Expiring commercial licenses extended through September
Sacramento – California commercial drivers can continue delivering essential products and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic without worrying about an expiring license or medical certificate following a new round of extensions today by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
In accordance with updated guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the DMV is issuing an extension through September 30, 2020, to all commercial driver licenses, learner’s permits, endorsements and certificates expiring between March and September 2020. A previous extension had been set to expire at the end of June.
The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the new extensions.
Commercial drivers age 70 and older will receive a paper extension in the mail. While the extension is automatic, drivers 69 and younger will not receive a new card or an extension in the mail. As an option, these drivers will also be able to request a free temporary paper extension online through DMV’s Virtual Field Office to document their extension, though one is not needed to drive. Commercial drivers who previously requested an extension through June 30, 2020, are eligible to submit a new request to document the new expiration date.
To further expand services, commercial drivers also can now submit medical certificate updates for their license online through the Virtual Field Office.
The DMV is temporarily permitting approved Employer Testing Program participants, who already conduct commercial drive tests for their employees, to also administer commercial knowledge tests for their employees. This change has created an additional option for processing new commercial driver licenses. The DMV also will no longer require drivers with an out-of-state commercial license to take a knowledge or skills test when transferring to a California commercial license with the same class and endorsements.
Reminder – DMV field offices offering limited services
DMV field office employees are assisting customers with current appointments at the specific office or with limited transactions that require an in-person visit, including commercial driver license transactions. Last month, offices began offering additional services, including vehicle inspections and behind-the-wheel drive tests.
The DMV continues to recommend that customers use its online services, expanded virtual services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals. Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Tuesday that waives in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders who had reached their maximum of out-of-office renewals until modified or the State of Emergency is terminated. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail. Customers can use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.
