Upgrades at DMVs aim to streamline license renewal process

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - If you’re an Oahu driver facing a license renewal, there’ll be some changes on your next trip to the DMV.

The city has streamlined the drivers license renewal process to where drivers can now submit their applications and get photos taken at the same counter.

“It increases our capacity of the services that we can provide because we’re no longer bottlenecking our services down to a few photo windows,” Department of Customer Services Director Kim Hashiro said.

Instead of getting a temporary card, drivers will get back their license with a hole punched through it along with a special paper.

“We’re switching now to a full size receipt-like document. It includes all of the same information and what’s important to note is that there’s a QR code on this receipt,” Hashiro added.

Not only will that QR code allow people to find the production status of their new license, but it must be carried with the old card to validate a renewal is in the works and you are legally allowed to drive.

You can also use your old card at TSA for travel for up to two years past its expiration date.

With this new system, new cards should also arrive quicker.

“In the past, customers had to wait six to eight weeks for their plastic to arrive in the mail. Now with this process it’ll be five weeks or less,” she said.

These upgrades are a part of a larger modernization of Hawaii’s ID and license card production system. Eventually, most renewals could be done digitally.

“We’re really trying to move all of our services as much as possible anyway online. So this was the first step in those huge technology improvements that were needed,” Hashiro said.

The upgrades have already been rolled out at DMVs, and Satellite City halls across Oahu. Neighbor islands are also working to upgrade their systems. The costs to renew will remain the same.