Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin DMV has moved as many of its services online as possible. A backlog has formed in two specific areas: the ability to renew expired licenses and allowing new drivers to complete their road tests. Starting Monday, 16-year-olds can obtain a license without taking their driver’s test if their parents' consent. That does not mean that the 16-year-old in the oncoming vehicle has a license through the honor system. All other requirements must still be met. Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson says that has proven sufficient in other states.
The backlog of teenagers waiting on their license has surged to over 10,000. The driver’s test will return when the public health emergency is lifted.
