DMV Reopening Guidance

DMV offices

Beginning on June 1, state-run DMV offices in the counties of Albany, Onondaga, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and the five boroughs of New York City will begin to process registrations and other transactions by mail, and beginning June 4, will accept transactions through secure drop boxes located at each office. County Clerks that operate DMV offices in the remaining 51 counties of the State are advised to follow the State DMV’s timeline and guidance for reopening.  For more information about services offered at county-operated offices visit the DMV Offices page. Many other transactions are available online.

As regions enter phase 3 of reopening, DMV will offer limited in-person transactions in state-run DMV offices by reservation only, prioritizing critical services, and will resume all other road tests at that time. Until then, there will be no in-person transactions in any DMV office and reservations will only become available as regions enter phase 3.

Extension of Expired Documents

All driver licenses, non-driver identification cards and vehicle registrations that expired March 1, 2020 or after and vehicle inspections that expired March 31 or after were previously extended and continue to be extended.

Updating to REAL ID or Enhanced licenses

You cannot upgrade to a REAL ID or Enhanced Driver License (EDL) as these transactions require an in person visit.  For the health and safety of our customers and staff amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, DMV offices are not serving customers in person. While offices are closed for such transactions, you can renew their current license or non-driver ID online now and upgrade to a REAL ID or an EDL in a DMV office later. Also due to COVID-19, the federal REAL ID enforcement deadline has been extended one year until October 1, 2021.

Transactions available online

The DMV offers more than 60 transactions online, making it fast and convenient for all New Yorkers to complete transactions they need.  The following services continue to be offered online:

• select driver license services, such as renewing or replacing a license
• vehicle transactions, such as renewing or replacing a registration
• requests for DMV records, like crash reports or driving abstracts
• address change
• paying fines and fees for suspensions, civil penalties, driver responsibility assessments
• pleading or paying New York City traffic tickets

Vision tests for online license renewal

You need to pass a vision test to renew your license online. There are more than 6,000 providers statewide that are enrolled in the DMV’s Vision Registry and are approved to administer the vision test. Following the test, these providers enter the results online, saving time when you visit the DMV website to renew your license. A vision test from a Vision Registry provider is valid for one year.

If you have not had your vision checked by a Vision Registry provider you can have your doctor or another medical professional complete a Vision Test Report (MV-619), which you can use to complete the renewal process online.

Mail-in transactions

DMV is expanding the ability for New Yorkers to complete necessary transactions by mail, including:

• all vehicle registrations and plate transfers
• license plate surrenders
• sales tax only transactions
• license and registration renewals (online option is available)
• replacement of lost documents (online option available)
• address change (online option available)

We recommend you conduct your DMV business by mail in the County where you live. 

Beginning June 4, you may also complete these transactions by drop box.  Secure drop boxes will be located at all state-run DMV offices and available to customers during regular office hours Monday through Saturday.  See our list of DMV office locations for information about the location of your DMV office and the services that it offers. When dropping off documents, customers must wear a face covering, and only two customers will be allowed in the office at one time to access the drop box and must maintain proper social distancing at all times. They should ensure their documents are filled out completely prior to bringing them to the DMV.  Note that customer service representatives will not be available to assist with these transactions.

You will not be allowed to pick up your completed transaction. Once your transactions is processed, a receipt, and/or all applicable documents including registration stickers and license plates will be mailed to you.

If you need to register a vehicle you should complete the Registration Document Guide to find the documents you need to mail in.

You can find Instructions for returning license plates by mail on the DMV website.

Road tests

Commercial Driver License (CDL) road tests will resume in all regions that are in at least phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan and all other road tests will resume when regions enter Phase 3. Customers whose CDL road tests were canceled because of COVID-19 will be given priority when rescheduling. Reservations for other CDL only customers will be available in the days following on the DMV website at: https://dmv.ny.gov/schedule-road-test.  Note that road tests and reservations for Class D (passenger cars) will not be available at this time.  Permit tests for commercial drivers will be offered as regions advance to phase 3 of reopening. Further guidance will be provided at the appropriate time.  All road tests will be conducted with strict safety requirements in place; DMV road test examiners will wear gloves, face shields and have hand sanitizers, and you must wear masks and will be screened prior to beginning the test.

For the safety of everyone at road test sites, you must wear face coverings

All customers, and the driver you bring to the road test, are required to wear masks and maintain 6 feet from other customers and staff whenever possible. Face coverings include cloth (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandanna), surgical masks, N-95 respirators, or face shields.  Customers will also need to disinfect the passenger side of the vehicle with disinfectant wipes upon arrival.

Customers taking a road test will have their temperature taken and be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and any known contacts with positive COVID-19 patients prior to beginning the test.

Road tests will be rescheduled if a customer has a fever (temperature of 100 degrees or higher), is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or has had recent, close contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Do not appear for your road test if you

• have been directed to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home for the COVID-19 by any doctor, hospital, or health agency
• have been diagnosed with, or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19; or
• have flu-like symptoms or symptoms of the coronavirus.