Las Vegas Review-Journal

Renewals extension nearly over at DMV

Many drivers have expired documents

- By Mick Akers

If you’re one of the thousands of Nevadans whose driver’s license or vehicle registrati­on expired during the COVID-19 pandemic, the extension to take care of your issue is nearly up, with no planned continuanc­e.

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles issued an extension to those with expiring documents dated between March 12 and July 15 until Sept. 13 to bring them up to date. But with the severe backlog of appointmen­t-only visits, a staggering number of vehicle registrati­ons and driver’s licenses remain expired.

The DMV website, dmvnv.com, shows the earliest and only appointmen­t date available as of Thursday as Dec. 2 at the Las Vegas Valley DMV offices. The department ended its Saturday walk-in service last month. The DMV said its 90-day extension letter on its website had been viewed 102,363 times.

There are 217,218 vehicle registrati­ons with an expiration date of March 16-Aug. 27 that remained expired as of Aug. 27, according to Kevin Malone, DMV spokesman. Some of those won’t be renewed as some of those vehicles belong to owners who either sold, parked or moved out of state.

Malone said a further extension for those with registrati­on issues is not

necessary and reminded motorists that vehicles must have a movement permit or a current registrati­on to be driven on public streets.

“Motorists with renewals should renew online and on time,” Malone said. “Kiosks are also available.”

Self-service kiosk location informatio­n can be found via the DMV website.

Those who have a new registrati­on that can’t be done online or who are required to make an office visit to renew theirs can make an appointmen­t online through the DMV website.

Those with a vehicle obtained through a private party sale should present proof of ownership at a DMV office for a permit, Malone said.

More appointmen­ts for registrati­ons will become available after the online license/id renewal system

goes live.

Those who need to obtain a moving permit can them on the DMV website for several purposes, including permits that let drivers to get emissions tests to those that allow motorists to travel out of state.

On top of having liability insurance, the vehicle must have a Nevada registrati­on that is active or expired less than 18 months prior.

Moving permits are only issued to the registered owner of a vehicle who have a MYDMV account with the vehicle listed on that account.

Motorists can receive moving permits for a maximum of 180 days, extended from the normal 60 day maximum because of the pandemic. Those with suspended registrati­ons, bad debt or a “cash-only” flag at the DMV won’t be issued moving permits.

Motorists who canceled their registrati­on or surrendere­d their license plates will have to make an in-person

visit to obtain a moving permit.

Driver’s licenses

A total of 83,080 driver’s licenses — commercial and noncommerc­ial — and ID cards with expiration dates of March 14 through Aug. 24 remained expired as of Aug. 24, Malone said.

“We realize this will leave some motorists with expired licenses for a short period,” Malone said. “We have notified law enforcemen­t of this issue.”

The DMV asked state law enforcemen­t officials to show leniency to drivers with expired documents who show proof they have an appointmen­t set up with the DMV.

Those needing to renew their driver’s license will be able to do so via the internet, with that service planned to launch in October, if everything goes smoothly, Malone said.

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