State Lawmakers Announce Mega-Centers To Help With Backlog Of State Driver's Licenses

State lawmakers announced a solution to the driver's license renewal backlog that has caused headaches for months now. 

State Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, said 300,000 people need to renew their Oklahoma licenses before the end of the year. 

"It is our hope, through Oklahoma City and Tulsa mega-centers, to be able to address the backlog need of about 300,000 Oklahoma residents and citizens,” said Hall. 

Two large venues will be opened in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The exact locations have not been announced yet. Leasing contracts are in the works, he said. 

They will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for walk-ins. 

Tag agents will be available to renew licenses for Real ID or non-compliant driver's licenses. 

The mega-centers will be open sometime in mid-summer through the end of 2021. 

Renewing a driver’s license still costs $38.50, but a new eight-year renewal option is now available which costs twice as much as the standard four-year renewal. 

State Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, said the backlog began late last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns closed licensing offices. 

”When everything shut down in May of 2020, it just exacerbated everything,” Kerbs said.