FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2005
Contact: Doug Dunbar
(207) 626-8404

Cost of Online Driver License Renewals Reduced

Secretary of State Reminds Mainers that Many Motor Vehicle Services are Available 24 Hours a Day through the Internet

AUGUSTA, MAINE – Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced on Friday that beginning Monday, October 3 rd , the price for renewing a Maine driver's license online will be reduced to correspond with the fee charged for obtaining a renewal in-person at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. A one dollar processing fee, which had been applied since the Internet-based service was launched in June of 2004, will no longer be charged to customers. This service also enables individuals to replace their lost, stolen or destroyed license or State identification card.

In making today's announcement, Secretary Dunlap noted that the Department of the Secretary of State offers more online services than any other state agency. He explained that many people can now renew their license and vehicle registrations, and conduct a wide variety of other transactions, 24 hours a day from the convenience of their home, office or any location with a computer and Internet access. All services can be found by visiting www.Maine.gov/sos .

“To encourage greater use of our online license renewal service, the cost to drivers is being lowered. We hope more people will take advantage of this opportunity. As with our vehicle registration program, this license service enables people to take care of their renewal at a time and place that's most convenient for them,” Dunlap commented.

In addition to the Driver License and ID Card Renewal Service, and the Rapid Renewal Vehicle Registration Service, many other Bureau of Motor Vehicle transactions can be processed online including:

Change of Address for License and Registration
Registration Record Searches
Driving Record Searches
Title Searches
Vanity Plate Availability Searches
Oversize/Overweight Permits
Insurance Verification Service
Duplicate Registration Application
Duplicate Title Application
Disability Placard Application

“Over 100,000 vehicle registrations have been processed through our Rapid Renewal system and more than 6,500 people have taken advantage of our online License and ID Card Renewal and Replacement Service,” Secretary Dunlap noted. “Those numbers are encouraging, but they are just the beginning of what's possible once the public is fully aware of the ease and convenience associated with these online services.”