State will stop sending drivers license renewal reminders

Published 1:41 pm Wednesday, September 7, 2016

The friendly reminder cards customarily sent to drivers to renew their licenses will no longer come in the mail.

All circuit court clerks received a memo from Matthew Cole, director of the Division of Driver Licensing, notifying them the state agency has discontinued the printing and mailing of renewal reminder cards.

“A great deal of discussion and planning went into this decision,” Cole said in the memo. “After weighing the impact of the renewal cards versus the cost of maintaining this process, it was determined it was necessary to end this program.”

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The division will still mail commercial drivers license reminders due to it being mandated by federal law.

Jessamine County Circuit Clerk Doug Fain said he can see both sides. On one hand, there are people who prefer the reminder cards.

On the other, some find it unnecessary.

“I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of people who are going to miss it,” Fain said.

Drivers licenses must be renewed every four years, and in Kentucky, if a license is expired for one year or more, the licensee must retake the test.

“I just hope we don’t have anybody forget, because I’d hate to see somebody go through that,” Fain said.

He said in the future he hopes the Division of Driver Licensing will find another way to remind the public. For now, the reminder cards will no longer come in the mail, and it is up to licensees to keep track of the expiration date.

“Remember to look at your license and keep in mind when it needs to be renewed,” Fain said.