Some drivers in North Carolina can now renew their licenses without making a trip to the DMV. Governor McCrory’s office announced changes to the state’s driver’s license on Wednesday including a new on-line renewal system.
The online renewal systemwent live on Wednesday. Drivers are eligible for the service every other time they renew. The website requires drivers to verify their identity and confirm that they don’t have any vision problems that would interfere with driving. It costs the same to renew online as it does in person: $4 a year. But the website only accepts credit cards. People who are applying for their first license or who have license restrictions other than corrective lenses will still have to go to a DMV office, as will drivers with a suspended, revoked, or expired license.
The DMV also announced a new drivers license design, which it says will be more secure and more durable. The design includes a multicolored background, a laser-etched birthdate, and a synthetic waterproof coating. The new licenses will be phased in this summer.