Executive Order grants temporary extension of driver’s licenses, and vehicle registrations 

Under a new Executive Order (EO – 2020-47) signed on April 13 and effective immediately, Michigan’s Secretary of State will be allowed to grant temporary extension of the validity of certain driver’s licenses, state identification cards and vehicle registrations.

Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch says the EO is intended to provide clarity to motorists and law enforcement regarding expired licenses and registration during this unique time. However, the EO would not apply to Seasonal CDLs as well individuals looking to get new licensing and registrations.

According to the EO, “It is reasonable and necessary to temporarily extend the validity of certain operator’s and chauffeur’s licenses, state identifications, and vehicle registrations in this state.”

“In times of crisis and uncertainty, the last thing you want to think about is having to renew your driver’s license or state ID card,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “It is my sincere hope this order gives all Michiganders with expiring identification some peace of mind as we continue our united front to slow the spread of COVID-19 across our state.”

Individuals must, to the best of their ability, complete a vehicle registration or license renewal online at www.michigan.gov/sos/ during the declared states of emergency and disaster. However, the EO 2020-47, which takes effect April 13 at 11:59 p.m., does the following:

• Driving with a vehicle registration, operator’s license or chauffeur’s license that expire on or after Feb. 1, 2020, will not constitute a violation of the Michigan Vehicle Code and will be temporarily extended until June 30, 2020.
• Extends commercial driver’s licenses including endorsements such as F endorsement set to expire between March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020.
• Medical certification requirement for operator’s or chauffeur’s license holders with a Group A, Group B, or Group C designation until June 30, 2020. Persons who would otherwise have to carry a valid medical certificate must carry a paper copy of an otherwise-valid medical certificate that expired on or after March 1, 2020.
• Operator’s or chauffeur’s license holder with a Group A Group B or Group C designation to operate a commercial vehicle as though it had a valid vehicle registration until June 30, 2020, so long as the commercial vehicle has an otherwise valid vehicle registration that expired on or after March 1, 2020.
• The Department of State will not assess a late fee at renewal for a license or registration that expired between Feb. 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, so long as the renewal occurs by June 30, 2020.
• The temporarily extension provided by EO 202-47 does not apply to a person who had his or her driving privileges suspended or revoked for traffic offenses. Furthermore, a person who since his or her last medical certificate was issued has developed a condition that requires a Skill Performance Evaluation or has been diagnosed with a medical condition that would disqualify him or her from operating a commercial vehicle also not qualify for the extension.

Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch says the EO is intended to provide clarity to motorists and law enforcement regarding expired licenses and registration during this unique time. However, the EO would not apply to seasonal CDLs as well individuals looking to get new licensing and registrations.

“Under terms of the original Stay Home, Stay Safe EO, issued on March 13, 2020, Michigan’s secretary of state branch offices were to be open sparingly only for ‘critical services,’ doing work to sustain life or to support other work or workers sustaining life as outlined in the governor’s order, and detailed further in a memo by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency,” Vermeesch said.

According to Vermeesch, farmers who have urgent needs from the SOS, including issuance of seasonal restricted CDL licenses and issuance of new plates for transporting farm supplies, livestock, and feed, can still utilize the Emergency Services Request/Transactions process announced on March 30. To request transaction, Vermeesch said farmers are asked to complete an SOS Emergency Services Request by doing the following:

1. Download this Excel form to streamline the processing flow of service requests. If you have trouble downloading it, email Andrew Vermeesch to request the form.

2. Fill out the information in the EXCEL form as completely as possible. In the case of license requests, the information entered should be that of the person who needs to be licensed, but include the farm name and contact information, in the event additional information is needed. Farmers are strongly encouraged to batch their services requests onto one form.

3. Send the completed form to Andrew Vermeesch (avermee@michfb.com) who will review and then forward the requests to the designated point person at the Secretary of State's office.

4. SOS will directly contact those requesting services to facilitate the process for approvals and emergency appointments to schedule the transaction.

Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan Farm News are committed to providing its members and readers with the latest news and information on the COVID-19 pandemic. For news, updates and resources, visit https://www.michfb.com/MI/Coronavirus/. The page will be updated daily as more information becomes available.