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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division closed all exam stations statewide to follow Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order for Minnesotans to stay home and slow the spread of COVID-19, according to a press release. Offices will stay closed through April 10, when the executive order is set to expire.

Independently owned and operated, deputy registrar and driver’s license agent offices that provide driver and vehicle services will also be closed during this time. Many offices have already closed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Minnesotans will not have access to a number of services, including renewing their driver’s licenses or ID cards, during this time.

Driver’s licenses and ID cards

Once it reaches his desk, Walz is expected to sign a bill passed by Minnesota legislature that 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.

DPS-DVS will provide an update once the bill is signed.

REAL ID

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 one ton or SUV online at drive.mn.gov.

U.S. 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 day 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.