By Bob Katzen

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has extended the length of time a driver’s photo is valid on his or her license from nine years to 14 years. Bay State driver’s licenses are valid for five years. That means customers can now renew their license online three times (once every five years) before they must go to a Registry office to have a new picture taken. Under the prior 9-year system, drivers could renew their license online only twice before being required to have a new photo taken.

“The Registry is pleased to offer these helpful enhancements to service options that are currently available to our customers,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney. “We encourage customers to conveniently renew their driver’s license or Massachusetts ID card online if they are eligible to do so, saving a trip to a service center.”

The Registry projects that the new regulation will result on an estimated 360,000 additional renewal transactions to be processed online annually and will substantially decrease the number of customers who must visit a Registry office and make in-person transactions faster and more efficient for customers who do need to visit an office.