We have good news if your driver’s license or vehicle registration is about to expire!

In the middle of a major health crisis and a new world of social distancing, many states are offering extensions for both of those documents. Most of these extensions are for up to 90 days. The extensions have two main purposes. First, governments want to limit crowds forming in DMV offices across the country. This is especially important as CDC guidelines now stress that gatherings of more than 10 people should be avoided. The second purpose is that many people are currently suffering from reduced income. The cost to renew these documents no longer needs to be top of your priority list.

You can check out your individual state’s renewal website to see if your specific location is granting extensions. The following states have already declared they will waive late fees or extend expiration dates: Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Other states are likely to follow suit.

We should point out that the rules will be different from state to state. For example, in many states only the governor can officially extend the effective dates of certain documents. However, state police forces may still use discretion when it comes to ticketing things like expired license plates — even without direct orders from the governor.

Plenty of states now allow you to renew these documents online. If possible, this is your best option to avoid having to hang out at a DMV office. Some states are actively working to beef up their ability to handle online requests.

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Devon is a writer, editor, and veteran of the online publishing world. He has a particular love for classic muscle cars.