Maine relaxes deadlines for license renewals, vehicle registrations and more
Photo / William Hall
The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles recently suspended operations at its 13 branch offices, including the Portland one shown here.
The ongoing public health crisis has prompted the state to continue its leniency in enforcing some driving regulations.
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap on Friday said expiration dates for many credentials issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be extended. An executive order by Gov. Janet Mills temporarily waives renewal requirements for driver licenses, driver permits, state identification cards, commercial driver licenses, dealer licenses, salvage motor vehicle recycler licenses, driver/rider school licenses and instructor licenses.
The waiver applies to licenses and cards due to expire since Mills declared a state of emergency on March 15, and will extend 30 days after the emergency period ends.
In addition, the state has waived driver license vision test requirements during this period, which allows many driver license and state ID holders to use the BMV online renewal services.
Mills’ order, which extends actions taken earlier this month by the state Legislature, also suspends registration requirements for vehicles and trailers after they are sold or their ownership is transferred. The new policy allows private sales to continue, Dunlap said, despite the fact that all BMV offices have been closed since March 17.
Most Maine municipal offices are temporarily closed too. As a result of the closures there and at the BMV, new vehicle owners faced the prospect of violating Maine law that requires registrations within 14 days of a vehicle’s sale.
Police in Cumberland and Falmouth earlier this month said they would not enforce that requirement during the state of emergency.
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