointment only system. A backlog has developed that without changes will take years to resolve. This will help address the backlog and it will allow better services for the public and provide greater convenience. This reflects a compromise proposal that will help us address our backlog and it is DOL's number one priority to help address the effects of the pandemic.
CON: DOL has been very collaborative, as we have worked toward the compromise. With the adoption of the suggested amendment, this will make the last of the needed public safety improvements.