Minnesota Driver’s License Offices Reopen
Having a driver’s license for Jaren Morton is more crucial now than ever as he ventures out to land a summer job.
Morton, a junior at Breck High School in Golden Valley, said he was supposed to take his road test May 8 but the global pandemic swept away those plans.
“Of course I was disappointed, but given how things are right now, especially in the state of Minnesota and how we’re handling the pandemic, I wasn’t so angry because it could have been a lot worse,” Morton said.
The teen expressed that he’s just happy Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services locations, including Plymouth, reopened now instead of later.
“I definitely wish I could have taken it sooner, but that was what worked out for my schedule,” Morton said.
Plymouth driver’s license office one of 16 locations that reopened Tuesday.
Reopening Minnesota DVS Offices
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division (DPS-DVS) is reopening 16 exam stations statewide, including Plymouth.
DPS-DVS is planning to resume Class D road tests on May 26. Those who had their appointments canceled during the stay-at-home order are given priority. New road test appointments are not available to the public at this time.
“Thank you for your patience during this uncertain and stressful time for all Minnesotans. DPS-DVS has been working very hard to find safe, fair solutions to resume services that have been unavailable during the stay at home order,” said Emma Corrie, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division. “We are prioritizing the needs of Minnesotans who couldn’t take their knowledge or road test during the past several weeks by allowing DPS-DVS exam station staff to focus on testing services.”
Standard, Class D Road Tests
DPS-DVS is rescheduling more than 12,000 class D road tests that were canceled due to the pandemic. DPS-DVS will email everyone whose road test was canceled with rescheduling instructions. Those that had their tests canceled in March will be contacted first, followed by April and May.
Minnesotans with canceled tests can reschedule online here.
New class D road test appointments are not available to the public at this time.
Drivers License Applications and Renewals
Minnesotans who need to renew or apply for drivers license or ID card should pre-apply online at drive.mn.gov and visit their local deputy registrar or driver’s license agent office to complete their application in person.
Driver’s licenses or ID cards that expire during the peacetime emergency will be extended through August. Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law March 28 that extends the expiration.The peacetime emergency is currently in effect until June 12.
What to Expect During Office Visit
Minnesotans who are taking the knowledge test and class D road test will be required to complete a short questionnaire and have their temperature taken before entering the building. A mask is recommended but not required.
Exam stations will have social distancing signs and plexiglasses installed at counters to provide a barrier between customers and exam staff. Lines may be longer and extend outside of exam stations due to required six feet between customers.
DVS staff will wear personal protective equipment. Hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes will also be provided inside exam stations. Only the applicant is allowed inside the exam station unless they are younger than 18, in which case a parent or guardian must accompany them.
While Morton admits he’s a little impatient to get his road test rescheduled, the closures at least bought him more time to practice.
“I’m confident with everything else but parking,” Morton chuckled. “So we’ll have to work on that.”
