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BATON ROUGE — Governor John Bel Edwards announced the state of Louisiana’s official digital driver’s license, LA Wallet, will be made available to residents free of charge. The all-digital identification and driver’s license app will suspend its fee in response to the developing COVID-19 situation.

The Louisiana Legislature authorized LA Wallet for driving in 2016. In July 2018, LA Wallet became the first fully-functioning digital driver’s license available in the United States.

“Since the beginning of our partnership, LA Wallet has always kept the people of Louisiana at the forefront of what they do and this latest action is no different,” Edwards said. “There have been many disruptions to our daily lives as we try to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana, and I want to thank LA Wallet for doing their part to make life a little easier for the people of our great state. Louisianans are resilient and we will get through this together.”

The digital license is valid for the life of the user’s license issuance. Once a user’s physical license expires, they must renew their license with the OMV and purchase a new digital license through LA Wallet. LA Wallet is available for at the App Store or Google Play.

Due to precautions related to the COVID-19 response, Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Karen St. Germain announced that all OMV locations across the state closed to the public on Friday, March 20.  During the closure, online OMV services will remain available to the public.  Locals may also take advantage of available Public Tag Agent locations.

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.

Throughout the closure, the following licensing and registration requirements remain waived through Governor John Bel Edwards’ Emergency Proclamation:

• Late fees for driver’s licenses that expire between March 9 and May 10 are suspended until the new expiration date of May 20.
• 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 are suspended and are waived until June 19.
• The three-day period to appear at an Office of Motor Vehicle field office for a notice of violation served from March 9 to May 10 is suspended until May 13.
• The expiration date of temporary registration plates that expired on or before March 9 is suspended until May 10.
• License plates that expired on or after March 9 will remain valid until May 10.
• The notice of default issued on or after March 9 and before May 15 is suspended, and the notices will not be issued until after May 15.
• The expiration date of an apportioned registration issued under the International Registration Plan, which expires March 9, is suspended and the expiration date is extended to May 10.
• The period to request an administrative hearing, which expired between March 9 and May 9, is extended until June 10.
• The 60-day delay for the Department to submit the administrative hearing record to the Division of Administrative for an arrest, which occurred on or after March 9 but before May 10, is extended until August 8.
• Extend the expiration of temporary driver’s license issued between March 9 and May 9 until June 9.
• All students who enroll in a driver’s education course after March 9 shall be allowed to begin the driver’s education course without the issuance of the temporary instructional permit until May 10.
• Any suspension with the official notice of withdrawal issued between Feb. 17 and May 10 shall remain in pending until June 9.