ALEA Extends Deadline to Get STAR ID, Closes Driver License Officers

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has pushed back the deadline for state citizens to get their STAR ID cards to October 1, 2021, and will close all its driver license offices, the police organization announced Thursday afternoon.

STAR IDs, which stands for Secure, Trusted and Reliable Identification, are meant to be improve the integrity and security of state-issued drivers licenses and other identification cards to reduce fraud and fight terrorism.

Originally, STAR IDs were to be required for anyone boarding a domestic flight in the US by October 2020. Because of concerns surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, that deadline has been pushed back one year and citizens will not have to get a new ID before October 2021.

“We began modifying the Driver License Division operations Monday, March 16, and continued to serve customers on a more limited basis to reduce potential exposure to the virus. Starting today, March 26, ALEA Driver License offices will close all public access, and staff will remain on-site to answer phones and assist with online services," said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. "As always, we are dedicated to serving the citizens of this state, but we must make the health and safety of our customers and our personnel a priority. This deadline extension should relieve some of the wait time at ALEA’s DL offices to obtain a STAR ID during the next several months.”

According to ALEA, customers will NOT be able to:

• Obtain first-time issuance of DL/CDL or ID card
• Take knowledge test (Learner’s License, Motorcycle, CDL)
• Take road test
• Transfer out-of-state license
• Obtain foreign national/renewal
• Register vessel – first-time registration or transfer
• Obtain Ignition Interlock License

 Customers will be able to:

• Renew DL/CDL/ID online
• Renew by mail – for Alabama drivers out of state for military, employment, missionary work, under a physician’s care or other issues on a case-by-case basis
• Request a hearing online or by mail/fax. We will not take any law enforcement actions until hearing can be held.
• Change address by mail/email/fax. Address change document available online.
• Change name by mail/email. Contact ALEA DL for instructions.
• Renew hardship license
• Have license reinstated by mail/email/phone. May use credit card.
• Order MVR (driver history) by mail/email/phone. May use credit card.
• Order crash reports by mail/email/phone. May use credit card.
• Submit medical cards by fax/email
• Submit medical unit forms – fax/email
• Handle Mandatory Liability Insurance – online/mail
• Renew vessel registration online

For more information on STAR ID, online renewals and other services, and the latest on Driver License Division office closures, please visit www.alea.gov.