Iowa DOT debuts more driver’s license renewal kiosks

DES MOINES - Renewing or replacing an Iowa driver's license just got easier, according to state transportation officials.

Paul Trombino, director of the state Department of Transportation, joined Gov. Terry Branstad on Monday in announcing that 24 self-service kiosks have been set up around the state in libraries or retail places where Iowans already are doing business as an added convenience for motorists seeking to renew or replace their Iowa driver's licenses.

The $1.1 million investment of road-use tax funds is an expansion of a pilot project at four locations where about 10,000 Iowans renewed their licenses during a two-year experiment that started at the 2013 Iowa State Fair, where Branstad utilized the new online service, he said. Along with libraries, the new locations include Hy-Vee stores and a Kum & Go store in a mix of urban and rural areas.

'Iowa DOT's self-service kiosks were designed with customer security and ease of use in mind,” Trombino said at Branstad's weekly news conference where the expanded service was announced. 'They use a touch-screen technology to allow the customer to enter their information, including built-in cameras which allow users to update the photo on their driver's license or ID.”

The kiosks are equipped with facial recognition software which compares selected facial features with a customer's last image of record to confirm the identification, he said. A transaction is not completed unless the image is successfully verified. DOT officials estimated the process takes about 10 minutes to renew a driver's license online or at one of the kiosks.

The kiosks are identical to those currently found in the Ankeny driver's license station. A complete list of kiosk locations, as well as traditional driver's license issuance sites can be found at www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/dlsites.htm.

'Technology is allowing Iowans secure and convenient access to services,” said Branstad. 'If your driver's license is up for renewal and you happen to stop for a gallon of milk or are checking out a book at the library, you may be able to take care of the driver's license task in the same trip.”

There are stipulations on who can renew a driver's license or ID card online due to public safety and identity security concerns, DOT officials noted. Potential kiosk users must have a valid Iowa driver's license or ID card (not a commercial driver's license); be at least 18 but younger than 70 years old; be a U.S. citizen and an Iowa resident; have a license or ID card that has not been expired for more than a year and is less than 180 days from its renewal date; and not have any medical or vision conditions that would impact the ability to drive.