Oklahoma Moving Through 2-Month Backlog Of Online License Renewal Requests

Anyone hoping to renew their driver’s license online should expect a wait time of about two months, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. 

“Right around now were getting to people who applied for their license toward the beginning of May,” said DPS spokesperson Sarah Stewart. 

Stewart said the agency has received more than 17,500 online license renewal applications since May 1. They have a staff of 18 dedicated to online renewals, she said. 

The online service launched last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We got this online renewal process up and going really quick,” said Stewart. “We did not anticipate the demand for this.” 

Kyla Sixkiller, a mother of three who lives near Tulsa, said she and her husband requested renewed licenses online in early May. Her husband’s license has since expired, forcing the stay-at-home-mom to spend more time behind the wheel. 

“Him having his license expired means I have to do most of the driving,” said Sixkiller. “So, if we do get pulled over, we have a valid driver's license in the car.” 

Stewart said the agency is working to automate the online renewal process to make it faster, but that is months away from taking effect. 

Next month, DPS is opening two “mega centers” in Oklahoma City and Tulsa to help with the backlog of license renewals and other services like Real ID or commercial driver’s license renewals. 

“It’s going to get better soon,” Stewart said. 

The centers will be open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

DPS will operate the Oklahoma City center in the old state health department building on NE 10th St., which opens July 26. It is scheduled to close in December.