DOT begins issuing temporary paper driver's licenses

If you need a new Iowa driver's license you won't walk out of the office with the real thing in hand anymore. Instead, all 19 DOT driver's license stations around the state switched on Tuesday to a system called central issuance.

What that means is motorists walk out of a station with a temporary paper permit-and the real laminated plastic license comes later in the mail.

License stations have talked about the coming switch for at least a year and a half. But it became reality on Tuesday. Drivers needing a license will go through essentially the same process.

You get in line, get a number and then have a photo taken. But at the end, instead of a permanent license you'll get a temporary paper permit and the old expired license back. That's what you'll use until the real license arrives in the mail-usually about two weeks later.

The delay gives a central processing center time to compare photos and information from applicants and uncover any potential fraud. Andy Behounek, who was in line at the Cedar Rapids DOT license station, said a slight delay wouldn't bother him.

“Not necessarily, it's my license and I don't use it too much anyway, so it's not a real bother at all, “Behounek said.

License Branch Manager Lisa Hennessey said she hadn't heard any complaints at all about the change and said an extensive publicity campaign probably answered a lot of questions. “Once they realize that all your other credentials that come to you…your bank cards, passports, birth certificates…arrive in the mail then that makes sense,” Hennessey said.

Twenty two other states issue licenses from a central processing facility rather than each individual license station. The image verification that goes on before the real license arrives in the mail is also the real examiners tell people to take off glasses and not smile in the DOT photo.

The new system began Tuesday at all the larger DOT license stations because the stations are closed on Mondays. License stations at 81 smaller Iowa county treasurer's offices began using the new system on Monday.