PennDOT Will Use Old Photos For IDs During Coronavirus

HARRISBURG, PA — PennDOT will use existing photos of customers who renew their driver's licenses and ID cards in an effort to limit the number of people at the department's license centers during the coronavirus outbreak.

PennDOT announced the change on Tuesday, saying new licenses will use photos already on file.

"Using a customer’s existing photo will help limit the number of people in our driver and photo license centers, and by extension, help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19," said acting PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. "This new process is not only a convenience, but it will help to keep our customers and staff safe."

Customers who renew their driver's license or photo ID card online or through the mail will get a new card using the most recent photo that exists of them in PennDOT's system.

No temporary licenses will be issued to these customers and they will get their new cards by mail within 15 days, PennDOT said.

Noncommercial driver's license and photo ID card holders may renew online — providing there are now corrections or changes other than a change of address — by visiting the PennDOT website. Both noncommercial and commercial drivers may renew through the mail.

Pennsylvanians who renewed on or before May 10 will get a temporary "camera card" in the mail and will still need to visit a PennDOT photo license center to get an updated photo taken.

Non-U.S. citizens also must visit a license center in person.

You can find a list of PennDOT locations that have reopened on the website.

PennDOT alreadyhas extended the expiration dates on driver's licenses, photo ID cards, learner's permits and camera cards that were set to expire from March 16 through May 31. Those cards now will expire June 30.

The department also has suspended issuing REAL ID cards during the coronavirus shutdown. Enforcement of REAL ID in Pennsylvania has been pushed back a year, to Oct. 1, 2021.