DMV: Expired tags? Renew online, you can drive now

Just realized your car’s registration stickers expired? Maybe it’s a weekend or evening, and you need to drive but can’t wait to renew by mail or go to a DMV office.

Under a new Oregon law that took effect Jan. 1, when you renew your registration online at OregonDMV.com you can print the online receipt and drive immediately. Law enforcement can accept the online receipt as proof of registration payment in a traffic stop up to 30 days after you renew. New tags typically arrive by mail within 3-5 business days.

“We heard from many people that they took time to renew their registration in person at a DMV office because they couldn’t wait for tags via the mail,” said Tom McClellan, DMV Administrator. “So DMV asked the Legislature to consider a law change allowing people to provide proof of payment of registration with an online receipt.”

If you or someone you know can create a PDF of your online receipt and download it to a phone, the law also allows police to accept the PDF displayed on a phone instead of a paper copy.

“Nearly one-third of vehicle registration renewals are still done in person at DMV offices – often because people are afraid of getting a ticket for expired tags,” McClellan said. “Now customers can hit the road right after they renew from the convenience of their homes and skip the trip to DMV.”

For anyone worried about getting a ticket for failure to display current registration stickers – even with an online receipt for proof – the new law also allows you to bring the receipt to court. The court may accept that proof and dismiss the violation.

An average of nearly 800 people use Oregon DMV’s online vehicle registration renewal service each day. Introduced in January 2004 , the service saves customers from either writing and mailing a check or getting in line at a DMV field office.

If your vehicle is eligible for online renewal, your registration renewal notice will provide you with a temporary four-digit renewal access code to complete the transaction. DMV mails renewal reminders 45-60 days before vehicle tags expire.

To renew online, you need Internet access, a printer or mobile device, your renewal reminder, a credit/debit card, and your car insurance provider’s name and your policy number.

If you have lost your registration renewal reminder, and it is within 75 days of your tags’ expiration date, you can get a replacement renewal access code – just call DMV Customer Assistance by calling your local DMV phone number. If your tags have been expired for more than 75 days, your temporary online renewal access code will also have expired, and you will need to renew by mail or in person.

For more information about online registration renewal – or to renew online – go to OregonDMV.com.

Any time you need DMV services, DMV suggests that you first check online before visiting a field office in person to make sure you have everything you need. If you do need to visit DMV in person, you can check wait times for many offices during normal business hours at OregonDMV.com.