Starting next week, Ohioans can renew their driver’s license online

Mcdonnell

COLUMBUS — The Ohio BMV is continuing to shift services online, and now a driver’s license can be renewed with- out a trip to the local BMV.

Starting Monday, Ohio- ans can renew their driver’s license or state identification card online by visiting bmv. ohio.gov. Gov. Mike DEWine and Lt. Gov Jon Husted announced the changes on Thursday.

Once the option becomes available, people can click on the “DL/ID Renewal” link and log in. There they’ll fill out questions and upload a copy of their current license, or a photograph and one document from the BMV’S acceptable document list. Once approved, the license will be mailed out.

Not every license can be renewed online. Due to federal regulations, commercial driver’s licenses have to be renewed in person.

Drivers also can’t upgrade to a Real ID, the federal- ly-compliant license that will be needed for airplane flights in 2023. If a person has a standard ID, they need to be in-person to get a Real ID. But once they have a Real ID, they can renew it online.

The online applications will still have human input, since the documents will be reviewed by a clerk at a local BMV location.

In a press conference Thursday, BMV Registrar Charlie Norman explained that users will have to go through an enhanced authentication process. He said the website will have a lot of fraud indicators on the back end, like tracking IP addresses, that will raise red flags for the people reviewing the applications.

Norman said about 30 other states already offer online driver’s license, showing it can be done safely.

There are some reasons people will still need to go in person. Norman said drivers will have to go to the BMV at least every eight years for a vision exam. Drivers also have to be between the ages of 21 and 65 to renew online.

About 2.6 million people renew their licenses each year, and two million will be able to renew it online, Norman said.

Renewing licenses online isn’t the only change.

Ohioans will be able to transfer vehicle titles online using a new process, which starts on July 11. For new drivers, the driving knowledge test will also be available online, starting July 11.

The state is also expanding locations where individuals can take driving tests. Currently they have to go to a BMV Driver Examination station, but a pilot program will bring these tests to third-party locations.

According to a news release, the first location will be at the Preble County Clerk of Court. The program is expected to add seven more locations over the summer.

The Ohio BMV has been growing its services to reduce wait times at local BMVS. One example has been self-service kiosks that can renew vehicle registrations and license plate stickers. Another is license reprints, which can currently be ordered online.

Husted said in the news release that 2 million in-person visits have been avoided since 2021 because of the new services.