Login | July 08, 2025
House Bill 258 would Registrar of Motor Vehicles to alert drivers of impending license expiration
KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: July 7, 2025
Transportation Committee members in the Ohio House of Representatives are considering a bill that calls on the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to send out a reminder to a licensed driver two weeks ahead of the expiration of a driver’s license.
Current practice requires the registrar to notify each person whose driver’s license has expired within 45 days after the expiration date, testimony provided.
“This practice can lead to unintended lapses in licensure, resulting in potential legal complications, fines and disruptions to daily life for our constituents,” Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, said during a recent committee hearing.
Deeter and joint sponsor Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, have sponsored House Bill 258 to lessen the likelihood of a licensed driver unintentionally allowing his license to expire.
“This legislation seeks to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of our state’s driver’s license-renewal process by mandating that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles send renewal notices to drivers before their licenses expire, rather than after,” Deeter said.
According to analysis of HB 258, the notice must be sent to the affected driver at least 14 days before expiration of the driver’s license.
A driver’s license may be renewed up to 90 days in advance of its expiration date and, if expired, must be renewed within six months after its expiration date or the licensee will be required to retake the written and skills tests, analysis detailed.
Deeter said she and Mathews have heard from constituents who have accidentally overlooked the imminent expiration of their licenses and forgotten to renew on time.
“By ensuring that drivers receive timely reminders before their licenses expire, we can promote compliance, enhance road safety, and reduce administrative burdens associated with expired licenses,” she added.
“We know, however, that most people will not need the reminder,” Mathews said. “The change for our bill responds to human nature … . This minimizes costs while keeping people right with the law.”
Deeter outlined the benefits to all Ohioans, including improved public safety, registrar administrative efficiency and eliminating unnecessary fines and potential hikes to insurance premiums.
Mathews estimated the cost of implementing the bill’s requirement would be about $1 million annually.
“The primary cost driver would be printing, postage and administrative labor,” he said. “As of 2024, Ohio has around 8.7 million driver’s licenses. Roughly half of licenses renew each cycle. Assuming an average four-year renewal period, Ohio processes about 2.2 million renewals annually. Bulk first-class mail costing approximately 36 cents per piece would cost $792,000 per year.”
He said HB 258 proposes a straightforward amendment to Section 4507.09 of the Revised Code.
The bill would not change the current requirement that notices must be made by regular mail sent to the person’s last known address shown in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ records.
“This change aligns with best practices observed in other states like Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Georgia and reflects a commitment to proactive governance,” the lawmaker said. “HB 258 represents a common-sense approach to improving the driver’s license renewal process in Ohio.”
The bill awaits further consideration by the committee.
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