The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is providing an automatic one-year extension to Californians ages 70 and older with a noncommercial driver’s license expiring between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, officials said.

Previously providing 120-day extensions to senior drivers with noncommercial licenses expiring March through July, the DMV has extended these plans to a full year for the purpose of delaying DMV visitation requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

New extensions are applied automatically and drivers will not receive a paper extension in the mail. Drivers can receive a free temporary paper extension online by request beginning July 15 through the DMV’s Virtual Field Office, but it is not required to drive. Californians with suspended licenses are not eligible. 

Typically, drivers ages 70 and older are required to visit a DMV office to renew their license, but the DMV possesses the authority to issue extensions. The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the extensions. The TSA accepts driver licenses for a year after the expiration date.

To align with federal guidelines, commercial licenses for ages 69 and younger expiring between March and September are projected to be extended through Sept. 30, 2020, officials said. 

To adapt to Coronavirus safety precautions and social distancing regulations, the DMV has integrated several measures including: extensions for expiring driver licenses and permits, expanded eligibility to renew drivers licenses and identification cards online or by mail, as well as created new digital options for transactions that previously required an in-person office visit. 

Continuing processes that limit time spent at DMV offices, the DMV encourages customers to fill out the online application and upload their documents prior to any in-person visit. The DMV continues to contemplate additional strategies to safely serve seniors.

DMV field office employees currently assist customers exclusively with appointments at the office or with limited transactions that require an in-person visit. Beginning June, offices began offering additional services, including vehicle inspections and behind-the-wheel drive tests.

Customers can use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

Summary of California drivers license extensions:

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