Coronavirus impacts drivers license services

Published 1:51 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As people continue to take precautions against the COVID-19 Coronavirus, officials are advising people to avoid renewing driver’s licenses unless absolutely necessary.

Though most of the services remain open, the state has shut down road testing to obtain a license.

The driver license division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has begun curbside check-in and screening at ALEA’s Driver License offices. Everyone is asked to follow instructions posted outside each location and wait at their vehicles to reduce potential exposure.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Sgt. Drew Brooks of the ALEA Troy Post said drivers with a Class-D license can wait to renew their license even if it expires during the next few weeks.

“For most drivers, there is a 60-day grace period after the expiration that you cannot have a ticket written for driving without a license,” Brooks said. “Many people think that you can be ticketed as soon as it expires, but that’s not the case.”

Tickets will be issued, however, to CDL drivers with expired licenses.

For drivers who feel the need to renew their licenses, ALEA encourages the use of online renewal services. Customers can obtain a duplicate driver license/STAR ID or non-driver ID at https://www.alabamainteractive.org/dl_renewal/welcome.action. To obtain a first issuance of a STAR ID, customers must visit an ALEA Driver License office.

Licenses can also be renewed at pikeprobate.com.