The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) has reopened their Reinstatement Call Center on Monday, April 13. The OMV closed their doors to the public on March 19th in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards extended the expiration of several OMV issued credentials, such as driver licenses and vehicle registrations,via his Emergency Proclamations. OMV has continued assisting customers with other needs that are deemed essential. The Reinstatement Call Center will be staffed by 50 OMV employees statewide. The call center agents utilize the agencies existing call center software which allows them to field customer’s calls remotely. OMV has always provided telephone assistance, but with this announcement, it will be fully staffing a call center for the first time. The agency started testing the system on April 7th and has already successfully assisted over 1,000 customers.
“I challenged my team to explore new ways we can serve our customers through no contact interactions and they have exceeded my expectations once again”, stated OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain. Anyone needing assistance from OMV for any reinstatement needs, please call 225-925-6146 and select Option 3. Call center agents are available Monday -Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist with reinstatement questions, collection of reinstatement fees and setup of installment agreements.
Customers are urged to utilize the OMV website at www.expresslane.org for an updated list of open Public Tag Agent locations and a complete list of available online services.
Additionally, LA Wallet, the state of Louisiana’s official digital driver’s license, is now available to residents free of charge. The all digital identification and driver’s license app will suspend its fee in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The app is available to download on Apple and Android devices by searching LA Wallet.
The entire Department of Public Safety remains committed to ensure public safety and service to the citizens of Louisiana remains a top priority.
Throughout the closure, licensing and registration requirements remain waived through Governor John Bel Edwards’ Emergency Proclamation:
1. Late fees for driver’s license which expire between March 9, 2020, through May 10, 2020, are suspended until May 20, 2020.
2. Penalties and interest due on state and local sales and use taxes collected by the Office of Motor Vehicles which began on or after March 9, 2020 are suspended and are waived until June 19, 2020.
3. The three-day period mandated in LA R.S. 32:863.1 to appear at an Office of Motor Vehicle field office for a notice of violation served on or after March 9, 2020, but before May 10, 2020, is suspended until May 13, 2020.
4. The expiration date of temporary registration plates issued pursuant to LA R.S. 47:519 and La. R.S. 47:519.2 which expired on or before March 9, 2020, is suspended until May 10, 2020.
5. The expiration date of license plates issued pursuant to LA R.S. 47:462 which expired on or after March 9, 2020, but before May 10, 2020, is suspended until May 10, 2020.
6. The notice of default issued pursuant to LA R.S. 32:429.4 that would be issued on or after March 9, 2020, and before May 15, 2020, is suspended, and the notices will not be issued until after May 15, 2020.
7. The expiration date of an apportioned registration issued under the International Registration Plan which expires March 9, 2020, is suspended and the expiration date is extended to May 10, 2020.
8. The period to request an administrative hearing submitted to the Department pursuant to LA R.S. 32:667, LA R.S. 32:863, LA R.S. 863.1 and LAC Title 55, Part III, Chapter 1, §159 which expired on or after March 9, 2020, but before May 10, 2020, are suspended and extended until June 10, 2020.
9. The sixty-day delay for the Department to submit the administrative hearing record to the Division of Administrative Law pursuant to LA R.S. 32:667(D)(1) for an arrest which occurred on or after March 9, 2020, but before May 10, 2020, is extended until August 8, 2020.
10. The expiration date of driver’s licenses which expire on or after March 9, 2020, but on or before May 10, 2020, is suspended and the expiration date is extended to May 20, 2020.
11. Extend the expiration of temporary driver’s license issued pursuant La R.S. 32:667A which were issued on or after March 9, 2020, through May 10th, 2020, until June 9th, 2020.
12. All students who enroll in a driver’s education course after March 9, 2020, shall be allowed to begin the driver’s education course without the issuance of the temporary instructional permit until May 10, 2020.
13. Any suspension with the official notice of withdrawal issued on or after Feb 17, 2020, but before May 10, 2020, shall remain in pending until June 9, 2020.
