Iowans would be able to avoid long lines at the DMV to renew their driver’s licenses if state legislators approve a new bill. After experimenting years ago with renewing licenses by mail, the DOT wants to launch on-line license renewal later this year.
DOT spokesman Mark Lowe says they’re not concerned that those renewing online would be skipping the vision test. “Most people really self-manage their vision very well,” Lowe says. “So you have to ask yourself, do we need to inconvenience the bell curve of the population by bringing them in more often than we need to?”
Lowe says certain drivers who’ve been flagged in the past will still have to apply in person. “We have a variety of restrictions after we’ve seen someone that says they have certain medical or vision issues that require them to provide medical or vision reports, that there is an issue with a person’s driving needs to be reviewed every time,” he says.
Drivers over age 65 would also have to renew licenses in person instead of online. To cut down on lines at driver’s license stations, the DOT is also pushing a bill to have licenses remain valid for eight years instead of five.