Since the mass outbreak of the COVID-19 in March and resulting lockdowns around the country, government offices everywhere have been closed. Due to these closures, people are not currently able to do renewals in person at the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

As a result, the California DMV has allowed state residents who have a safe driving record and have been to the DMV within the last 15 years to have a 60-day grace period if their license has expired according to the DMV’s website.  The director of the DMV Steve Gordon addressed the new plan on the DMV website.

“Today’s actions ensure hundreds of thousands of Californians can keep their driver license current while following the state’s stay at home request,” Gordon said. “The health and safety of our employees and customers is the DMV’s top priority. We encourage customers to take advantage of our online services whenever possible.

The online services have allowed people to access the DMV’s resources from their home, allowing them to renew or extend their expiration date on their licenses. 

These changes on top of the 120-day extension given to seniors in California to prevent their exposure to COVID-19. 

The extension does not apply to drivers with suspended licenses according to the DMV’s website.